- Title: Catwalk shows return at hybrid London Fashion Week
- Date: 17th September 2021
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (SEPTEMBER 17, 2021) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SAUL NASH FASHION SHOW
- Embargoed: 1st October 2021 11:56
- Keywords: CEO of the British Fashion Council Caroline Rush London Fashion Week opening Saul Nash fashion show Temperley fashion
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM/ VARIOUS FILMING LOCATIONS
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM/ VARIOUS FILMING LOCATIONS
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Europe,Fashion
- Reuters ID: LVA006EV3WDP5
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A hybrid London Fashion Week kicked off on Friday (September 17), with a mix of digital presentations and its first in-person catwalk shows in a year.
Following a completely virtual event in February when Britain was under national lockdown, this fashion week sees the return of international press and buyers after the easing of travel restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The line up features 79 physical events - including shows, appointments and presentations - and 82 digital productions showcasing womenswear and menswear. Only a handful of designers held in-person catwalk shows last September.
"It feels really great to be back," Caroline Rush, chief executive of the British Fashion Council (BFC), told Reuters.
"We're very much looking forward to welcoming our international visitors that are coming to London ... we're excited to see those key media and retailers that help drive British business and ... to have them back here in the UK."
Those participating in events will be asked to abide by certain protective measures.
"We've had to work through some very sort of strict guidelines for anyone that is participating in hosting events to make sure that they're COVID safe," Rush said.
"We will be asking for proof of vaccination, we will be encouraging everybody to test every morning. And if people haven't been vaccinated, then testing every morning will be absolutely mandatory as well. Backstage is much stricter ... and we will be encouraging people to wear masks."
Though smaller in size compared to fellow fashion capitals New York, Milan and Paris, London is known for its cutting edge designs and emerging talent.
This season, the BFC has teamed up with short-video platform TikTok to host its NEWGEN programme aimed at up-and-coming designers.
Menswear designer and choreographer Saul Nash was among the first to present his creations in front of an audience in the designated space, dressing models in relaxed loungewear which included shiny or printed tracksuits as well as matching polo tops and shorts.
Known for her feminine designs, Alice Temperley took inspiration from Agatha Christie mystery "Death on the Nile" for her spring/summer 2022 collection.
In a pre-recorded video, models wore floral, leaf and zebra print dresses, checked trouser suits and safari-inspired denim jumpsuits. For eveningwear, there were green silky and black sparkly gowns.
On Thursday evening, sustainable designer Tammam nodded to nature for a colourful "Flight"-themed collection, with some of the clothes featuring the blue and red "warming stripes" graphic visualisation of climate change data produced by University of Reading climate scientist professor Ed Hawkins.
The pattern, which features stripes instead of numbers to highlight the annual global average temperature since 1850, was seen on dresses, asymmetric skirts and inside a cape.
London Fashion Week runs until Tuesday.
(Production: Ben Makori, Lisa Giles-Keddie, Marie-Louise Gumuchian) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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