LFW reveals September catwalk schedule, with over 30 physical events

By

Godfrey Deeny

Published
Sep 4, 2020

London Fashion Week has revealed its catwalk schedule for the upcoming season, and can boast over 30 actual physical events. Plus, as many as 50 brands who will make digital only activations.

 
The announcement should help put paid to naysayers and prophets of doom predicting the demise of international catwalk seasons and their replacement by Internet-driven displays. Multiple designers in the UK clearly feel that buyers and editors need to clothes live in order to understand and appreciate them.
 
All told, 32 houses will stage actual live events in this month’s LFW, due to run from Thursday 17th to Tuesday 22nd September 2020 - all adhering to government guidelines on social distancing. 

Though the season begins with a purely digital display, Britain’s biggest luxury brand Burberry on the opening Thursday. Roksanda and Pronounce will finish the live physical season mid-afternoon on the Tuesday.
 
All told, there are “21 physical and digital shows; seven physical only and three designers who will activate through a physical evening event only,” the BFC said in an official release.
 
Friday the 18th will be the busiest day with physical shows by the likes of Preen by Thornton Bregazzi, Margaret Howell, Mark Fast and Temperley London.

 
Victoria Beckham is organizing a salon presentation; while Simone Rocha, Sharon Wauchob and Christopher Kane plan to present by appointment. Many designers plan to unveil films – J.W. Anderson, Bora Aksu, Phoebe English, Osman, Liam Hodges, Molly Godard and Stephen Jones, among others.
 
“LFW is one of the few international events to still be going ahead in London, proving the industry’s resilience, creativity, and innovation in difficult times. Now more than ever, the BFC acknowledges the necessity to look at the future of LFW and the opportunity to drive change, collaborate and innovate in ways that will establish long-term benefits, develop new sustainable business models and boost the industry’s economic and social power,” the BFC added.
 
Like its debut digital season in June, this latest LFW will be a gender neutral showcase, albeit primarily with women’s designers.
 
“The British Fashion Industry faces enormous challenges due to the impact of COVID-19 and the BFC keeps on calling on Government to support a sector which in 2019 contributed £35 billion to the UK economy and employs over 890,000 people,” the organization concluded.