This year marks L's 30th anniversary. Thirty is traditionally represented with a pearl, but we see London more like the sparkling jewel in the crown of fashion month; dazzling and bright. In our October issue, we chart LFW from the very first shows, right up to today through the memories and special moments of the Britain's geatest designers. Here's a taster before you flick to page 269.
Eudon Choi
'I will never forget my AW12 show when Wapping Project's Jules Wright created a really beautiful staging that recalled Scott of the Antarctic; the inspiration for that season's collection. She blacked out the room and used projection to recreate a snowstorm. It was all totally bonkers but I will remember that first show for the rest of my life.'
Zowie Broach of Boudicca
'I remember Isabella Blow bringing Mario Testino out to East London to see ‘Corporate Deserter’ our spring/summer 2002 collection. We had masked models step out to an intense soundtrack of whirring surveillance helicopters.'
Holly Fulton
'My favourite LFW memory is probably of my ; it was the first time I did digital print it consolidated my signature style in terms of graphics. I remember Victoria Beckham was also at that show and the excitement was palpable.'
'After being commissioned to create clothes for the world tour of my idol Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, he came to my show and congratulated me backstage. Now that's a truly unforgetable.'
'I the early days, fashion shows were at least 25 minutes long with girls striding out three and sometimes four abreast. There were far fewer shows and, incredibly no internet so backstage. There was an underlying subversive energy that was so strong, we knew somehow we were doing things that no one else in the world was doing and London suddenly became the place to be.'
Camilla Lowther, Founder of CLM
‘The first great London show I remember was Rifat Özbek's all-white show. London was on fire and drowning in original talent, and I drowned in some of the best over the years: Westwood, Luella, Richmond Cornejo, BodyMap, Giles…’
Yasmin Sewell, Fashion Consultant
'My best memories would have to be of the McQueen shows. I remember sitting behind Grace Jones, and I couldn’t see the show because she was wearing the biggest hat I'd ever seen! It was the kind of time where everyone was excited because Noel Gallagher was at the show…that real Brit era of the 90s. I think that was the beginning of London feeling bigger.'
Ruth Chapman, Co-Founder and Joint CEO of MATCHESFASHION.COM
‘The McQueen shows were my favourite: you’d arrive at a bus depot not knowing what to expect. The excitement he generated was key to putting London on the map and opening up that space for designers to experiment. Galliano, Rifat Özbek and Jasper Conran also set the pace for things to come.’
and Christopher de Vos
'When all the models line up, just before our show begins - that is always an incredible moment. All the hard work that we put into the weeks running up to the show culminates in this one pinnacle moment, it's nerve-racking but it's intoxicating. The after party is always a highlight too!'
