London Fashion Week · A Journey Through Innovation

Held twice a year since October 1983, London Fashion Week has been on a dizzying journey of innovation and forward-thinking culture, with unique catwalk shows and glamorous front rows firing the public’s imagination.

Organised by the British Fashion Council for the London Development Agency, the LFW currently ranks alongside New York, Paris and Milan as one of the world’s 'Big Four' fashion weeks.

The next London Fashion Week is scheduled to take place from Saturday 12 to Monday 14 June 2021. This year’s LFW summer edition will also have a strong digital focus and feature online interviews with creatives, themed debates and podcasts, top tips and the latest designs in webinars and digital showrooms.

A Commitment to Sustainable Fashion

The British capital has been leading the charge for sustainability in fashion. The BFC has been raising the profile of brands and designers who work responsibly with sustainable practices, and, as a result, ethical fashion as a whole. 

London Fashion Week continued its history of supporting ecodesign by launching designers of the likes of Christopher Raeburn, who debuted with his upcycled collection at London Fashion Week in January 2009, paving the way for a now established trend.

Following increasing numbers of anti-fur campaigners asking to cease using animal products, the London Fashion Week held in September 2018 was also the first of the main fashion weeks to be fur-free, making a bold ethical choice.

An iconic mainstay at London Fashion Week, London-based Burberry is also strongly committed to responsible fashion. Its autumn/winter 2020 show at London Fashion week has been certified as carbon neutral, stepping up efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. Pledging to be climate-neutral by 2022 and climate-positive by 2040, the luxury label has also launched ‘ReBurberry Edit’, with 26 styles from the SS20 collection made from sustainable materials. 

Known for bringing modern punk with a British soul to many London Fashion Week catwalks, Vivienne Westwood has long shown her commitment to upcycling, sustainable fabrics and low-impact production. Boldly stating that we should all “buy less, choose well and make it last”, Westwood not only implemented responsible practices in her business, but also used fashion to speak up and share her social and environmental ethos.

Alongside Westwood, London-born designer Stella McCartney also campaigns for the environment, climate change and human rights. Her commitment is reflected in designing clothes that are meant to last, with cruelty-free, sustainable collections, championing the changes required to build a responsible luxury fashion industry.

A Pioneering Spirit – from the LFW Festival to its Digital Schedule

A forward-looking city, London has always embraced the revolution happening in fashion. This included the launch of the London Fashion Week Festival, a retail-focused event aiming to bridge the gap between consumers and fashion, removing the elitist tags that come with the event. Taking place immediately after the LFW, the 4-day Festival engages the general public, showcasing the latest trends through shows, interviews, talks, immersive shopping, and experiences as unique as yoga sessions on the runway.

Ahead of its time, London Fashion Week also became the first of the Big four fashion weeks to give designers the opportunity to broadcast their fashion shows live in spring 2010, bringing together fashion, culture and technology. Fashion shows were no longer exclusive, VIP-only events, as anyone with a computer could join in in real time. This approach proved essential in 2020, when the British Fashion Council announced that it would commence again via online live streaming and include both digital activations and physical events, complying with Government guidelines on social distancing.

A Springboard for New Talent

A well-respected platform for emergent fashion designers, LFW is renowned for propelling the careers of the industry's most promising young talent. Graduate shows take place alongside those of international fashion giants, giving emerging designers a unique, exciting opportunity.

Inspiring designers of the likes of Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, and, more recently, Simone Rocha, Christopher Kane and Jonathan Anderson, made their debuts on the London catwalk. The now famous fashion designer Stella McCartney launched her debut show in 1995, when she was still a student, with her entire collection selling out after her spring/summer show.

Studying to Become the Next Fashion Talent

In line with the London spirit, the Istituto Marangoni London Fashion School is all about merging radical creativity with responsible luxury.

Pioneering innovative thinking, the London School is where students get to master disruptive approaches to the industry, incorporating technical skills, counterculture inspirations and fashion business management, with a focus on ethics and responsible design.

Istituto Marangoni London places a strong emphasis on gaining the skills required to meet industry demands, while also exploring the latest in technology and sustainable design. 

If you are looking for industry-oriented education, engaging experiences and real-world opportunities, you can choose from a broad range of specialised Undergraduate to BA programmes and Postgraduate for fashion designers including womenswear, menswear, accessories, as well as management, marketing and responsible fashion.