London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026 opened on September 19, 2025, with a palpable sense of renewal and celebration. Under the new stewardship of Laura Weir, the British Fashion Council’s CEO and a former publishing powerhouse, the event not only showcased the city’s most creative talents but also signaled a new era of accessibility and support for emerging designers. “Fashion is not just about shows and clothes, fashion gives us a preview of society’s next chapter,” Weir said at a Serpentine event earlier this year, as reported by Wallpaper. Her early initiatives—waiving fees for designers to show on schedule and expanding funding for young talent—were already making waves, setting the stage for a festival that felt both inclusive and forward-thinking.
This year’s schedule was, by all accounts, jam-packed and eclectic. The big names were out in force: Burberry, under Daniel Lee, was set to stage its latest collection in a London park; Roksanda Ilinčić, Erdem, and Simone Rocha all returned to the runway; and the much-anticipated comeback of Chopova Lowena after a year’s absence promised high energy. But the real heartbeat of the week pulsed in the up-and-coming designers—those who, as Wallpaper notes, are the product of London’s world-class fashion education institutions.
One of the most talked-about returns was Rixo, the British label that has become a staple for anyone in need of a show-stopping dress. Celebrating its 10-year anniversary, Rixo’s journey is the stuff of fashion folklore. Founded in 2015 by Orlagh McCloskey and Henrietta Rix while they were still students at London College of Fashion, the brand grew from humble beginnings—think kitchen-table start-up—to a label worn by the likes of the Princess of Wales, Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts, Mindy Kaling, Florence Pugh, and, yes, even Madonna. “This feels like a full circle moment,” McCloskey told Harper’s Bazaar ahead of their London Fashion Week presentation, reflecting on a decade of hard work, sacrifice, and, notably, independence. Rixo has managed to grow without outside investment, a rarity in today’s fashion landscape. “We’ve made a lot of sacrifices,” McCloskey said. “Ultimately, we’re really proud that we’ve been able to make this work without outside investment.”
Their Spring/Summer 2026 collection, titled “We Are One,” was a vibrant tribute to the late 1960s—a time, as McCloskey put it, “when the Vietnam War was raging and East and West seemed to merge together for the first time.” The collection was a joyful blend of painterly, vintage-inspired prints, gold jewelry reminiscent of antique market treasures, and accessories ranging from bags to scarves. Rixo’s collaboration with Liberty Fabrics blurred the lines between the two brands, and the inclusion of charity T-shirts for War Child underlined their commitment to social causes. The presentation was followed by a celebratory party, marking not just a decade of style, but a decade of resilience and innovation. “With everyone that’s been there from the very beginning and supporting us, it just felt like it was the right thing for us to do,” McCloskey said, acknowledging the organic press support that helped catapult Rixo to fame. Net-a-Porter’s decision to stock the brand in 2016 proved pivotal; within weeks, Rixo became the best-selling contemporary label on the site.
Rixo’s expansion has been steady and thoughtful: they’ve entered bridal, accessories, pre-loved items, and homewares, and now operate four stores in London, one in Ireland, and one in New York. The flagship on King’s Road in West London is a dream realized, designed with the help of McCloskey’s twin sister, Gemma. Celebrity sightings in Rixo have become almost routine, but McCloskey still marvels at the diversity of their customer base, from royalty to everyday women. “Honestly though, I think it’s the diverse range of people who wear Rixo that makes the brand—we even had Queen Camilla wear one of our bags recently.”
Elsewhere at London Fashion Week, the city’s creative energy was on full display. Roksanda Ilinčić staged her S/S 2026 runway show in the newly renovated Chancery Rosewood hotel, drawing inspiration from Barbara Hepworth and the concept of “negative space.” The collection featured cut-out silhouettes echoing Hepworth’s sculptures and prints inspired by the natural landscapes surrounding The Hepworth Wakefield in Yorkshire. The show also marked Roksanda’s 20th anniversary, with reissued designs spanning more than a decade—a testament to the brand’s lasting influence.
Stefan Cooke and Jake Burt took over the tiny Tenderbooks bookstore for their S/S 2026 preview, opting for an intimate, community-focused event over a traditional runway show. Their newspaper-style lookbook and creative window display drew a crowd eager to see what the duo would offer next. According to Wallpaper, the event was a “coming together of the brand’s close-knit community,” and a showcase of Cooke and Burt’s commitment to doing things on their own terms.
Chopova Lowena, known for their energetic and unconventional presentations, staged their collection in a deconsecrated church-turned-gym hall in west London. Channeling the spirit of American cheerleading—albeit with a twist—the collection merged Bulgarian textiles with high school sports gear, resulting in a riot of color, texture, and attitude. “It’s a rallying cry for the weird girls out there—we are rooting for you!” wrote Orla Brennan for Wallpaper, capturing the brand’s outsider ethos.
The week also celebrated the 25th anniversary of Fashion East, the talent incubator that has launched the careers of luminaries like Kim Jones, Jonathan Anderson, Martine Rose, and Grace Wales Bonner. The festivities at London’s ICA included a runway show, an exhibition of ephemera from across Fashion East’s history, and a series of talks reflecting on its anarchic, establishment-defying spirit.
New talent was front and center as well. Oscar Ouyang, a Central Saint Martins knitwear alum, made his runway debut with a collection inspired by messenger birds—owls, doves, and eagles. The show featured origami birds perched on benches and experimental pieces crafted from discarded feathers. “I want it to be full of energy and be fresh, but with a little bit of naiveness,” Ouyang told Wallpaper* in a preview, embodying the curiosity and confidence that London Fashion Week is known for nurturing.
Amid the shows, parties, and product launches—including JW Anderson’s dinner at The Ritz and Miu Miu’s fragrance debut—the sense of community and creative freedom was unmistakable. As London Fashion Week S/S 2026 drew crowds and headlines, it was clear: the city’s fashion scene is as dynamic, diverse, and daring as ever, with both established names and rising stars shaping the narrative of what comes next.
