London's New June Fashion Week Concept Looks to "Ignite a Cultural Moment"

The British Fashion Council (BFC) has detailed an all-new concept for June’s London Fashion Week that, according to a press release, looks to “ignite a cultural moment.” Scheduled to take place from June 7 to 9, the multidisciplinary calendar will include runway shows, fashion exhibitions, cultural programming, panel discussions and more activations with a menswear lens.

Celebrating London Fashion Week’s 40th anniversary, the three-day event will include a “40 for 40” schedule that will feature catwalks, presentations and events from 40 British fashion labels. The BFC has yet to reveal the contents of said schedule.

“The new format is a direct result of the conversations we are continuously having with the BFC community (designers, media, UK and international retailers),” said BFC chief executive Caroline Rush. “We want to ensure we are recognizing the business needs of our designers and providing them with a global showcasing platform, which is both relevant and beneficial.”

The summertime schedule commences with an event at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, where the BFC will invite three guest curators to highlight work from “Black culture centered around self-love; South Asian culture with focus on pattern, textile and craftsmanship; and queer culture, with a spotlight on young creative voices from the trans community.”

Rush added, “We will celebrate and pay homage to some of the cultures which contribute so much to the UK fashion industry, the aim is to build on this with different cultures each year.”

The three-day fashion event will conclude with an event at Groucho Club, where designers will be given space to produce various activations.