Upcoming LFW to feature 83 designers

By

Cajsa Lykke Carlson

Published
Feb 15, 2016

London Fashion Week is getting closer and closer, with AW16 shows to take place in the British capital on February 19-23.

The British Fashion Council says the 63rd edition will feature 83 designers, including Ashish, Belstaff, Burberry, Christopher Kane, Emilia Wickstead, Erdem, Gareth Pugh, J.W.Anderson, Mary Katrantzou, Paul Smith, Peter Pilotto, Pringle of Scotland, Sibling, Simone Rocha, Sophia Webster, Topshop Unique and Vivienne Westwood.

For the first time in over a decade, Alexander McQueen will show at LFW, and British brand Mulberry is also returning to London this season under new Creative Director, Johnny Coca. A.F. Vandevorst, the Belgian brand, is also showing on schedule for the first time.

Another newcomer is accessories brand Charlotte Olympia, which will hold its first fashion show during LFW. The fashion accessories market in the UK continues to expand, and was worth £2.7bn in 2015, a 3.4% rise from 2014. In 2015, 60% of shoppers bought accessories online, an 8% rise from 2013.

Womenswear sales in the UK were worth £27bn in 2015 and the figure is predicted to grow 23% by 2020 to £32bn (Mintel, 2016). The UK fashion industry has a £26bn direct contribution to the UK economy and 797,000 jobs are supported by it.

Eighty designers from 24 countries will show as part of the International Fashion Showcase at Somerset House, and there are three films supported by Fashion Film sponsored by River Island this season: Dorateymur, House of Holland and Sibling x River Island. The season will also see sunglass collections by Alexander McQueen, Preen and House of Holland introduced into key Sunglass Hut London stores and online to celebrate LFW.

£12.4bn was spent on fashion online in the UK in 2015, up 16% from £10.7bn in 2014 (Mintel, 2015).