London Fashion Week marks 40 years by expanding nationwide, bringing over 1,000 events to Manchester and Newcastle celebrating British style.
London Fashion Week (LFW) is set to commemorate its 40th anniversary by extending its renowned City Wide Celebration beyond the capital. For the first time in its history, the British Fashion Council (BFC) is bringing the fashion extravaganza to Manchester and Newcastle, offering fashion enthusiasts across the UK an unprecedented opportunity to partake in the festivities.
This September, LFW presented by 1664 Blanc will transform into a nationwide spectacle, featuring over 1,000 unique experiences and activities from more than 350 brands.
The expansion not only celebrates four decades of British fashion innovation but also aims to bolster retail across the country and drive the fashion conversation forward through industry-wide participation and partnerships.
A National Fashion Event
Taking LFW’s City Wide Celebration to Manchester and Newcastle is a nod to these cities’ importance to British fashion and culture. Both cities have a long history of fashion, textiles and retail, world leading fashion education institutions and great music and nightlife. For decades they have been creative playgrounds for designers and artists.
Caroline Rush CBE, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council, expressed her excitement about the expansion: “As we celebrate 40 years of London Fashion Week presented by 1664 Blanc, we are very excited to extend our LFW City Wide Celebration across the UK for the first time. BFC is committed to supporting retail and our brilliant network of designer businesses not only in London but across the UK.”
Rush emphasised the importance of connecting brands with customers through cultural moments and events, highlighting that this expansion is core to LFW’s impact. The partnership with 1664 Blanc has enabled the BFC to extend LFW’s reach even further, offering events throughout the year.
Celebrating Fashion in London
London, the home of British fashion, will be at the heart of the celebrations. Covent Garden, a shopping hub, will be the first to get the party started with a series of activities for customers and fashion fans.
LFW’s principal partner, 1664 Blanc, is set to take over London’s Covent Garden Piazza with their ‘EXPLORATIONS IN BLUE’ event. Visitors can look forward to acquiring a limited edition print from LFW designer Tolu Coker, exploring ‘Le Journal Bleu’ – a bespoke commemorative newspaper celebrating 40 years of LFW – and enjoying a refreshing pint of 1664 Blanc while having their photo taken by a professional photographer.
Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, highlighted London’s pivotal role in the fashion industry: “For 40 years London Fashion Week has been the engine room of our trailblazing, rule-breaking, world-leading fashion industry. London is where generations of designer talent have burst onto the world stage and the capital is where you can discover the tastemakers of the future.”
Manchester’s Fashion Moment
Manchester, with its industrial heritage and thriving creative scene, is ready to make its mark on LFW. Selfridges Manchester will be at the forefront of the city’s celebrations, offering a series of activations for fashion enthusiasts.
Primark, a new BFC patron, will be hosting events at their Market Street store. From 13-17 September visitors can take part in ‘Love It For Longer’ repair workshops, Primark’s first Swap Shops for pre-loved clothing and explore an exclusive vintage clothing collection from long term partner Wornwell. A bespoke Fashion Talk event will also discuss this season’s high street must-haves with a special guest.
Newcastle’s Fashion Frontier
In Newcastle, the iconic Fenwick department store will lead the City-Wide Celebration. As the fashion destination in the North East, Fenwick continues to champion both established and emerging designers, recently welcoming brands such as Balmain, Zimmerman, LEMAIRE, and Isabel Marant to its curated selection.
During London Fashion Week, Fenwick Newcastle will host a series of exclusive activations, including the launch of their latest restaurant, FRED’s – a French-inspired take on Newcastle’s own Terrace Tea Room opened in 1911 by Fred Fenwick. Pop-ups will include an exciting takeover of Roof 39 by Charlotte Tilbury from 3-16 September, featuring Tilbury-inspired bespoke cocktails, sweet treats, and an iconic Afternoon Tea.
Digital and Sustainable Initiatives
In keeping with the fashion industry’s increasing focus on sustainability and digital innovation, several initiatives are being launched as part of the 40th-anniversary celebrations.
eBay, a key player in the circular fashion economy, is bringing circularity to the forefront of fashion’s biggest month with the “eBay Endless Runway” in London.
Curated by Pre-Loved Style Director Amy Bannerman, the runway will showcase archival pieces from designers that have shaped the last 40 years of UK fashion, including J.W. Anderson, Christopher Kane, and Simone Rocha. The event will be broadcast on eBay Live, offering viewers a real-time shopping experience and the chance to be part of the front row.
RÆBURN, a pioneer in sustainable fashion, will present “RÆBURN 15 | RETROSPECTIVE”, an exhibition curated by visual storyteller Harris Elliott. The showcase charts the breadth of a designer brand that began as a radical experiment and went on to impact the fashion industry as a whole. Over 15 years, RÆBURN has been at the forefront of disrupting, innovating, and inspiring circular design.
Music and Fashion: A Harmonious Blend
Recognising the intrinsic link between fashion and music, LFW is collaborating with City Hall, Music Venue Trust, Museum of Youth Culture, DICE, and Rough Trade to celebrate the energising and enduring relationship between grassroots fashion and music in London.
A specially curated selection of low-cost grassroots gigs across the capital during London Fashion Week will be available through LFW’s Citywide Celebration portal. Rough Trade has created a special blog, featuring archive photography provided by the Museum of Youth Culture, and a curated Spotify playlist spanning 40 years (1984-2024) of London fashion and music.
Art and Fashion Collide
The London Mural Festival returns to the capital’s streets this September with over 100 murals to explore from some of the world’s best street artists. Themed around ‘connection’, the festival brings together thousands of visitors, artists, and communities to celebrate London’s diverse people and places. From Brixton to Walthamstow, murals will be popping up all over the city, offering a visual feast for fashion and art lovers alike.
Luxury Experiences and Exclusive Events
High-end brands and luxury establishments are also joining in the celebrations, offering exclusive experiences to fashion enthusiasts.
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London invites guests to step into a world of haute couture with the ‘Cocktail Catwalk’ menu. In celebration of fashion month, the hotel has joined forces with its sister hotels in New York, Milan, and Paris to create a cocktail experience worthy of the runway. Guests can savour drinks inspired by the four major fashion weeks around the world, each crafted from recipes shared by the Mandarin Oriental hotels in these iconic fashion capitals.
Karl Lagerfeld’s Regent Street store will host an afternoon of shopping with complimentary champagne and music. A local photographer and calligrapher will capture memories in a timeless black-and-white aesthetic as visitors browse the Fall-Winter 2024 collection.
A New Chapter for British Fashion
As London Fashion Week celebrates its 40th anniversary, this nationwide expansion marks a new chapter in British fashion history. By bringing the excitement and innovation of LFW to Manchester and Newcastle, the British Fashion Council is not only acknowledging the rich fashion heritage of these cities but also paving the way for a more inclusive and diverse future for the UK fashion industry.
The City Wide Celebration, with its myriad events and experiences, offers something for everyone – from high-end luxury experiences to accessible high street activations, from cutting-edge digital innovations to sustainable fashion initiatives. It’s a testament to the UK’s position as a global fashion leader and a celebration of the creativity, diversity, and resilience that have defined British fashion for the past four decades.
As the fashion world turns its eyes to the UK this September, one thing is clear: the 40th anniversary of London Fashion Week is not just a celebration of the past, but a bold step into the future of fashion. With its nationwide reach and diverse offerings, it promises to be an unforgettable event that will inspire and influence the fashion industry for years to come.
