On London Fashion Week: What’s it all about?

London Fashion Week (LFW) is run by The British Fashion Council (BFC) which is a not-for-profit organisation which focuses on furthering the interests of the British fashion industry and its designer businesses. The BFC showcases the best of British fashion design to an international audience including press and buyers. London Fashion Week, its biannual showcase of womenswear occurs every February and September.

This year heralds the 63rd edition of LFW and the show returns to Brewer Street Car Park this season. The schedule features 83 designers showcasing SS17 collections to UK and international press and buyers across five days.

Did you know…

• £27billion worth of womenswear (RTW) sales in the UK in 2015. This figure is predicted to grow 23% by 2020 to £32billion (Mintel, 2016)
• The UK fashion industry is estimated to support 797,000 jobs (source: Oxford Economics 2014).
• Fashion’s total contribution to the economy via both indirect support for supply chain industries and induced spending of employee’s wage income is estimated to have risen to over £46 billion. (source: Oxford Economics 2014)

The BFC also organises the British Fashion Awards, the UK’s annual celebration of excellence within the industry and London Fashion Weekend, a shopping event which is open to the public and one I’m very much looking forward to attend next Thursday.

Today I’ll be visiting the Designer Showrooms which are home to over 150 designers, showcasing a rich and diverse selection of ready-to-wear, footwear, bags and accessories. The showrooms put the spotlight on this broader group of designers and have helped launch many global brands including a number of on-schedule designers.

From within the walls, designers, buyers and press can watch all the live shows via large scale screens provided at the bar. Any hair and makeup concerns can be easily rectified by the experts at Toni & Guy and Maybelline New York popups and Anna Wintor esq sunglasses can be purchased courtesy of The Sunglasses Hut, although perhaps umbrellas would be a more suitable collaborative project!

LFW is held from 16th – 20th September 2016 for more information please see www.londonfashionweek.co.uk www.britishfashioncouncil.co.uk.