15^th October 2007

The Best Design Showcase in a Decade

London Fashion Week September 2007 was the best showcase of fashion design seen in the capital for a decade.  An exciting catwalk show schedule of 53 designers and a record number of 250 designers showing within the Exhibition, attracted in excess of £45 million worth of media coverage (to date) by accredited photographers and broadcast crews, generated orders worth approximately £50 million and a direct spend to London’s economy worth in the region of £20 million.

Highlights this season were abundant – Luella and Matthew Williamson on the catwalk; Stella McCartney’s debut with Adidas; those who attract the core of visitors to London such as iconic designers Paul Smith and Betty Jackson, young stars such as Jonathan Saunders and Designer of the Year Giles Deacon, as well as those designers who benefit from being identified as the emerging stars of British fashion and qualify for the British Fashion Council (BFC)’s sponsorship schemes such as Fashion Forward’s Richard Nicoll, and New Generation’s Christopher Kane and Marios Schwab.

Sponsorship of the event is now worth in the region of £1 million.  As sponsorship continues to increase, the marketing resources available to promote British designers increase, allowing London continues to grow in strength and reputation as an international fashion centre creating designers with global appeal.

It is estimated that London Fashion Week generates over £100 million per annum for the city’s economy, and feeds into many other iconic British events - not least those hosted during London Fashion Week - the ‘Golden Age of Couture’ hosted by Alexandra Shulman and John Galliano, and Naomi Campbell’s ‘Fashion for Relief’ charity show which raised £500,000 on the final evening of London Fashion Week with donations still rolling in.

The BFC announced the findings of the Model Health Inquiry at the beginning of London Fashion Week.  Through the support of designers, casting agents, sponsors, model agents and other international fashion centres, the BFC looks forward to realising those recommendations, within its power, over the next twelve months.

Hilary Riva, Chief Executive of the BFC commented “This was one of the most exciting fashion week’s held in London in 10 years.  The heightened international profile of London will encourage designers to continue to work and establish their businesses in the city, which is one of our primary objectives”.

-          ENDS –

Caroline Rush/Nicola Watson at Crush Communications Tel: 020 7851 4655 or /

Editor’s Notes:

·        LONDON FASHION Week is organised by The British Fashion Council

·        FASHION FORWARD was set up in September 2006 and is sponsored by Westfield London.  In its inaugural season it sponsored Giles Deacon and Jonathan Saunders shows.  This season it sponsored Giles, Jonathan and Sinha-Stanic’s shows.

·       For further information on the Model Health Inquiry contact www.modelhealthinquiry.com

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