Design Graduates: TEX+ winners secure Première Vision Paris showcase as charity celebrates UK's emerging textile talent

Three of the UK's promising emerging textile designers will exhibit at Première Vision Paris this Autumn, from 1 - 3 September, after being awarded the TEX+ International Exhibition Prize during the TEX+ Showcase at Chelsea College of Arts in London on 15 July 2026.

Left to right:  Lili Mizuno, Twig Searle and Christie Shannon
Credits: Tex+

The international exhibition awards were presented to Twig Searle,  of Falmouth University, Christie Shannon from Glasgow School of Art and Lili Mizuno of London College of Fashion, UAL.  They are all 2026 graduates.

The trio will exhibit at the influential Paris textile trade fair alongside previous International Exhibition Prize recipients Ruth Kent and Nikki Kewley (2024 cohort) and Freya Booth (2025 cohort), providing them with an opportunity to present their work to an international audience of fashion and textile buyers.

The announcement formed part of the annual TEX+ Prize Awards, which recognise exceptional creativity, technical excellence, innovation and craftsmanship among the UK's graduating textile designers. As well as celebrating emerging talent, the awards provide financial support, professional development opportunities and valuable industry connections designed to help graduates establish careers within the textile and fashion sectors.

Building on the 50-year legacy of Texprint, the TEX+ charity brings together education and industry through exhibitions, mentoring, networking and career development initiatives. Former participants have gone on to work with leading brands including Chanel, Nike and Liberty.

Jeremy Somers, Chair of TEX+, said: "The TEX+ prizes recognise the outstanding creativity, innovation and technical excellence emerging from the UK's textile graduates today. We're incredibly grateful to our sponsors and supporters, whose generosity enables us to celebrate exceptional talent while providing meaningful opportunities that help graduates take the next step in their careers."

2026 TEX+ Prize winners (for details of the winners, click HERE)

Among the principal awards, Maia McLaren received the Pentland Prize, worth £1,000 together with a work placement.

The two Liberty Fabrics Studio Prizes, each worth £500, were presented to Grace Holden and Xavier Theobald.

Lisa Rogerson won the Worshipful Company of Weavers Prize (£1,000), while Roisin Foster received both the Juliet Vogel Colour Prize (£1,000) and the Pattern Cloud Support Award, which includes one year's complimentary access to The Pattern Cloud Plan.

Molly White and her printed textile designs.
Photo: Lucia Carpio

The Bay & Brown Support Award, comprising a Beginners Complete Surface Textiles Print Online Course, an Online Floral Print Course and a portfolio session with Tracey Brown, was presented to Molly White.

Printed textile designs by Harriet Letts.
Photo: Lucia Carpio

Harriet Letts received the Sahara Prize, including £500, a one-month placement at Sahara and a potential design purchase opportunity.

The Inge Cordsen Craftsmanship Prize (£1,000) went to Zoe Noble, while Lili Mizuno also received the TEX+ Industry Prize for Technical Excellence (£1,000).

The TEX+ Sustainability & Ethical Practice Prize (£1,000) was awarded to Ruby Bolt.

The Helga Goldman Legacy Prize, recognising Innovation and Creativity and accompanied by a £1,000 award, went to Belén Fernández, while Twig Searle also collected the John Miles Legacy Prize (£1,000).

Additional industry awards included the Kvadrat Prize, a trip to the company's Wooltex mill in Huddersfield, presented to Lola Bate, and the London Embroidery Studio Prize, a six-month studio residency, awarded to Kate Crilly.

Supporting graduates into industry

Tex+ 2026 Finalists
Credits: Tex+

This year's awards come as many textile graduates continue to face significant barriers when entering the creative industries.

Research commissioned by TEX+ found that 56% of textile graduates are not currently working in a full-time textile role, while 36% are balancing multiple jobs. More than half (51%) have relied on financial support since graduating.

The findings highlight the continuing importance of initiatives such as TEX+, which connect emerging designers with employers, mentors and industry professionals through practical career development opportunities that help bridge the gap between education and employment.

Through its network of designers, educators, industry partners and alumni, TEX+ continues to strengthen pathways into the textile industry, ensuring that the next generation of creative talent gains the experience, confidence and professional connections needed to build successful careers.

Home and Lifestyle Design Showcase: Wow!house 2026 at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour, London - from June 2 - July 2

WOW!house 2026, now in its fifth year, is deemed the ultimate design barometer.  The month-long exhibition runs from 2 June to 2 July 2026 at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, featuring 22 full-scale rooms and outdoor installations created by 22 internationally renowned interior designers and architects in collaboration with leading sponsoring design brands and suppliers.

Schumacher Dining Room by Max Rollitt
Photo by Lucia Carpio

Widely regarded as one of the most influential destinations in the luxury interiors sector, the  immersive showhouse is erected within the Design Centre's Design Avenue, offering visitors the opportunity to experience highly detailed interiors as they walk through the connecting rooms as if in a real home.

The Art of Arrival - Entrance Hall by Francis Sultana
Photo by Lucia Carpio

Among the highlights is the Entrance Garden by landscape designers Hay Hwang and Simon Kitchin of The Gardenists. Inspired by the façade’s arched colonnades, the garden incorporates columnar evergreens, clipped bay laurel trees and white digitalis blooms arranged around English limestone and hand-crafted stone detailing supplied by Artorius Faber. A lead lion-mask fountain by Garden Art Plus provides a classical focal point to the space.

Artorius Faber Entrance Garden by The Gardenists
Photo by James McDonald

Another debut installation comes from Studio Enass, whose Garden Folly Room draws on designer Enass Mahmoud’s North African and Arab heritage. Conceived as a secluded island retreat, the room combines gemstone hues, layered textures and ornate decorative details including bronze mirrored ceilings, patterned textiles and handcrafted lighting.

Phillip Jeffries Morning Room by Sara Cosgrove
Photo by James McDonald

A recurring theme throughout WOW!house 2026 is the idea of slowing down and creating spaces of retreat from modern life.  In the Morning Room sponsored by Phillip Jeffries, interior designer Sara Cosgrove has created what she describes as “a quiet, uplifting analogue sanctuary”. ‘Aura’ mural with softly glazed surfaces designed to capture and reflect light.

Shepel' Library by Roisin Lafferty
Photo by James McDonald

Similarly, the Shepel’ Library by Dublin-based designer Róisín Lafferty embraces art deco influences through the use of burl timber, parchment and ebony finishes. The room has been designed as a contemplative environment where “the tempo softens” and discovery takes precedence over distraction.

Misia for Casamance Group Bedroom Suite by Henri Fitzwilliam-Lay
Photo by Lucia Carpio

Art deco references continue in the Bedroom Suite by Henri Fitzwilliam-Lay, created in partnership with Misia, part of the Casamance Group. Jazz Age-inspired fabrics, period furniture and hand-carved detailing combine to evoke the glamour of 1930s interiors.

Samuel Heath Primary Bathroom by Rigby & Rigby
Photo by James McDonald

In contrast, the Primary Bathroom by Rigby & Rigby adopts a minimalist Japandi aesthetic, blending Scandinavian simplicity with Japanese-inspired wellness traditions. A circular wooden ofuro bath forms the centrepiece, while integrated technology is used to create a calming sensory experience.

Elsewhere, De Rosee Sa’s Ca’ Pietra Bathroom transports visitors to a Mediterranean hotel of the 1970s, while Samantha Bartlett’s Martin Moore Kitchen celebrates tactile natural materials including fumed oak, bronze and Verde Natura quartzite.

Martin Moore Kitchen with Samantha Bartlett
Photo by James McDonald

“This is a room rooted in the poetry of nature,” says Bartlett. Martin Moore’s Legacy kitchen is the key focus, in a quietly glamorous combination of grained fumed oak teamed with bronze handles paired with Verde Natura quartzite.

Lalique Home Bar by Elicyon
Photo by Lucia Carpio

Luxury craftsmanship also takes centre stage in the Lalique Home Bar by Elicyon, where designer

Lalique Home Bar by Elicyon
Photo by James McDonald

Charu Gandhi has incorporated crystal panels inspired by René Lalique’s celebrated 1928 designs for the Orient Express.  

The iconic French house's art deco heritage is referenced in the many arches and curves.  The ceiling is a showcase for the magnificent "Swallows" chandelier while the walls and bar are inset with a bold, asymmetrical composition of crystal panels inspired by stories of goddesses and mythology.

Benjamin Moore Minhwa Salon by Young Huh
Photo by James McDonald

Benjamin Moore Minhwa Salon by Young Huh
Photo by James McDonald

International influences continue in the Benjamin Moore Minhwa Salon by New York-based designer Young Huh, who references Korean folk art alongside the opulent miniature paintings of Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace.  The Salon is bursting with colours and patterns.  The lacquered walls are inset with 55 boxes painted in joyful high gloss colours often found in fold art, according to the designer.

Technology-driven design features prominently in the Nucleus Immersive Room by Russell Sage Studio. Equipped with a HYRISS immersive sound system by L-Acoustics, Sony display technology and integrated Crestron controls, the installation combines light, sound, scent and texture to create what designer Russell Sage calls “The Momentarium” — an environment intended to redefine shared sensory experiences.

Traditional craftsmanship is also celebrated throughout the exhibition. Max Rollitt’s Schumacher Dining Room juxtaposes 18th-century-inspired architecture with contemporary interpretations of dining culture, while Tiffany Duggan’s Speakeasy Salon combines theatrical interiors with multifunctional living.

Richard Miers’ Courtyard for Munder Skiles
Photo by James McDonald

Outdoor living spaces form another key component of the showhouse. Richard Miers’ Courtyard for Munder Skiles recreates a timeless stone courtyard shaded by London plant trees.

The main focus of the courtyard space is a showstopping "Whispering Water" feature.

Fettle Design’s Garden Terrace for Perennials and Sutherland
Photo by Lucia Carpio

Fettle Design’s Garden Terrace for Perennials and Sutherland evokes the atmosphere of a relaxed romantic Italian holiday setting with Mediterranean-inspired materials, furnishings and textiles, inspired by Perennials’ La Dolce Vita collection and incorporating Sutherland’s skillfully-crafted performance furniture.

Perennials and Sutherland Garden Terrace
Photo by Lucia Carpio

To explore all the Rooms in preparation for your visit to WOW!, click HERE.

In addition to the showhouse itself, more than 130 showrooms across the Design Centre will open to ticketed visitors during the event, showcasing luxury interiors, furnishings and design innovation from across the industry.

A series of more than 20 talks will take place across the month, curated to inspire and inform. For more information and tickets, click HERE.  There are also special guided tours throughout the month where visitors can gain extra insights into the creativity behind the WOW!rooms. 

Now in its fifth year, WOW!house has established itself as one of the UK’s leading cultural and design events, offering visitors immersive interiors intended to inspire, entertain and redefine how design is experienced.    

Fashion Event: London Fashion Week to Return This September with Expanded Line-Up and Global Focus

London Fashion Week (LFW)* will return this autumn, running from 18 to 22 September, with an expanded schedule celebrating Britain’s bold creative voice and welcoming a new wave of talent. The British Fashion Council (BFC) has confirmed a line-up featuring both established names and rising designers, alongside a series of strategic changes aimed at strengthening the event’s cultural and commercial impact.

Burberry SS 2021

This season marks an 18 per cent increase in the number of designers showing on the official schedule, reflecting Chief Executive Laura Weir’s renewed focus on cultural relevance, global competitiveness, and meaningful support for emerging talent.

Among the changes, the BFC has waived show fees for designer members presenting physical shows on the main schedule and doubled investment in the LFW Guest Programme—supported by the Department for Business and Trade—to host a larger cohort of international press, buyers, and cultural commentators.

Emilia Wickstead

The provisional schedule includes fashion powerhouses such as Burberry, Erdem, Emilia Wickstead, Simone Rocha, and Roksanda—celebrating its 20th anniversary—alongside the influential talent incubator Fashion East, which marks its 25th year. 

Roksanda AW24

JW Anderson will host a special evening event in collaboration with the BFC to celebrate the brand’s relaunch, while BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund winner Conner Ives will present a new collection. Cult label Chopova Lowena returns to the schedule, joined by Ahluwalia, Harris Reed, Labrum London, Marques’Almeida, Paolo Carzana, Patrick McDowell, Richard Quinn, Talia Byre, and Tove.

Simone Rocha AW24

The BFC NEWGEN programme will once again showcase emerging talent both physically and digitally, including Aaron Esh, Aletta, Charlie Constantinou, Ewusie, Johanna Parv, Karoline Vitto, Kazna Asker, Liza Keane, Louther, Lueder, Octi, Oscar Ouyang, Pauline Dujancourt, Steve O Smith, Tolu Coker, The Ouze, The Winter House, and Yaku. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has reaffirmed its support for the BFC NEWGEN showspace at 180 Strand for the next four years.

This season will also feature retail-led activations bridging culture and commerce, with stylist Harry Lambert launching a Disney x Zara collection at Selfridges and H&M returning to the schedule with “The London Issue” catwalk.

International collaboration will be in the spotlight as celebrated Indian designer Anamika Khanna makes her LFW debut. Other first-time catwalk appearances include Dreaming Eli, Kseniaschnaider, and Rory William Docherty, while Kyle Ho, Lucila Safdie, and adaptive fashion brand Unhidden will debut with standalone presentations.

LFW will conclude on Monday evening with a closing party hosted by the BFC in partnership with Outlander magazine, supported by 1664 Blanc, which returns as Principal Partner for the second year. Other official partners include eBay, Dylon, Pandora, Sprayground, The Londoner, Toni&Guy, HM Government, and the Mayor of London, with Malin+Goetz and Ocean Outdoor confirmed as official supporters.

Click HERE for the London Fashion Week schedule.

*First established in 1984, London Fashion Week is one of the world’s “Big Four” fashion showcases, alongside New York, Milan, and Paris. Organised by the British Fashion Council, the biannual event presents collections from leading British and international designers to global media, buyers, and industry figures. Renowned for its creativity, innovation, and support for emerging talent, LFW has played a pivotal role in launching the careers of designers such as Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, and Christopher Kane, while cementing London’s reputation as a global hub for bold, forward-thinking fashion.

Copenhagen Fashion Week: Baum und Pferdgarten Unveils SS26 Collection “Notes from the Grandstand” at Historic Danish Racetrack

Danish fashion house Baum und Pferdgarten brought equestrian elegance to the runway with the debut of its Spring/Summer 2026 collection - Notes from the Grandstand - presented on 6 August at Copenhagen Fashion Week. The show took place at the Charlottenlund Travbane, the oldest racetrack in the Nordics, still active today and steeped in history — a fitting venue for a collection inspired by the world of the Derby.

Set between the old horse stables, the show highlighted the equestrian spirit that forms the heart of the collection. Creative Directors Rikke Baumgarten and Helle Hestehave drew on their lifelong connection to horses to create a collection that captures the atmosphere of the racetrack — from the sharp, functional uniforms of jockeys to the pageantry of guests dressed to impress.

“We were drawn to the sharp colour-blocking and purpose-driven silhouettes of jockeys — so bold, so functional, so instantly recognisable,” said Baumgarten and Hestehave. “And just as captivating were the guests, dressed to be seen from every angle. That tension between performance and pageantry gave us a rich foundation to explore character, contrast, and everything in between.”

Notes from the Grandstand is a study in contrasts. Sporting elements are reimagined through a refined, fashion-forward lens. Striped nylon nods to jockey uniforms, while checks and vibrant colour-blocking bring a sense of dynamic movement. Feminine details — such as frilled accents on outerwear and softly draped blouses — provide tension and elegance in equal measure.

The collection is also rich in texture and symbolic motifs: powder pink hues and faux suede accessories evoke composed drama, while horse rosettes and vintage lace reference equestrian tradition. Leopard prints and faux leather inject modern energy into the otherwise heritage-inspired lineup.

Silhouettes ranged from dropped-waist dresses to sharp, tailored pieces and fluid layering. The overall effect was one of graceful utility, grounded in tradition but reaching confidently into the contemporary.

The casting blended familiar faces and new talent, with models including Anaa Saber, Emma Rosenzweig, Eddie Klint, Bibi Abdulkadir, and Boy Ewald. Many have previously walked for the house, underscoring the brand’s ongoing dialogue between continuity and innovation.

Beauty direction was provided by M.A.C. Cosmetics Nordics, with hair by Oribe. A special runway-exclusive T-shirt was also introduced during the show, available for immediate purchase via Baum und Pferdgarten’s website and flagship Copenhagen boutique.

For Baumgarten and Hestehave, the show marked a personal return to their roots. Both designers grew up around horses, and this collection weaves their childhood memories of racetracks and stables into a rich visual narrative.

With Notes from the Grandstand, Baum und Pferdgarten continues to celebrate storytelling through fashion — where tradition meets transformation, and every garment is part of the show.

All photos by James Cochrane, at Copenhagen Fashion Week SS26 edition.

Copenhagen Fashion Week: Caro Editions Delivers a Love Letter With SS26 Show “Under the Bridge” - Featuring a Collaboration with Mulberry

Beneath the steel beams and cobblestones of Knippelsbro (Knippel Bridge in English) - a place steeped in personal history - Caro Editions unveiled its Spring/Summer 2026 collection with a show that was equal parts fashion, memory, and poetic resistance.

Caro Editios designer and founder Caroline Bille Brahe flanked by two of her models.
Copenhagen Fashion Week Photo by James Cochrane

Titled “Under the Bridge,” the presentation held on August 4 - day one of Copenhagen Fashion Week, marked a deeply intimate return for designers Caroline and Frederik Bille Brahe, who were married in this very spot. Years later, the bridge now served as the emotional and symbolic foundation for a show that explored the intersection of romance, public space, and soft rebellion.

In a raw, urban setting beneath one of Copenhagen’s busiest thoroughfares, Caro Editions built a dreamscape of tenderness and texture. Flowing silk dresses, hand-embroidered garments, and veiled silhouettes evoked memories of bridalwear, while simultaneously subverting traditional tropes. The bride here was not bound to convention — she was a symbol of visibility, activism, and individuality, inspired in part by Yoko Ono’s Brides on Tour.

“There’s lots of black, a first for me,” said Caroline Bille Brahe. “But also glorious colours and contrasts. I was thinking about wedding guests of all kinds — different ages, sizes, styles. Rich silks in workwear shapes. Comfortable, glamorous, real.”

One of the most talked-about moments was the finale: a bride in a lace hoodie, a silk windbreaker, and custom Crocs — Caro’s idea of a down-to-earth muse, ready to dance all night. This wasn’t a traditional wedding procession. It was a playful yet profound meditation on the joy of showing up — as yourself, in full colour.

Soundtracking the show was a custom composition by Frederik Valentin. His mix of punk and pop created a sonic collage, echoing the show’s nostalgic thread — a fragmented love story slowly unfolding into something melodic, emotional, even euphoric.

This season also saw a standout collaboration with British heritage brand Mulberry. In a celebration of reuse and reimagination, Caroline reworked vintage Mulberry bags into eight one-of-a-kind designs — adorned with Caro’s signature silk bows, embroidery, and contrasting linings. “In my generation, if your mother had a Mulberry bag, you were lucky,” Caroline recalled. “Now I’ve made my own — with the lining on the outside instead of hidden. It’s all about turning memory inside out.”

Founded in 2022, Caro Editions has quickly built a reputation for blending romantic nostalgia with modern ease. Often working with deadstock fabrics from Chanel, Dries Van Noten, and Harris Tweed, the label champions craft, sustainability, and individuality — always with a playful twist.

“I resist the idea of the Caro girl,” said Caroline. “I don’t want to put anyone in a box. I want people to fall in love with a piece of our world and make it their own. That’s the essence of Caro Editions.”

With Under the Bridge, the brand didn’t just deliver a fashion show — it delivered a love letter. To Copenhagen. To memory. To presence. And above all, to the quiet power of showing up — together.

All photos by James Cochrane, at Copenhagen Fashion Week SS26 edition.