As fashion week draws to a close in New York, it’s time to revert our attentions closer to home. London Fashion Week, synonymous with exciting, emerging talent and innovation, also has plenty of heavyweights, like Burberry and Victoria Beckham, to reel in the international crowds.
As the designers frantically add their finishing touches to their collections, making last-minute alterations and fittings on their models, here's a low-down on who to look out for, from the biggest names, to those with a new agenda and those returning to London after a leave of absence.
Burberry
All eyes will be on Riccardo Tisci, who will stage his sophomore collection for Burberry on Sunday 17th February, having presented his debut collection for the British heritage brand last season.
The 134-look runway show ran the whole gamut of beige, from chocolate brown to camel and sand tones, and updated the iconic trench with gold hardware trims as well as stamping the house’s classic check print over ladylike silk shirts. Having unveiled his first ever ad campaign for the house last month, which featured a multi-cultural cast and a bold clash of prints and colours, we’re excited to see the evolution of Tisci’s cooler vision for Burberry.
Vivienne Westwood
The punk legend and high-fashion priestess Dame Vivienne Westwood will be returning to a catwalk format with a joint women’s and menswear’s show on Sunday 17th February, having dropped the catwalk in favour of digital presentations for the last two seasons. Expect a rhapsody of graphics and colours with a political edge.
Shrimps
Shrimps, a.k.a the go-to brand for faux fur outerwear in saccharine shades and playful, doodle prints, is jumping from a presentation format to a full show, which will take place on Tuesday 19th February. We can’t wait to see how the cult beaded Antonia bag will evolve this season.
Asai and Symonds Pearmain
On Friday 15th February, Fashion East Alumni Asai and Symonds Pearmain will be staging their respective standalone shows. Fashion East founder Lulu Kennedy has a knack for spotting and nurturing new talent, having guided the careers of Simone Rocha, Roksanda Ilincic and Jonathan Saunders - to name but a few.
Now it’s the turn of A Sai Ta, the British-Chinese-Vietnamese designer behind Asai who manipulates fabrics to create intricate textiles, and Symonds Pearmain - the product of designer Anthony Symonds and stylist Max Pearmain, who bring an intellectual rigour into their designs.
Wales Bonner
There's a particular buzz this season around Wales Bonner, which is decamping from London men’s to women’s week, showing on Sunday 17th February.
Grace Wales Bonner has quickly carved out a name for herself with her menswear designs, which explore representations of black male sexuality and weave in intellectual references, so we’re excited for her first foray into womenswear. If you can’t nab a coveted spot at the show, you can still attend her exhibition at the Serpentine Galleries for a slice of the action.
