Trade Fair: Première Vision Paris Returns This September with a Focus on Innovation and Technology, Expanding Horizons with Beauty and Strategic Insight

The global textile and fashion industry will once again turn its attention to the French capital this September as Première Vision Paris returns to its historical autumn slot with a forward-looking edition centered on Innovation and Technology, and Beauty,  in response to the industry's rapidly shifting landscape. Taking place from September 16 to 18 at the Parc des Expositions, Paris Nord Villepinte, the event will welcome more than 1,000 exhibitors, including over 100 (12%) first-time participants, marking a significant milestone in the trade show’s evolution, underscoring the event’s growing international reach and relevance.

Premiere Vision Paris to return in September 2025

“Première Vision Paris’ return to its historical calendar and the ambitious programming of this edition reflect the ongoing changes aimed at better meeting the strong expectations of brands and manufacturers,” said Florence Rousson, Chairwoman of the Executive Board of Première Vision and CEO of the Fashion Division of GL events. “This event supports the future of fashion — resolutely innovative and responsible — while welcoming over a hundred new leading players in search of opportunities and development.”

This year’s seasonal theme, “Synesthesia”, invites visitors to explore multisensory creativity, with a particular emphasis on the interplay between fashion and beauty. For the first time, the beauty sector will be featured across key activations and in the immersive Prospective Area — an inspiring central space designed to showcase future-facing concepts and industry intersections. With the theme of “Connections”, the space reflects relationships between materials and beauty, technology and emotion, and innovation and industry.

Complementing the trend-led environments, the show introduces a new Talks Stage devoted to Fashion and Beauty, and a broader, more strategic conference programme. This includes four critical themes designed to help industry players anticipate market shifts:

• Innovation & Technology for Creativity and Product Design

• Innovation & Technology for Strategic Sourcing and Production

• Innovation & Technology for Positive Impact

• Innovation & Technology for 2030

To enhance business engagement, Première Vision Paris will host 150 selected guests, guiding them through bespoke, curated journeys tailored to unlock growth opportunities. In addition, pre-arranged business meetings will be held throughout the three-day event, fostering commercial partnerships and creative collaborations.

Attendees can also take part in six thematic walkthroughs, offering structured navigation across key zones — from the Prospective Area to Décor, Citywear, Eco-Innovation, Bags & Shoes, Sport & Lingerie, and a dedicated France-focused route.

The Première Vision mobile app returns as an essential digital companion, allowing users to schedule meetings, create personalised itineraries, track favourites, and follow curated visit routes for an optimised experience.

In its role as a strategic hub, Première Vision Paris aims to help industry professionals detect early signals, anticipate trends, and collectively build a resilient, sustainable, and high-performing fashion ecosystem. With change becoming both constant and imperative, the fair positions itself as a reliable ally for brands ready to embrace innovation and lead transformation.

In support of this vision, Première Vision, in collaboration with ANDAM, will host a dedicated Innovation Prize Showcase at the heart of Hall 5, featuring the 10 finalists of the 2025 Innovation Prize. These pioneers in textile recycling, bio-based materials, artificial intelligence, and responsible production represent the cutting edge of global fashion-tech:

• Losanje, winner of the 2025 Innovation Prize

• Goldeneye Smart Vision, Special Jury Prize recipient

• ER Ocean Recherche, Bioastra, Supercab, Smobya, Rodinia Generation, Petshka, Weffan, and Alphalyr

Adding to this, CLO, a major player in the 3D fashion technology space, will make its debut appearance at Première Vision Paris. Over three days, CLO will present a 250 m² immersive experience adjacent to the Smart Creation area, highlighting 3D simulation, digitalisation, and eco-design. The rarely seen showcase will be staffed by CLO’s international and French teams, offering a unique opportunity for direct engagement with one of the industry’s leading digital innovators.

Across the exhibition, six Focus Areas will provide targeted insight into major sectors of the fashion ecosystem:

• DECORATION Focus

• SMART, YARNS & ECO-INNOVATION Focus

• CITYWEAR & CASUAL WEAR Focus

• MANUFACTURING, SPORT & LINGERIE Focus

• BAGS, SHOES & LEATHERWEAR Focus

• ACCESSORIES INDEX

With a future-facing vision that blends technology, creativity, and sustainability, Première Vision Paris September 2025 is poised to be a pivotal event — offering industry professionals an unmatched platform to network, collaborate, and redefine the future of fashion.

Images of Premiere Vision Paris February 2025 edition by Lucia Carpio

Textile & Garment Trade Fair: Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris Return to Le Bourget 15 - 17 September 2025

Texworld Paris and Apparel Sourcing Paris will return to the Paris-Le-Bourget Exhibition Centre from 15 to 17 September 2025, organisers have confirmed. The upcoming edition will take place across Halls 2, 3 and 4, bringing together the key segments of Texworld Paris, Apparel Sourcing Paris, and their specialised zones, Avantex and Leatherworld. 

Together, the shows will form a comprehensive sourcing platform for the global fashion industry, spanning the full spectrum from ready-to-wear to high-end luxury.

Organisers will be hosting 1,300 exhibitors at this 57th edition, which has returned to its traditional September slot to better align with buyers' schedules. The event layout will mirror that of the February 2025 edition, which was positively received by both manufacturers and fashion professionals.

With nearly 600 manufacturers expected, Texworld Paris will feature some 600 manufacturers and  suppliers from major textile-producing countries, with China, Türkiye, India, South Korea, and Taiwan being the top five represented nations. The Elite area of the show will be dedicated to high-value-added companies selected by the committee for their excellence in quality, competitiveness, responsiveness, and logistics, as well as new exhibitors, such as Alok Industries from India, known for its premium cotton fabrics for men’s ready-to-wear. 

The Denim sector, which continues to grow, will bring together in Hall 4 (situated between Texworld and Apparel Sourcing Paris) some thirty fabric and finished product companies. 

In the Apparel Sourcing Paris sector there will be 600 exhibitors, compared to 465 exhibitors in the February 2025 edition. This growth is fueled not only by strong participation from China, India, and Bangladesh, but also by a surge in companies from Hong Kong (with over 20 grouped under one shared pavilion) and Pakistan, which will showcase a “Sustainable Pakistan” pavilion with ten socially responsible businesses.

“In today’s tense economic climate, this edition reflects the ongoing reshaping of global supply chains,” comments Julien Schmoll, Marketing & Communication Director at Messe Frankfurt France. “Through regular dialogue with industry players in key fashion cities – Barcelona, London, Milan – we’ve confirmed these sourcing trends. We’re seeing a resurgence of finished apparel offers from countries like China and India, a shift toward near sourcing, a growing demand for product innovation, and diversification of supply. Our role is to connect buyers with the most relevant sourcing solutions.”

Visitors will also discover – or reconnect with – manufacturers from Cambodia, Myanmar (with an official pavilion), Rwanda, Vietnam, and Egypt. The return of these countries to the European market reflects the ongoing shift in sourcing strategies, where quality and flexibility are becoming decisive criteria, according to the organisers.

Near sourcing is set to be a prominent theme at this edition of Texworld Paris, with a notable increase in participation from suppliers based in Central and Eastern Europe. National pavilions from Armenia and Kyrgyzstan will be positioned near the entrance of Hall 3, featuring 11 Armenian and 14 Kyrgyz companies. These exhibitors will present a range of creative products, with a particular focus on the casual and sportswear sectors.

In addition, around 30 manufacturers from countries including Serbia, Romania, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Greece, and Italy will showcase their offerings in the Near Sourcing Hub, also located at the entrance to Hall 3. Each sample in this area will be accompanied by a QR code linked to the FourSource B2B digital platform—an official partner of Messe Frankfurt France—providing visitors with detailed product data and direct access to supplier contacts.

Avantex, the space dedicated to sustainable fashion services, solutions, and forward-thinking businesses, continues to grow in response to strong industry demand. The September edition will bring together 30 companies in the area connecting Hall 2 (home to the trends forum, service zones, and the Agora) and Hall 3. Innovative startups include NIL Textile, focused on recycled and recyclable materials, that will present the first T-shirt made from 100% biobased polylactic acid (PLA) derived from corn, T-Fashion, an AI-powered platform for generative design and trend forecasting, and Materra, winner of the 2024 Avantex Fashion Pitch, which offers a “Cotton-As-A-Service” model supporting sustainable cotton farming and direct brand sourcing.

Avantex will also host three days of talks, round-tables and keynotes to explore the transformation of the fashion industry – covering topics such as circularity, natural materials, generative AI, technical skills, evolving consumer behaviors, and European regulatory changes. New this year, the Agora will host the European event Bio Fashion Innovation Day on Wednesday 17th September, organized by TCBL (an Avantex partner for 3 sessions). This day programme will include keynotes, round tables, workshops, and networking sessions focused on local production, organic materials, eco-design, and more. 

The 8th edition of the Avantex Fashion Pitch will also take place during the show, with finalists presenting to a jury comprising notable industry figures such as Carol Hilsum, Yoobin Jung, Jayne Simone Estève Curé, and Élodie Lemaire Nowinski. The event is held in partnership with IFA Paris and Messe Frankfurt’s Texpertise Network. 

The jury for this edition will include Carol Hilsum (Venture Capital Advisor & LP – Fashion Tech Consultant & Mentor), Yoobin Jung (Ventures Associate – Plug and Play Tech Center), Jayne Simone Estève Curé (Fashion & Luxury Expert & Mentor), Élodie Lemaire Nowinski (Associate Professor & Researcher – France/US/UK) and Claudia Franz (Director Brand management Apparel Fashion & Fabrics and Interior & Contract Textiles, Messe Frankfurt). The deadline to submit applications is 15 July 2025. For more information, click HERE.

Launched in February 2025, the Initiatives zone at the entrance of Hall 4, will showcase innovative and inspiring approaches developed by selected exhibitors. Highlights include live demonstrations by fashion students, from LISAA Mode, who create knit and crochet pieces on-site, emphasizing both design and craftsmanship. Pasari Textiles (India) will exhibit its exceptional handmade embroideries, while the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce will present Turkish textile know-how through contemporary artistic approaches focused on patterns and dyeing. The China Textile Innovation Center (CTIC) will host a space dedicated to highlighting Chinese innovation through a curated selection of designers and brands.

Organisers say this September’s edition reaffirms Paris’s position as a vital hub in the global sourcing calendar, blending international craftsmanship with forward-looking innovation and sustainability.

All images from Messe Frankfurt Paris.

Fashion News: Italian Designers Shine at Dubai Fashion Week as World Mourns Giorgio Armani

The global fashion industry is mourning the death of Italian designer Giorgio Armani, founder of the iconic Armani fashion house. His passing was announced on 4 September. Widely recognised as one of the most influential figures in modern fashion, Armani pioneered red carpet style and built one of the most successful luxury empires in Italy.

The announcement came just a day after Italian fashion was celebrated at Dubai Fashion Week (DFW) with La Moda Italiana Vol. 2. Held on 3 September, the showcase featured six Italian houses presenting their collections on Dubai’s runway as part of “Italian Day in Dubai.” The event was organised by the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) in collaboration with DFW and in partnership with Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The evening was attended by senior Italian delegates, including Lorenzo Canara, Ambassador of Italy to the UAE; Edoardo Napoli, Consul General of Italy to the UAE; Valerio Soldani, Italian Trade Commissioner; Antonio Franceschini, CNA Head of International Markets; and Gabriella Degano, Confartigianato Head of International Markets. They were welcomed by Khadija Al Bastaki, Senior Vice President of Dubai Design District (d3), and Jacob Abrian, Founder and CEO of the Arab Fashion Council.

In addition to ITA, Italian associations CNA and Confartigianato participated, underscoring Italy’s reputation for craftsmanship, creativity, and enduring influence in global fashion.

The Showcases

Valentina Poltronieri 

Valentina Poltronieri presented her Autumn/Winter 2025-26 collection, Sculpted Simplicity, inspired by abstractionist artist Chad Kouri. Structured tailoring and geometric forms were softened with fluid fabrics, creating wearable sculptures in hues ranging from Veil of Snow to Urban Indigo. The collection marked a new phase of maturity, blending intellectual minimalism with artisanal mastery.

Le Twins

Le Twins unveiled Good Morning, Good Evening, their Spring/Summer 2026 collection designed for versatility from day to night. Relaxed tailoring in poplin, cotton lace, and viscose balanced comfort with elegance, while a warm palette of red, sand, white, and black reflected the rhythm of daily life.

D-Exterior 

D-Exterior reinterpreted its artisanal knitwear heritage for SS26. Lightweight organza and satin met handcrafted details such as macramé lace and shimmering yarns. The palette mixed earthy neutrals with bright accents, presenting a vision of femininity rooted in tradition yet redefined for modernity.

Gil Santucci

Gil Santucci introduced bold, contemporary silhouettes that combined glamour with edge. Daring tailoring, luxurious fabrics, and striking embellishments reinforced the brand’s confident, fashion-forward vision.

Avant Toi

Avant Toi showcased an SS26 pre-collection that bridged 19th-century romanticism with modern experimentation. Ethereal chiffon, metallic finishes, and hand-painted textures evoked garments layered with history and imperfection, culminating in Home Garden, where embroidered florals and tactile knits celebrated nature and authenticity.

BE Nina

BE Nina closed the Italian showcase with Da Nonna Tina, a whimsical SS26 collection inspired by childhood memories. Voluminous skirts, crochet dresses, tailed jackets, and bloomers crafted from vintage textiles captured nostalgia through playful, poetic forms.

Dubai Fashion Week

DFW, co-founded by Dubai Design District (d3), part of TECOM Group PJSC, and the Arab Fashion Council, runs until 6 September. The Spring/Summer 2026 edition continues to highlight the city’s role as a global fashion hub where diverse cultures and creative voices converge.

All images courtesy of Dubai Fashion Week

Fashion Event: Dubai Fashion Week’s (DFW) Spring/Summer 2026 edition sets the tone for boundary-pushing fashion

Dubai, long established as a global hub where fashion, culture, and commerce intersect, reaffirmed its creative influence with the launch of Dubai Fashion Week’s (DFW) Spring/Summer 2026 edition which opened on September 1st. The opening lineup underscored the event’s international scope, bringing together designers from across the region and beyond.

Rizman Ruzaini 

Malaysian duo Rizman Ruzaini opened the runway on the first day with their ‘RIMBA’ collection, a bold presentation that set the pace for the following days, marked the brand’s 20th anniversary and paid tribute to Southeast Asia’s ancient rainforests.  The collection drew on natural themes, with deep greens, earthy tones, and bold accents reflecting the landscape’s flora and fauna. Intricate embroidery and rainforest-inspired textures highlighted the craftsmanship, while silhouettes conveyed a balance of delicacy and strength. Central to the narrative was the Malayan tiger, symbolising resilience and cultural heritage.

Heba Jasmi

Emirati designer Heba Jasmi followed with ‘Born to Rise,’ a polished showcase reflecting the UAE’s growing design voice. The collection reinterpreted femininity through architectural elegance and understated strength. Known for sculptural tailoring and refined craftsmanship, Jasmi balanced fluid silhouettes with precise structure, presenting softness as a form of power.  The palette ranged from gold and desert coral to mint jade and midnight navy, while details included embroidered florals, crystal fringes, layered organza, and body-conscious tailoring. Each made-to-order gown reflected a dialogue between Arab heritage and contemporary couture, underscoring Jasmi’s signature approach to design.

Krèsha Bajaj

Indian designer Krèsha Bajaj then made her DFW runway debut with ‘The Archive of Hidden Things,’ drawing attention for its intricate craftsmanship with couture-level detail. Renowned for her intricate bridal and eveningwear, Bajaj brought her signature craftsmanship to prêt-à-porter, combining artistry with everyday wearability.  The collection unfolded in three chapters—Revelation, Obsession, and Liberation—exploring themes of concealment, expression, and empowerment. Silhouettes shifted from fluid forms to sculptural structures, with a palette of blush, charcoal, antique gold, and burnished copper underscoring the narrative. Sustainability remained central, with small production runs, responsibly sourced fabrics, and remnants repurposed into accessories.

FLTRD

The second day of Dubai Fashion Week highlighted both emerging and established talent. FLTRD opened with ARAD and I AM, a presentation that reinforced its role as a platform for creativity, craftsmanship, and self-expression, while spotlighting diverse voices shaping the Middle East’s fashion landscape.

Erick Bendaña

Nicaraguan designer Erick Bendaña followed with The Sun and The Moon, a couture collection exploring dualities of light and shadow, masculine and feminine. Golden gowns captured the radiance of the sun, while silver creations evoked the mystique of the moon, with celestial motifs of constellations and orbits. The showcase, enriched with jewellery by Panamanian jeweller Michelle Ferrer and rooted in Nicaraguan heritage, transformed the runway into a cosmic narrative of poetry and myth.

Fioletowy Studio 

Indian label Fioletowy Studio made its DFW debut with Elevation, a 30-look collection handcrafted in pure silk and inspired by the metaphor of staircases as symbols of resilience and transformation. Architectural tailoring, cascading ruffles, and layered panels defined the silhouettes, while supermodel and actress Lisa Haydon closed the show as showstopper. The collection underscored the studio’s commitment to artisanal craftsmanship, sustainability, and bold design language.

Chic & Holland

Dutch couture house Chic & Holland unveiled 300 Hours, named for the painstaking labour behind each gown. Precision-cut crystals, sculpted corsetry, and silhouettes ranging from mermaid cuts to princess gowns evoked European royalty and baroque grandeur. The collection reflected founder and creative director Faiza Talat’s vision of strength and softness united in unapologetic elegance.

Maison Novague

Closing the evening, Maison Novague presented L’Écriture du Corps, a couture collection conceived as a dialogue between art and fashion. Working with a palette of ivory, gold, midnight navy, scarlet, and painterly purples, designer Fariba Pourkhajani celebrated confidence through fluid silks and sculpted forms. Each look embodied her ethos of timeless strength expressed through simplicity.

DFW, co-founded by Dubai Design District (d3), part of TECOM Group PJSC, and the Arab Fashion Council, continues through 6 September as the region’s definitive fashion fixture.

All images courtesy of Dubai Fashion Week

Culture & Fashion: London's V&A to open Marie Antoinette Style, the first UK exhibition dedicated to the most fashionable queen in history

Marie Antoinette (1755–1793), Queen of France, whose reputation as “the most fashionable queen in history” is rooted in the unique intersection of politics, culture, and aesthetics in late 18th-century Europe. Hers is a name that evokes a pastel-hued world of extravagance: silk gowns, towering hairstyles, satin shoes, sweet indulgences and courtly intrigue, overshadowed by the bloody Revolution that ended it all.

Book cover of Marie Antoinette Style published by the V&A to accompany the exhibition of the same name.
Image courtesy of V&A

Marie Antoinette's influence is lasting because she wasn’t just a passive consumer of fashion.  She actively shaped tastes, helped redefine femininity and celebrity, and became a global symbol of luxury, beauty, and scandal.

Now the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London’s South Kensington will host the UK’s first major exhibition Marie Antoinette Style, set to open on 20 September 2025.  Sponsored by luxury footwear house Manolo Blahnik, it will run until 22 March 2026, filling Galleries 38 and 39.

Film still from Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette, starring Kirsten Dunst. .
Photo courtesy of I WANT CANDY LLC. and Zoetrope Corp

The exhibition will examine the enduring influence of the French queen, celebrated in her lifetime as a fashion icon and often described as one of history’s first celebrities. Her dress, interiors and decorative tastes, developed during the final decades of the eighteenth century, have shaped over 250 years of fashion, design, film and the decorative arts.

Portrait de Marie-Antoinette à la rose, Élisabeth-Louise Vigée Le Brun © Château de Versailles,
Dist. Grand Palais RMN Christophe Fouin

Marie-Antoinette's Pearl jewels. 
Heidi Horten Collection. © Sotheby's, Bridgeman Images

More than 250 objects will be on display, including rare loans from the Château de Versailles, many of which have never before left France. The exhibition will combine historical and contemporary fashion with immersive displays and audio-visual installations, offering fresh perspectives on Marie Antoinette’s life, her legacy and the fascination she continues to inspire.

 Marie-Antoinette's chair set © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Highlights will include fragments of her court dress, silk slippers and jewellery from her private collection. Intimate personal effects—such as her dinner service from the Petit Trianon, accessories and items from her toilette case—will be exhibited outside Versailles for the first time.  The exhibition will bring her lavish, theatrical style to life through immersive staging and sensory experiences, including a recreated scent of the royal court and the queen’s own favourite perfume.

Fragments of a court gown belonging to Marie Antoinette © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Antoinetta, 2005 by Manolo Blahnik

Contemporary fashion will also play a central role, with couture pieces by Dior, Chanel, Erdem, Vivienne Westwood, Valentino and Moschino on display, alongside film costumes from Sofia Coppola’s Oscar-winning Marie Antoinette (2006), starring Kirsten Dunst. The exhibition will also showcase footwear designed by Manolo Blahnik for Coppola’s production.

Moschino runway show,  Fall Winter 2020, Milan Fashion Week, Italy - 20 Feb 2020.
Photo PIXELFORMULA,SIPA, Shutterstock

The V&A’s collection will be displayed alongside international loans, tracing Marie Antoinette’s cultural impact and the designers and creatives she continues to inspire.

Curator Sarah Grant described the queen as “the most fashionable, scrutinised and controversial queen in history,” adding:

“Marie Antoinette’s name summons both visions of excess and objects and interiors of great beauty. The Austrian archduchess turned Queen of France had an enormous impact on European taste and fashion in her own time, creating a distinctive style that now has universal appeal. This exhibition explores her design legacy and the story of a woman whose power to fascinate has never ebbed. The rare combination of glamour, spectacle and tragedy she presents remains as intoxicating today as it was in the eighteenth century.”

 Crystal flaskwith label ‘Eau de Cologne from the  'Nécessaire de voyage’,  belonging to Marie Antoinette.
© Grand Palais RMN (musée du Louvre) Michel Urtado

The Marie Antoinette Style exhibition will unfold chronologically, beginning with the queen’s arrival at Versailles in 1770 and ending with her execution in 1793. This opening section, Marie Antoinette: The Origins of a Style, will trace how she forged her distinctive aesthetic, from fashion and jewellery to furniture, porcelain and music. Highlights include rare personal effects such as her dinner service from the Petit Trianon, her monogrammed armchair and intimate items from her toilette case, many on loan from Versailles for the first time. Objects linked to the infamous diamond necklace affair will also be on show, alongside her final handwritten note before her death.

Slippers belonging to Marie Antoinette beaded pink silk.
Photo CC0 Paris Musées, Musée Carnavalet - Histoire de Paris

The exhibition will then explore how Marie Antoinette’s image was revived in the 19th century. Marie Antoinette Memorialised: The Birth of a Style Cult will examine the romanticised view of the queen promoted by Empress Eugénie, which led to a wave of collecting and a craze for the so-called “French Revival” style across Europe and North America. Dresses by couturier Charles Frederick Worth and photographs by Eugène Atget will illustrate the enduring fascination of the era.

A third section, Marie Antoinette: Enchantment and Illusion, charts how her image entered the realms of fantasy and escapism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Through Art Nouveau and Art Deco, designers and illustrators such as Jeanne Lanvin, the Boué Soeurs, Erté and Edmund Dulac cast her as a symbol of beauty, decadence and dreamlike allure.

Finally, Marie Antoinette Re-Styled will bring the story up to the present day, showcasing her influence on contemporary fashion, art and popular culture. Couture pieces by Dior, Chanel, Erdem, Valentino and Vivienne Westwood will feature alongside photographs by Tim Walker and Robert Polidori, costumes and accessories from Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette (2006), and works by artists and designers inspired by the queen’s lasting legacy.

Marie Antoinette is remembered as “the most fashionable queen” because she merged aesthetic innovation, personal expression, and political symbolism in a way no monarch had before. She lived at the moment when fashion was becoming a tool of identity and celebrity culture—and her influence still ripples through how we think about style, luxury, and fame today.

Interior Trade Fair Events: Decorex 2025 Unveils Line-Up for Design Talks at Olympia London

Decorex, the UK trade event for luxury interior design, has confirmed the programme for its 2025 Design Talks, taking place at Olympia London from 12–15 October. 

More than 100 speakers, including Brian Woulfe, Sophie Paterson, Irene Gunter and Livingetc’s Pip Rich, will cover topics ranging from business growth and sustainability to craftsmanship and smart home technology.

Decorex Event Director Sam Fisher said the programme reflects “the latest trends and innovations” in the sector,  adding: “We have curated a diverse range of sessions that promise to inspire, educate and engage visitors, from thought-provoking keynotes to educational panels.”

Among the highlights are:

• Style & Pitch – Interior stylists Maxine Brady and Gemma Gear explain how designers can secure media coverage and harness PR strategies.

• Tips on Running a Successful Design Business – Sophie Paterson, Charu Gandhi and Irene Gunter share practical advice on growing a practice.

• Local Meets Global – Pip Rich chairs a discussion on integrating regional craftsmanship into international design.

• The Energetics of a Thriving Business – Business coach Katy Stevenson-Bretton outlines strategies for aligning confidence and business growth.

• BIID: Scaling Success – BIID President Angela Bardino leads a panel on expanding and streamlining design businesses.

• A Problem-Solving Revolution – Jeff Hayward explores the role of smart home technology with designers Katie Earl, Naomi Astley-Clarke and NV Integration’s Pip Evans.

• Taking the Strain – Designers Christian Bense and Helen Bygraves discuss how to guide clients through the stresses of renovation projects.

• BIID: Mastering Marketing – BIID President-elect Liz Bell hosts a session on branding and social media for designers.

• Elevating the Standard – Pip Rich chairs a panel on the importance of service design in client success.

• The Empty Nest Redesigned – A discussion on how interiors can respond to lifestyle transitions, hosted by journalist Busola Evans.

This year also introduces two new formats: Design Circles, intimate roundtable-style discussions, and Brand Perspectives, curated panels featuring exhibitors and special guests to discuss trends and challenges.

For the first time, talks will also be available on-demand, included in VIP tickets or as a £20 add-on.

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.

Interiors Fair: Decorex 2025 Returns to Olympia London this Autumn with Global Celebration of Luxury Interior Design

Decorex, the UK’s premier event for luxury interior design, will return to Olympia London in Kensington from 12 to 15 October 2025, promising an immersive showcase of the very best in international high-end interiors. Featuring more than 280 brands, the event is a hub for cutting-edge design, craftsmanship, innovation and sustainability, drawing designers, architects, and industry professionals from across the globe.

Hyde House - Chelsea Collection

This year’s show will highlight a wide array of high-end furniture, lighting, fabrics, wallcoverings and wallpapers, and bespoke interior pieces, offering attendees a glimpse into the future of luxury living.

Linwood - Maru Songbird in Crimson

British Craftsmanship at the Forefront

Among the standout exhibitors is Sofas & Stuff, a British furniture brand that puts customisation at the core of its ethos. Each piece is handcrafted to order in Lancashire, and at Decorex, the brand will unveil ‘Fabrication’, a new campaign celebrating textiles with its largest-ever fabric release — 211 options including textured linens, rich velvets, subtle checks, and intricate prints.

Sofa & Stuff - 2 Stockbridge 3-Seater Sofa

Also representing British design, Linwood will present new printed linens, velvets, and embroideries, alongside its existing collections known for playful, nature-inspired patterns. 

Meanwhile, Woden & Wyld, experts in bespoke furnishings for the luxury hospitality sector, will display their new custom-made ‘Tosato’ chair featuring Annecy upholstery, along with an accompanying coffee table and decorative boiserie.

Woden & Wyld Poltrona

Longbarn will return with its celebrated range of natural fibre carpets and rugs, made from premium materials such as mohair, combed and felted wool, mercerised cotton, and eucalyptus — all crafted by artisan specialists.

Louise Heighes Studio

Adding artistic flair, Louise Heighes Studio will exhibit sculptural leather wall panels, each inspired by the flowing forms of nature and meticulously crafted from sustainably sourced leather.

International Presence with French and Portuguese Design Highlights

A key focus at Decorex 2025 will be international design excellence, with France and Portugal taking centre stage. The event partners with French Living in Motion, an organisation that promotes French furniture and lifestyle design globally.

Participating French brands include:

Biobject, with over 50 years of experience in contemporary furniture for luxury hotels and homes.

Collinet, established in 1887, will unveil the ‘James’ armchair and ‘Robin’ collection, designed for refined interior and hospitality projects.

CVL Luminaires - Paradoxe Chandelier

CVL Luminaires will launch the bold ‘Paradoxe Chandelier’ alongside its elegant ‘Ruban’ and ‘Carta’ lighting ranges.

Maison Gatti, renowned for its Parisian rattan furniture, will showcase an expansive collection of outdoor and indoor pieces.

Moissonier - Medaillon

MOISSONNIER, cabinetmaking since 1885, presents its new ‘Fontenoy’ bookcase and tartan-accented seating.

Philippe Hurel brings the debut of its ‘Yumi’ armchair and new designer collaborations.

SCHMIDT, bespoke furniture specialists, will launch new kitchen, lighting and interior product ranges.

From Portugal, AIMMP (Portuguese Association of Wood and Furniture Industries) will present leading brands including:

FRATO, a luxury interiors firm.

Alberto Dias Barbosa, LDA, a renowned furniture and kitchen manufacturer.

VISTA ALEGRE S.A., known for elegant porcelain and tableware.

Innovation in Natural Materials and Surface Design

Lithos Design - Tweed Greige backlit wall

Adding to the international flair, Italian marble company Lithos Design will display innovative pieces such as ‘Quinte’, a new marble and metal divider, alongside 3D LED backlit marble wallcoverings, and ‘Odette’, a collection of sculptural marble tables and furniture.

Decorex 2025 promises to be an unmissable event, once again cementing its reputation as the leading platform for discovering luxury interiors, artisanal craftsmanship and global design trends. For those working in interior design, architecture or product manufacturing, Olympia London this October will be the definitive destination.

For more information and tickets, click HERE.  

Copenhagen Fashion Week: Marimekko Showcases Bold Expression of Pattern and Heritage

Finnish fashion and lifestyle brand Marimekko unveiled its Spring/Summer 2026 collection in a  runway show that merged bold pattern expression with industrial performance art on August 7 at Copenhagen Fashion Week.

Staged in a former industrial site along Copenhagen’s harbour, the venue’s raw, utilitarian backdrop created a dynamic contrast to the vibrant, energetic summer collection. Known for its iconic prints and colours, Marimekko explored playful proportions and carefully balanced compositions in what the brand called a “performative expression of pattern.”

 

The SS26 collection draws deeply from the art of printmaking, with overlapping lines and layered textures forming ever-changing, human-made motifs. This visual rhythm was accompanied by a specially produced industrial soundscape, created from recordings at Marimekko’s textile printing factory in Helsinki and mixed by Finnish musician and artist YSI. The result was a multisensory experience that blurred the boundaries between fashion, art, and performance.

Creative Director Rebekka Bay described the collection as a transformation of familiar ideas into new, unexpected forms. 

“We re-formulate some of Marimekko’s most perennial styles and silhouettes and turn known ideas into something entirely new,” said Bay. “This is seen in a new version of the iconic Marimini dress from the 1960s — now reimagined as a playful summer co-ord set.”

The collection featured a vivid palette of pinks, greens, and summer blues — from peony and cherry blossom to hydrangea and spirulina — punctuated by accents of pistachio, peach, and zesty lemon. The garments created poetic interplay between femininity and pragmatism, mini and maxi, soft layering and utilitarian edge. Every look was paired with contrasting adidas Tokyo footwear, emphasizing the collection’s theme of unexpected harmony.

Central to the showcase was a celebration of the 70th anniversary of Marimekko’s most enduring design icon: the Jokapoika shirt, originally designed by Vuokko Eskolin-Nurmesniemi in 1956. Known for its genderless silhouette, distinctive silver buttons, and bold Piccolo stripe, the shirt was reintroduced with modern interpretations. Variations included cropped silhouettes, enlarged prints, multicolored designs, and utilitarian dresses — all while paying homage to the hand-painted origins of the Piccolo pattern, where overlapping brushstrokes create a unique third hue.

Founded in 1951, Marimekko remains globally recognized for its original prints and vibrant use of colour across fashion and home décor. With around 150 stores worldwide and an online presence in 35 countries, the brand continues to build on its legacy of artistic integrity and design innovation.

The SS26 show reaffirmed Marimekko’s place at the intersection of craft, culture, and contemporary style — celebrating its heritage while boldly pushing the boundaries of pattern and proportion.

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