Marking a major reset for British fashion.
The British Fashion Council is entering a new era, and Laura Weir is leading the charge. As the newly appointed CEO, following Caroline Rush’s departure, Weir is rolling out major reforms aimed at making London Fashion Week more accessible, global, and creatively ambitious through renewing focus on reducing barriers to entry and elevating voices.
In a strategic shift, standalone menswear shows in June have been cut. Instead, menswear collections will now be shown in September, aligning with womenswear and genderless presentations. The plan is that this consolidation will reduce the scheduling and financial pressure on designers and entice buyers and media to show up for a more streamlined, high-impact event. The fashion body is also doubling its investment in its guest program, with new plans aiming to make London stand out on the global fashion map by drawing distinct voices from around the world, amplifying London’s creativity on the world stage.
Alongside a significant increase in scholarship funding for BFC-supported students and a dedicated show space for BFC’s NEXT GEN designers. A crucial development has been the waiving of participation fees to be on the official LFW schedule. Concerned about the loss of Britain’s design talents to other fashion capitals such as Milan or Paris, the BFC has said it is waiving runway fees for brands, making runway dreams possible for designers. This policy is set to have the most impact as it breaks down financial obstacles and empowers emerging designers to present provocative, ambitious ideas.
As the calendar slims down and the programs build up, the fashion world looks forward to the next iteration of London Fashion Week, which will take place from September 18 – 22, 2025.
PHOTO CREDIT: @BFC
