London Fashion Week 40 is a "moment to celebrate" says BFC chief Caroline Rush
London Fashion Week gets underway today and, at a breakfast to mark the start of the 40th anniversary event, British Fashion Council CEO Caroline Rush said it was a "moment to celebrate the community past, present and future and set the agenda for the next 40 years".
Over the coming days more than 100 brands and designers will showcase their collections at the event including major international brands and up and coming talent, for which London has become known. Names on the schedule include: Burberry, 16Arlington, Ahluwalia, DAVID KOMA, Dilara Findikoglu, dunhill, Emilia Wickstead, ERDEM, Eudon Choi, FASHION EAST, JW Anderson, KNWLS, Marques’Almeida, Molly Goddard, Richard Quinn, ROKSANDA, and Simone Rocha.
Buyers and press from 42 countries will descend on the capital to view the shows and presentations, with celebrations extending beyond London Fashion Week itself and across the capital to involve consumers. A programme of panel discussions, pop-ups, DJ sets, discounts, designer Q&A sessions, personalised gifts, collection launches and creative workshops will be on offer.
This is all a far cry from the first London Fashion Week (then known as the British Designer Show) staged at Olympia in 1984 by a pioneering group of designers and fashion promoters. Among those showing at that first event were Vivienne Westwood, David Fielden, Ghost and Betty Jackson, as well as John Galliano who showed his graduated collection, which was famously snapped up by fashion boutique Browns.
Caroline Rush (centre), David Pemsel (right) at the London Fashion Week launch breakfast with Dharmesh Rana of Blanc 1664 (Jessica Mahaffey)
"London Fashion Week started in 1984 when the landscape was very different and since then each decade has had a unique perspective," said Rush at the breakfast reception, staged at Selfridges.
"London Fashion Week is a global cultural platform which amplifies the British fashion community and global brands and has a significant impact on the city. Known for creativity, innovation and talent, it is fuelled by community - the stylists, writers, artists, photographers, business leaders, producers, designers, assistants, makers, doers, fixers – the people that make it happen," Rush added.
London Fashion Week gets underway today and, at a breakfast to mark the start of the 40th anniversary event, British Fashion Council CEO Caroline Rush said it was a "moment to celebrate the community past, present and future and set the agenda for the next 40 years".
To mark the anniversary the British Fashion Council released a "Love Letter to London" in Valentine's Day written by Femi Koleoso from the Mercury Music Prize winning Ezra Collective. Rush said it "brilliantly sums up so much that I love about London, its diversity and the individualism – a celebration of the city". Those featured in the short film include Clara Amfo, Grace Carter, Mahalia, Kojey Radical, Saul Nash, Foday Dumbuya, Headie One, Victor Kunda, Kosar Ali, Allan Mustafa, Sebastian Croft, Bimini Bon Boulash and Tan France.
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British Fashion Council chairman David Pemsel said London Fashion Week represented "the role of London and the UK as a creative disruptor and is an opportunity to celebrate our superpower".
"The UK fashion industry has a disproportionate creative impact on the global fashion industry and our role as the BFC is to lead and to champion British fashion on the world stage. We do this by continuing to bolster our pioneering world-class programmes that unlock and elevate creative talent. Our work and success is fuelled by you, an extraordinary diverse and inspiring community of creatives, advocates, icons, experts and fans. We want to build this community to have a greater impact.
"The vital work that we do in turn helps the British fashion sector remain a crucial economic and social driver, supporting £29bn in Gross Value Added and over 900 million jobs in the UK economy. As we are in a year of elections, part of our job is to explain to government how best to support the industry.
"The business landscape continues to be challenging, and so our focus continues to be creating opportunities for businesses of all sizes– connections, advice, inspiration, a seat at the table," Pemsel said.
This season's London Fashion Week has a new sponsor, 1664 Blanc, while Toni & Guy, The Londoner, Diet Coke and The Mayor of London are also supporting.
Main image: Alamy/PA
