London Fashion Week S/S 2020 Goes on Despite Coronavirus

The pandemic has sunk its claws into many high scaled events, yet London Fashion Week has managed to pull through with confirmed physical shows. 

Despite Boris Johnson’s announcing of restrictions for private and public gatherings of more than 6, London Fashion Week will be continuing with both physical and online shows. London Fashion Week (LFW) will run from the 17th September to 22nd September showcasing the new styles and trends of Spring/Summer, with 31 of the 81 designers incorporating some physical element into the show. The physical shows are still required to practice social distancing and other covid-safe guidelines such as a smaller stage and limited entry. Big designers such as JW Anderson, Victoria Beckham, Christopher Kane and many more will be participating in the anticipated event and the online shows will also include exclusive content from designers. 

The Coronavirus pandemic and amalgamation of an online and physical show is not the only reason why LFW will be different this year. This year’s show will be definitely revolutionary as it will be completely gender neutral, meaning that both womenswear, menswear and gender-neutral fashion will participate on the same stage for the first time in fashion history. Womenswear and menswear have been separated since 1984 aka the start of LFW.

Caroline Rush, British Fashion Council Chief Executive, shared with ELLE that “It is essential to look at the future and the opportunity to change, collaborate and innovate” in response to the decision to make LFW gender-neutral. 

Despite the big names and brands that will be participating, the success of the London Fashion Walk is not concrete as many people have been feeling the economic strains caused by the pandemic. As cases continue to rise with no end to sight, many brands will be desperate to reel in potential consumers as the luxury goods industry is at risk.  Furthermore, with the continually rising cases of the Coronavirus in the UK, civilians are definitely feeling a sense of uneasiness as we have seen innocent gatherings turn into unrepairable clusters.