London Fashion Week honors Queen as Monday parties are banned
London Fashion Week kicked off with a moment's silence in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at the Daniel W Fletcher show, before a model dressed in a black and of a matching armband paraded down the catwalk.
Remarkably different from the usual fashion fanfare, LFW attendees on Thursday night were simply relieved that it was actually happening.< /p>
Last week there was a period where it was unclear if LFW would move forward, falling as it did during the national mourning period and ready to clash with the royal funeral.
Within 24 hours of the Queen dying, Burberry, a royal warrant holder, said it was canceling its spectacle. Raf Simons, the Belgian designer and co-creative director of Prada who normally shows in Paris or New York (a huge blow for LFW), was the second big name to drop out, dropping a Friday night debut.
On Monday the British Fashion Council, which runs LFW, issued a statement clarifying fashion week, albeit a toned down version with all shows scheduled for the day of the funeral postponed and parties prohibited.
For many new designers, the loss of established names such as Burberry and strict new guidelines has had a massive ripple effect. “Big brands have the funds to do whatever they want, but for smaller designers like me, we are massively affected,” said Dilara Findikoğlu, a Turkish-born designer based in London whose show was moved. Monday to Saturday afternoon, leaving her with two fewer days to prepare.
After two years of pandemic disruption and Brexit uncertainty, the fashion industry has been looking forward to this season.
The UK fashion industry is worth £32 billion to the country, and LFW is a excellent opportunity for designers to attract international press and buyers. The late Queen even acknowledged her significance in 2018 when she sat front row at Richard Quinn's show before presenting him with the first Queen Elizabeth II Prize for British Design.
Findikoğlu, like many emerging designers, had worked with a sponsor who would have covered most of his costs. They have now given up, which leads to future debt. "It's very stressful. All the things I don't want to have to worry about, I care about,” she said.
Designers and guests were invited to take into consideration "the mood of the nation". BFC guidelines suggest suspending Instagram posts and street style photography until the mourning period is over.
London Fashion Week kicked off with a moment's silence in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at the Daniel W Fletcher show, before a model dressed in a black and of a matching armband paraded down the catwalk.
Remarkably different from the usual fashion fanfare, LFW attendees on Thursday night were simply relieved that it was actually happening.< /p>
Last week there was a period where it was unclear if LFW would move forward, falling as it did during the national mourning period and ready to clash with the royal funeral.
Within 24 hours of the Queen dying, Burberry, a royal warrant holder, said it was canceling its spectacle. Raf Simons, the Belgian designer and co-creative director of Prada who normally shows in Paris or New York (a huge blow for LFW), was the second big name to drop out, dropping a Friday night debut.
On Monday the British Fashion Council, which runs LFW, issued a statement clarifying fashion week, albeit a toned down version with all shows scheduled for the day of the funeral postponed and parties prohibited.
For many new designers, the loss of established names such as Burberry and strict new guidelines has had a massive ripple effect. “Big brands have the funds to do whatever they want, but for smaller designers like me, we are massively affected,” said Dilara Findikoğlu, a Turkish-born designer based in London whose show was moved. Monday to Saturday afternoon, leaving her with two fewer days to prepare.
After two years of pandemic disruption and Brexit uncertainty, the fashion industry has been looking forward to this season.
The UK fashion industry is worth £32 billion to the country, and LFW is a excellent opportunity for designers to attract international press and buyers. The late Queen even acknowledged her significance in 2018 when she sat front row at Richard Quinn's show before presenting him with the first Queen Elizabeth II Prize for British Design.
Findikoğlu, like many emerging designers, had worked with a sponsor who would have covered most of his costs. They have now given up, which leads to future debt. "It's very stressful. All the things I don't want to have to worry about, I care about,” she said.
Designers and guests were invited to take into consideration "the mood of the nation". BFC guidelines suggest suspending Instagram posts and street style photography until the mourning period is over.
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