LONDON — A tough start for incoming chief executive officer Laura Weir; the British Fashion Council said on Friday that there will be no stand-alone London Fashion Week in June.
In response to the evolving fashion landscape and feedback from the BFC’s community of designers and brands, the BFC said it will instead double down on its support for London-based brands to meet international buyers in Paris by committing to host London Show Rooms four times a year.
Last June, the BFC introduced a new format encompassing cultural programs, fashion activities and parties to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
A spokesperson for the BFC said the focus this June will be on championing British menswear and strengthening its presence both locally and internationally.
“Taking a digital-first approach, we will collaborate with buyers and media partners and leverage our own channels to spotlight the evolving story of British menswear, introducing and promoting designers to new audiences. This will be woven into our existing content streams, highlighting British designers presenting in other markets and exploring the evolution of menswear,” the spokesperson said.
“By scaling back to more targeted programs this June in London and Paris, we aim to create strong foundations to amplify the message of our brilliant British menswear businesses. We recognize the challenges the sector faces both in the U.K. and globally and remain committed to amplifying the voices of British menswear designers as they navigate an ever-changing fashion landscape and will continue to adapt and find ways to platform our brilliant British menswear business,” the person added.
The London Show Rooms has been an integral part of the BFC’s support for emerging talents since 2008. It was shelved during the COVID-19 pandemic, and its funding from the European Regional Development Fund was cut following Brexit.
The program now sits under the BFC Foundation and made its return to Paris in Janurary 2023 with Tranoï.
The next London Show Rooms will run from June 26 to July 1 in Paris, coinciding with the upcoming Paris Men’s Fashion Week.
“We are delighted to confirm that London Show Rooms during Paris Fashion Week will provide an opportunity four times a year for BFC Foundation designers to generate sales and develop their relationships with international media outside of a show environment, reinforcing our commitment to providing vital commercial opportunities for British designers,” the spokesperson said.
