Announcement: British Fashion Council unveils provisional London Fashion Week September 2026 schedule. McQueen, Mulberry and Marks & Spencer among highlights of London Fashion Week SS27

 The British Fashion Council (BFC) has unveiled the provisional schedule for London Fashion Week (LFW) September 2026, which will take place from 17-21 September and feature a mix of established British fashion houses, emerging designers and retail activations.

The SS27 edition marks the return of several major names to the official schedule, including Alexander  McQueen, where creative director Seán McGirr will stage his first London runway presentation featuring both menswear and womenswear collections. Mulberry also returns to the schedule, with Christopher Kane set to present his debut collection for the British leather goods brand.

Other established labels confirmed for the week include Barbour, Burberry, Emilia Wickstead, Erdem, Harris Reed, Richard Quinn, Roksanda and Simone Rocha. Contemporary designers Aaron Esh, Ashley Williams, Chopova Lowena, Knwls and Paolo Carzana are also among those showing.

The schedule continues to highlight emerging talent through the BFC NEWGEN programme, supported by Pull&Bear. Newcomers Francesca Lake, Gui Rosa and Petra Fagerström will make their London Fashion Week debuts as NEWGEN recipients, joining returning designers Charlie Constantinou, E.W. Usie, Liza Keane, Octi, Oscar Ouyang, Pauline Dujancourt, The Ouze and Yaku.

Fashion East will once again present its showcase following the BFC's recent commitment to increase investment in the talent development initiative. The programme will also feature a showcase from Birmingham City University, reflecting the organisation's continued focus on supporting creative talent from across the UK.

Several brands will appear on the official schedule for the first time, including British menswear label Geordie Campbell, womenswear designer Joyce Bao, Indian fashion label Lovebirds and demi-couture brand Onalaja.

Alongside runway shows, the SS27 season will feature a series of presentations, installations and cultural events. J.L-A.L will unveil its latest collection through an immersive presentation, followed by an event celebrating the launch of its collaboration with Puma. Meanwhile, Paul Smith Foundation designer-in-residence 5000 will present its new collection through a sound bath experience combining fashion, music and art.

Retail brands continue to play an increasingly prominent role during London Fashion Week. Marks & Spencer will make its LFW debut by presenting its first exclusive runway collection, adopting a "see now, buy now" format for menswear and womenswear as part of the retailer's centenary celebrations. Dover Street Market will host an in-store jewellery showcase, while H&M is collaborating with photographer Nick Knight and SHOWstudio on a reimagined fashion presentation. eBay will return with its Endless Runway pre-loved fashion show, which will be shoppable via eBay Live, and Selfridges will spotlight London Fashion Week designers through dedicated in-store installations and curated retail edits.

Commenting on the programme, British Fashion Council chief executive Laura Weir said the September schedule reflects the "confidence and momentum" of British fashion, bringing together established brands, emerging designers and industry partners while reinforcing London's position as a centre for creativity, innovation and commercial opportunity.

London Fashion Week September 2026 runs from Thursday 17 to Monday 21 September.  

Click HERE to explore the London Fashion Week September 2026 Schedule.

Awards: British Fashion Council strengthens support for emerging fashion designers and businesses with 2026 funding awards

The British Fashion Council (BFC) has announced the recipients of its 2026 designer support programmes, with Bianca Saunders, LABRUM and six independent fashion businesses receiving funding to accelerate growth and strengthen the UK's creative fashion sector.

Bianca Saunders has been named the winner of the 2026 BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund, receiving a £150,000 grant alongside a tailored programme of business mentoring and professional services. The award, delivered in partnership with British Vogue, supports established British designers with the potential to achieve long-term international growth.

Since launching her eponymous label following graduation from the Royal College of Art in 2017, Saunders has earned widespread acclaim for redefining contemporary menswear through the lens of her British-Caribbean heritage. Her collections explore identity, culture and masculinity, combining innovative tailoring with thoughtful storytelling.

The BFC has also named LABRUM as the recipient of the 2026 BFC/GQ Designer Fashion Fund. Founded by Foday Dumbuya in 2014, the menswear label will receive a £100,000 grant, a year-long business mentorship programme, pro bono legal support from Sheridans and access to a network of specialist business advisers.

Drawing on Dumbuya's upbringing in Sierra Leone, Cyprus and London, LABRUM has established a distinctive identity by blending African cultural narratives with British tailoring. The brand has gained international recognition for collections that celebrate migration, identity and the African diaspora while presenting a contemporary vision of British menswear.

Alongside the two flagship awards, the BFC has revealed the latest recipients of the BFC Fashion Trust, its grant programme designed to support designers at key stages of business development. The 2026 recipients are Clio Peppiatt, Conner Ives, Nicholas Daley, Paolo Carzana, Patrick McDowell and Tolu Coker.

Established in 2011, the BFC Fashion Trust has distributed more than £3 million through the BFC Foundation, supporting 59 designer businesses with investment across areas including production, merchandising, e-commerce and product development. The initiative was recognised at The Fashion Awards 2025, where founder Tania Fares received a Special Recognition Award celebrating 15 years of the programme.

Commenting on the announcements, BFC chief executive Laura Weir said the awards reflect the organisation's commitment to supporting commercially resilient British fashion businesses through its BFC 2030 strategy. She described Bianca Saunders and LABRUM as designers whose creative vision and cultural storytelling exemplify the strength of British fashion, while noting that the Fashion Trust continues to play an important role in helping independent businesses scale sustainably.

The BFC's portfolio of prizes and funding programmes forms part of the BFC Foundation, which provides financial support, mentoring and business development opportunities to designers at different stages of their careers, with the aim of strengthening the long-term competitiveness of the British fashion industry.

Obituary: The Campaign for Wool announces the death of its Chairman, Peter Ackroyd MBE

The Campaign for Wool announces with sadness the death of its Chairman, Peter Ackroyd MBE.

Peter Ackroyd MBE was appointed Chairman of the Campaign for Wool* in January 2025, succeeding Sir Nicholas Coleridge CBE, having previously served as Chief Operating Officer since joining the organisation in 2009.  His appointment recognised more than five decades of distinguished service to the international wool and textile industry, as well as his unswerving devotion to championing wool as one of the world's most remarkable natural fibres.  

“Peter was a lifelong Wool Man of the highest calibre, who knew every mill, every player and wool champion in the UK and beyond. He was a Great Man, a gentleman and a friend to so many of us. He will be profoundly missed by the entire wool community," Sir Nicholas Coleridge CBE.  

Throughout his career, Peter earned enormous respect across the global textile community. He served as President of the International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO), was Global Strategic Advisor to Australian Wool Innovation and Woolmark, and was formerly the Vice President of the Strategy Committee for Premiere Vision and former President of the Bradford Textile Society. Peter devoted much of his professional life to promoting wool through innovation, education, international collaboration, and responsible manufacturing. In 2006, he was awarded an MBE for services to the textile industry. 

As Chairman, Peter had the privilege of serving the Campaign under the Patronage of His Majesty King Charles III and provided steadfast leadership at a key time for the international wool sector. He was passionate about championing wool's environmental, technical and economic importance, helping to strengthen relationships across farming, manufacturing, fashion, interiors, retail and government while ensuring the Campaign remained focused on its founding purpose: promoting wool as a natural, renewable and biodegradable fibre for future generations. 

Those who worked alongside Peter will remember not only his remarkable knowledge of the global wool industry, but his humour and ability to lighten any room with one of his speeches and fluency in many languages, along with his generosity, kindness and steady determination. He had an outstanding ability to bring together people from across the international supply chain, earning the admiration of colleagues, growers, manufacturers, designers and retailers alike. His counsel, integrity and lifelong devotion to the industry leave a permanent legacy that will continue to shape the future of wool for years to come. 

The Campaign for Wool extends its deepest sympathies to Peter's family, friends and the many colleagues throughout the international wool community who had the privilege of knowing and working alongside him. 

Additional announcements regarding funeral arrangements and the governance of the Campaign for Wool will be made in due course.

*The Campaign for Wool is a not-for-profit international organisation that aims to raise awareness amongst consumers about the unique and sustainable properties of wool as a natural fibre and to promote the many ways it can be used and the products in which it can be used. His Majesty King Charles III first conceived the initiative in 2008, when he was HRH The Prince of Wales, and it was formally launched to consumers in 2010. As a committed environmentalist, His Majesty believes wool's natural, renewable origin and highly technical structure offer fashion and interiors many superior benefits.

Exhibition: Florals Bloom Beyond Fashion as Paris Unveils a Monumental New Design Experience

Florals are reigning supreme this year, but not in the traditional sense. Across fashion, contemporary art and interior design, flowers are being radically reinterpreted as sculptural, immersive and thought-provoking creations.

Sculptural dress and shoes by Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons, for her "18th Century Punk" Haute Couture Collection,  as presented at Weaving, Embroidering, Embellishing: The Skills of Fashioning exhibition at Palais Galliera in Paris 
Photo by Lucia Carpio

Fashion designers are moving beyond delicate botanical prints, instead embracing structural 3D appliqués, sheer romantic detailing and bold, contemporary tailoring. Flowers are no longer decorative motifs confined to fabric. They are challenging conventional garment silhouettes through texture, three-dimensional craftsmanship and surrealist forms that transform clothing into wearable works of art.

Chanel evening dress by Karl Lagerfeld, Haute Couture SS 2019
as presented at Weaving, Embroidering, Embellishing: The Skills of Fashioning, at
Palais Galliera in Paris 
Photo by Lucia Carpio

The resurgence is also being celebrated institutionally.  Currently at the Palais Galliera in Paris is exploring the enduring influence of the floral motif in haute couture through its landmark exhibition, Weaving, Embroidering, Embellishing: The Skills of Fashioning which runs until October 2026. Bringing together more than 350 garments, textile samples, tools and archival materials, the exhibition examined the extraordinary craftsmanship behind weaving, embroidery, lace-making, artificial flowers and decorative embellishment, all united by a single theme: the flower.

Le Grand Bouquet
from Uchronia at Le Grand Palais, Paris

The same creative evolution is taking place in the worlds of art and design. Florals are experiencing a major renaissance, shifting from subtle background decoration to commanding centrepieces. Contemporary artists are using botanical forms to explore themes of climate, identity and material innovation, creating monumental site-specific installations rather than traditional paintings.

This creative movement will take centre stage during Paris Design Week 2026 (10 to 19 September 2026 ), when the Grand Palais becomes home to one of the festival's most anticipated installations. Created by design studio Uchronia, Le Grand Bouquet is a monumental sculptural flower that appears to emerge from the Rotonde d'Antin, transforming the historic setting into an immersive world of colour, form and architecture.

In a recent interview, Uchronia founder Julien Sebban explained that the project was inspired by the architecture itself.

"Discovering the Rotonde d'Antin at the Grand Palais, one thing became clear: to create a work that would not merely fit into this space but would emerge from it," he said. "Le Grand Bouquet was born from this intuition. A monumental flower blooms there, drawing its lines and curves from the surroundings."

Sebban revealed that every architectural detail influenced the design, from the mosaic floors and floral ornamentation to the vegetal mouldings and circular geometry of the rotunda.

Colour, a defining characteristic of Uchronia's work, plays a central role in the installation, while its monumental scale has been carefully conceived to enhance the visitor experience rather than overwhelm it.

Outside the Grand Palais, an inflatable sculptural structure extends the experience before visitors even enter the building.

For Uchronia, Le Grand Bouquet blurs the boundaries between architecture, design, scenography and contemporary art.

The project also celebrates craftsmanship through collaborations with Atelier François Pouenat, Chromatic and PPG, Tréca Paris, Prelle, Tiptoe, Fenix and Material Bank, each contributing specialist expertise to create the layered, immersive installation.

Ultimately, Sebban hopes visitors leave with something simple yet profound.

The experience continues beyond the installation itself, extending into the Grand Palais concept store where Uchronia has created a collection of distinctive design objects inspired by the project.

As Paris Design Week transforms the French capital into a living atlas of contemporary creativity from 10 to 19 September 2026.  While Le Grand Bouquet promises to be one of its defining attractions - a spectacular dialogue between colour, shape, architecture and craftsmanship  - Paris Design Week will transform the Left Bank into a vibrant showcase of creativity, inviting visitors to explore a carefully curated trail of galleries, studios, showrooms and cultural venues around the Luxembourg Gardens. Blending newly opened spaces with long-established design institutions, each destination offers fresh inspiration and unexpected discoveries in the heart of Paris.

Trade Fair: Scoop International enhances buyer experience with talks, styling sessions and European showcase for SS27

Scoop International this season is expanding its buyer-focused programme for SS27 with a new series of industry talks, styling sessions and networking events alongside its fashion showcase when the trade fair returns to Olympia National, London, from 19-21 July 2026.

The premium womenswear, accessories and lifestyle exhibition will introduce Behind The Curtain, a new live discussion featuring the buying team from French department store Galeries Lafayette, offering visitors insight into how one of Europe's leading retailers identifies emerging trends, evaluates collections and approaches buying decisions.

Hosted by Scoop founder and managing director Karen Radley, the session will feature Womenswear Buying Manager Fanny Courtade alongside Womenswear Ready-to-Wear Buyers Alice Sordello and Julia Bonnebat.

Returning for all three days is fashion stylist, Financial Times fashion columnist and former Selfridges buyer Anna Berkeley, whose Style Spotlights will once again guide buyers through the season's key collections and trends. This season's programme includes a dedicated presentation celebrating Italian fashion to coincide with Scoop's largest-ever showcase of Italian brands.

Alongside the educational programme, Scoop is strengthening its European focus through a series of networking events, including the Discover Italy Buyers' Welcome Reception, Scoop Comes to Town and The French Interlude, organised in partnership with the Fédération Française du Prêt à Porter Féminin.

From Italy, clockwise from top left: Ripani, Serienumerica, Sayyou

From Italy, clockwise from top left: Acanto Studio, Ornella Bijoux, and Pasotti Ombrelli

The show also continues its collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency, bringing together an expanded presentation of contemporary Italian brands including Ninaleuca, Avant Toi, Angela Caputi, Ripani and Fiorentini + Baker, Serienumerica, Sayyou, Acanto Studio, Ornella Bijoux and Pasotti Ombrelli.

Elsewhere, the international exhibitor line-up features French labels Vanessa Bruno, Aurege, Zag Studio, Ma Petite Capsule, Travaux En Cours, Minuit Douze and Julie Sion; Spanish brands Dr Bloom, Sophie + Lucie and Rita Row; Scandinavian names Masai and A-View; alongside British designers and brands from Australia and the United States.

New exhibitors this season include JC Sophie, Resume, MRP Star, Alessandra Salvatore and Kore Collections.

Commenting on the season's programme recently, founder Karen Radley said the show had been developed to reflect the wider role that industry insight now plays in the buying process.  While  designers remain at the heart of Scoop buying doesn't happen in isolation  and every buying decision is influenced by conversations, by understanding trends and by hearing different perspectives. 

On the addition of the Galeries Lafayette discussion, she added buyers rarely have the opportunity to hear how other retailers approach buying. If someone leaves Scoop having discovered a new designer and gained a fresh perspective on their business, then we've achieved exactly what we set out to do."

Radley also highlighted the importance of Berkeley's styling sessions in helping retailers translate creative direction into commercial buying decisions, citing her ability to connect creativity with commerciality with her understanding of what makes a collection exciting, but also what makes it work in a real retail environment.

Images from Scoop International

Fashion News: Levi's enters Paris Haute Couture with Christelle Kocher capsule

Levi's is making its Paris Haute Couture Week debut with a capsule collection created in collaboration with French designer Christelle Kocher, marking a significant step in the denim giant's continued push into premium fashion and cultural collaborations.

The 10-look collection reinterprets some of the brand's best-known silhouettes – including the 501® jean and Type II Jacket – through the techniques and craftsmanship associated with French haute couture. 

Developed with Kocher, who is Artistic Director of Maison Lemarié and founder of the KOCHÉ label, the capsule combines Levi's heritage with couture-level textile innovation and hand craftsmanship.

The collection transforms denim through featherwork, hand embroidery, sculptural fabric treatments, floral construction, plissé draping and resin-coated finishes, demonstrating how one of fashion's most commercially recognisable fabrics can be elevated for couture presentation. 

Alongside reworked denim separates are black denim gowns, feather capes and statement headpieces, while the Levi's Baby Brooklyn Bag has also been reimagined as a couture accessory.

The project reflects Levi's growing focus on positioning its heritage beyond traditional denim, following a series of collaborations spanning fashion, music and culture. Showing during Haute Couture Week places the American brand alongside some of the industry's most prestigious luxury houses, underlining its ambition to explore new creative territory while reinforcing the craftsmanship behind its products.

Christelle Kocher

"It was a privilege to bring these two teams together and see this collection come to life," said Kocher. "This capsule reflects my life between the United States and France, two countries that fuel my creative energy."

Mathilde Vaucheret, Vice President, Europe Marketing & Brand Experience at Levi's, said the collaboration represented a milestone for the company.

"Bringing Levi's to Paris Haute Couture for the first time is a major moment for us," she said. "With over a century of history behind the brand, partnering with Christelle Kocher felt like a natural fit. She brings a distinctly Parisian perspective with a modern edge that complements our denim heritage. Her Couture-à-Porter vision is the perfect way to elevate the craftsmanship of denim."

A key feature of the collection is the level of textile experimentation undertaken during its development. Research carried out at Levi's Eureka Lab at the company's global headquarters explored new applications for denim, including feather construction, sculptural volumes, hand embroidery and advanced fabric manipulation. Campaign imagery by photographer Kayla Connors focuses on these technical processes as much as the finished garments, highlighting the craftsmanship behind each piece.

For Kocher, whose career has combined luxury fashion with contemporary streetwear influences, the collaboration continues her long-standing interest in bringing couture techniques into everyday wardrobes. A graduate of Central Saint Martins, she has worked with Bottega Veneta, Dries Van Noten, Chloé, Martine Sitbon and Giorgio Armani. Since 2010 she has served as Artistic Director of Maison Lemarié, one of CHANEL's Métiers d'Art houses, while her own label, KOCHÉ, has earned a reputation for blending couture craftsmanship with modern sportswear and inclusive design.

The collaboration also reflects a broader trend within luxury fashion, with heritage brands increasingly using couture craftsmanship to reposition familiar products for high-profile cultural moments, celebrity dressing and red-carpet appearances. For Levi's, whose history stretches back more than 150 years, the collection signals that denim remains a platform for innovation as well as commercial appeal.

The Christelle Kocher x Levi's capsule debuts during Paris Haute Couture Week this July.

Fabric Trends: Iluna Group Reveals Three New Creative Themes for AW 2027/2028 at Milano Unica

The 43rd edition of Milano Unica will take place from 7–9 July 2026 at Fiera Milano Rho, Milan, Italy, bringing together leading textile manufacturers from around the world to showcase their latest innovations and creative developments.

Among the exhibitors, Iluna Group will present its new Autumn/Winter 2027–2028 lace collection, unveiling three creative themes that explore contemporary femininity through advanced design, innovative materials and responsible manufacturing.

For the AW 2027/2028 season, Iluna Group celebrates the many expressions of femininity with elegance, sensitivity, personality and style. Through three distinctive themes, the company continues to shape its global vision of contemporary lace design.

Whispers of Romance

Inspired by the timeless elegance of Versailles and the legacy of Marie Antoinette, Whispers of Romance reimagines romance for the modern woman. Delicate yet confident, the collection reflects a femininity where innocence meets self-awareness and sweetness evolves into quiet strength. Soft shades of ivory, blush, pale pink and pearl create an ethereal, dreamlike palette.

Nature's Embrace

Celebrating authenticity and harmony with the natural world, Nature's Embrace expresses a femininity rooted in serenity and resilience. Organic textures and understated sophistication transform fragility into strength, while tones of grey, sage green, sand, petal pink and deep green evoke peaceful landscapes and a sense of wellbeing.

Opulent Soul

The third theme, Opulent Soul, explores femininity in its fullest and most conscious expression. Here, luxury becomes an emotional experience, combining light, texture and soul. Rich transparencies and refined detailing create an opulence that is intimate rather than ostentatious, enhanced by a sophisticated colour palette of gold, red, burgundy, peacock blue and deep green.

Many of the new lace developments incorporate fibres and blends with enhanced sustainability credentials, including EVO® by Fulgar bio-based polyamide and ROICA™ V550 degradable stretch fibre, complemented by Lurex and dope-dyed viscose.

These versatile lace fabrics are suitable for a wide range of applications including apparel, shirting, lingerie, outerwear and beachwear. Offering exceptional softness, stretch and comfort, they are naturally wrinkle-resistant, rainproof and exceptionally lightweight.

EVO® by Fulgar is a 100% bio-based yarn produced from renewable castor oil and industrial corn, resources that require significantly less water and do not compete with food production. The fibre is ultra-lightweight, highly breathable, quick-drying, naturally odour-controlling, thermoregulating and requires little or no ironing.

ROICA™ V550, developed by Asahi Kasei, is a degradable stretch fibre that partially biodegrades under ISO 14855-1 testing conditions conducted by OWS, decomposing into carbon dioxide and water. It is also the world's first Cradle to Cradle Certified™ elastane yarn to achieve Material Health Gold Level certification, offering enhanced degradability compared with conventional stretch fibres.

Reflecting its ongoing commitment to innovation, Iluna Group has also recently launched a redesigned corporate website. The refreshed platform better reflects the company's evolving identity, product portfolio and service offering, while providing customers with improved access to information about its collections and sustainability initiatives.

A pioneer in sustainable lace manufacturing, Iluna Group has consistently invested in research and development to reduce environmental impact while maintaining the highest standards of quality and design. Since 2018, the company has held Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certification for its Green Label collection, demonstrating a responsible approach that combines innovation, aesthetics and full supply chain traceability. From polymer to finished lace, Iluna Group monitors every stage of production, measuring its sustainability performance through the Higg Index.

The company's environmental progress continues to deliver measurable results. During 2025, Iluna Group saved approximately one million litres of water through the use of recycled fibres, which require around 40% less water than conventional alternatives.

Visitors to Milano Unica are invited to discover Iluna Group's latest innovations and experience how creativity, technical excellence and sustainability continue to define the future of contemporary lace.

All images from Iluna Group