It's time to enter a new era for London Fashion Week. After joining the British Fashion Council as chief executive officer, Laura Weir unveiled significant changes to London Fashion Week to strengthen the fashion economy for British designers in the UK and globally.
Last season, the BFC announced its decision to eliminate its menswear runways in June, opting for the London show Room project taking place during Paris Fashion Week. Weir unveiled a series of developments starting from September. First, the BFC will waive London Fashion Week fees for designer members showing physically in September. Historically, a brand has to pay a listing fee to be shown as part of the LFW official calendar. Still, to maintain a BFC member status, a brand needs to pay between 500 pounds to 10,000 pounds a year, depending on its annual turnover. Weir also confirmed that the BFC will increase scholarship funding and has secured a three-year funding commitment from the British government department for Culture, Media and Sport to the BFC Newgen program. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport in January initially committed an additional 1 million pounds in funding for the next year. Some of the designers who have become the most interesting names in the fashion industry over the years come from London, thanks also to Central Saint Martins' support, including Stella McCartney, Jonathan Anderson, and John Galliano. The budget allocated to the guest program this fall will be doubled as well to bring in more international press and buyers to come to London to meet the designers in person.
"British fashion is not only culturally powerful, but commercially essential. We look forward to working with the Government and our partners to deliver the next era of growth, creativity, and global influence in British fashion,” said Laura Weir, ceo of the British Fashion Council. Weir also emphasized that the BFC shouldn't be exclusively London-focused. To decentralize and recognize national excellence and make the UK accessible to the world, the BFC is launching a creative education program called Fashion Assembly. Conceived by Sarah Mower, the BFC’s ambassador for emerging talent, the program will take designers back to their old schools across the country, to let young people outside of London envision themselves in this industry in the future.
In recent months, Weir has had numerous conversations with London’s creative industry and met with government representatives from Hong Kong, India and the Middle East. “What strikes me is how these superpowers are investing in culture as they build their strategic positions on the global stage. Some are meeting me to find out more about London Fashion Week, and then their governments are investing millions of pounds in building their own. They understand that investment in culture leads to the commercial and reputational success of a nation,” she said. At the end of her speech, Weir urged the BFC’s patrons, retailers, designers, and cultural and commercial leaders to rise together. “Fashion is not just about shows and clothes. Fashion gives us a preview of society’s next chapter. It’s time to write a new story together.”
Laura Weir replaces Caroline Rush, who has led the UK body for the past 15 years and announced her intention to step away from the organization last year. Rush has extensive retail experience, having served as creative director of Selfridges department store, as well as experience in publishing, including contributions to Drapers, Elle UK, and ES magazine. The next London Fashion Week will take place from September 18 to 22, 2025.
Photo: Richard Quinn
