London Fashion Week 2024, marking its 40th year, is showcasing a mix of established designers and emerging talents, emphasising sustainability amidst current economic challenges.
Designers like Paul Costelloe, Burberry, and Simone Rocha share the stage with rising stars Tolu Coker and Conner Ives, who focus on collaborative and eco-conscious designs. Despite economic hurdles, the event maintains its reputation as a creative celebration. As the event concludes, it leaves behind a legacy of creativity and resilience, paving the way for a future prioritising sustainability, conscious fashion, and emerging talent.
Specific brands, from both ends off the hierarchy, contribute to the sustainability narrative. Teesside-based Neuthread debuts at London Fashion Week 2024, transforming materials destined for landfills into high-fashion items.
Patrick McDowell introduces a groundbreaking business model prioritising zero-impact growth and sustainability.
The AW24 collection focuses on limited edition quantities and transparent traceability, emphasising lasting relationships with clients and conscious consumption.
UpSlowUse, a Ukraine-based circular fashion brand, showcases its Spring-Summer 2024 collection, blending upcycled denim with avant-garde cuts and personal narratives, challenging the notion that sustainability hinders creativity.
However, data from Gumtree's circular economy platform reveals consumer concerns about London Fashion Week's influence on fast fashion waste from last years event. Over half of consumers believe the event promotes trend-driven consumption, leading to increased waste.
Pressure to stay 'on trend' drives 46% of adults to buy new clothes, with 23% replicating runway styles, impacting climate anxiety for 41% of younger generations. Most respondents hold brands accountable for industry change, desiring transparency on sustainability efforts (73%). Suggestions for improvement include featuring more pre-loved fashion and encouraging second-hand purchasing: trends that should be taken into this years runways to increase environmental awareness.
In comparison, InCopenhagen Fashion Week, Ganni A/S hosted an exhibition dedicated to future materials, part of the 'Fabrics of the Future' initiative. Ganni, launched in 2022, phased out all virgin leather from collections by the end of 2023, prioritising lower carbon and preferred materials.
The question: With such strong potential for change, will London Fashion Week continue to follow suit and embrace a similar commitment to sustainable practices?