As all of us Fashionistas will know, this year’s London Fashion Week is fast approaching. Get ready to go weak at the knees with upcoming sneak previews of new ranges, styling and beauty masterclasses and exclusive events at the capital’s biggest fashion celebration of the year! The official event will kick off on the 13th September until the 17th September, showcasing the Spring/Summer 2014 collections of some of the industry’s leading designers, firmly positioning London and British fashion on the worldwide stage.
Yet Oxford Street has gone one step further teaming up with the British Fashion Council to create the ‘Oxford Street Fashion Showcase’, commencing from the 1st September lasting 17 days. So even more time for us ordinary shoppers to mix with catwalk superstars and top designer. I definitely cannot wait! The streets of London’s leading shopping location will be decorated with 75 12-foot flags featuring the images of the Autumn/Winter 2013 catwalk designs from leading Brit designers including Alice Temperley, House of Holland, Matthew Williamson, TopShop Unique and Giles Deacon. “It is such a privilege to be a part of this project, bringing British fashion and designers to one of the most iconic shopping destinations in the world,” said Matthew Williamson.
The Fashion Showcase is in collaboration with a host of our favourite high street flagships stores located on Oxford Street, such as River Island, HnM, Topshop and Gap; as well as shopping goliaths Selfridges, John Lewis and House of Fraser.
In addition to the aforementioned beauty and styling sessions on offer, career guidance for those wishing to pursue a career in the industry will also be available. This is a fabulous chance to gain real insight from industry experts if you want to become the next Mary Portas or (ASOS Founder) Nick Robertson.
British Fashion Council CEO, Caroline Rush, said the pairing of LFW and Oxford Street is, “to encourage the celebration of the creativity of British designers” and “everyone walking down the street can feel part of something that is great for the reputation of the country”. I think this undoubtedly cements the fact that fashion is imperative for the country as a united form of communication.
However, this is not the only great occasion planned for Oxford Street this year, as the New West End Company has invested six-figures into an exciting rebranding scheme for one of the most recognisable streets in the world over the next 5 years. This is in a bid to fight off proficient rivals such as the highly successful Westfield shopping centres as well as increase revenue for the area, sanctioning it as “the most powerful fashion destination in the world”, says Jace Terrell, director of communications for the company. The new brand will be called ‘Ox. St’ as of the start of London Fashion Week and will feature a very fitting strapline ‘it all starts here’ across all marketing.
2013 also sees a London Fashion week ‘first’ in the lending of its name to Toni&Guy’s professional hair care range Label.m, as part of an official product endorsement deal. The product line will be launched at LFW and will be sold in over 5,000 appointed salons in 41 countries, giving greater exposure to the UK’s biggest fashion event.
By Adrianna Haynes