The Unmissable Highlights Of London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026
The recently-concluded London Fashion Week SS2026 was more than a fashion showcase; it entered UK Parliament debates and underscored its role in driving the country’s economy. Consequentially, the runway championed inclusivity, diversity, and creativity, with debuts from India like Anamika Khanna’s AK/OK, shows by powerhouse houses Simone Rocha, Burberry, and Erdem alongside shows by fresh talents
After the stardust has settled at the fragmented New York Fashion Week, all eyes are at London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026. It’s perhaps the only fashion show that’s debated in political circles, in the UK Parliament. Why? The charm of the fashion event goes beyond mere runway shows. Organising body British Fashion Council (BFC) under the new boss Laura Weir, are making every attempt to position LFW as the UK’s economic driver in a fractured economy amidst Brexit fallout, supply chain struggles, and global competition, as per reports.
As Weir’s aim is to bring back London’s influence in the global fashion world, the LFW is leaving no stone unturned to do so. From waiving off participation fee for the designers, to making it inclusive by including first timers and emerging designers, it was full of pleasant surprises and unpredictable fashion showcases.
Must-watch shows
The Spring/Summer 2026 shows began with Harris Reed, who opened the night on a theatrical and romantic note. From structured column skirts paired with feather embellished corset tops, flared trousers that fade into two tones to animal printed bodysuits, each ensemble looked like wearable art.
In the subsequent days, the runway saw mainstays like Simone Rocha, Burberry, Chopova Lowena, and Emilia Wickstead. Simone Rocha explored the whimsical yet poetic beauty of girlhood, inspired by Justine Kurland’s Girl Pictures. The runway was straight out of dreamland with a romantic palette of soft pastels and neutrals, twisted satin flowers, pannier silhouettes, tulle, and eye-catching pillow shaped handbags. Burberry drowned everyone in nostalgia bringing the British Country core vibe. The models dished out structured suits, trenches, swing coats and mini dresses in acid greens in a nod to tradition and innovation. Chopova Lowena brought the eccentric cheerleader-centric edit playing with colour combinations, quirky collages, and dangling adornments where models flexed ruffled hoodies, embellished varsity jackets, chained skirts and glamorous bras in a space that blurred the line between eclectic and chaotic.
Milestone Celebrations
The runway also marked 20th anniversaries for Erdem and Roksanda. At Erdem, streamlined tailoring and fluid silhouettes merged structure with ease, evoking modern grace. Roksanda borrowed from Barbara Hepworth’s sculptures and the landscapes surrounding The Hepworth Wakefield translating them into river-inspired prints, sculptural cut-outs, and textured raffia.
Design incubator, Fashion East, which marked its 25th anniversary had put out a show with fresh talents like Jacek Gleba, Louis Mayhew, and Cameron Williams. On view were mixed-textile outfits, deconstructed layered ensembles, oversized feather-like jackets, paint-splattered detailing, and sheer cream trousers all of which were paired with accessories.
Home and the World
London Fashion Week also bridged the gap with the world with the debut of India’s Anamika Khanna’s AK/OK and Hungarian label Nanushka’s showcase. Khanna presented at Hamleys, the iconic toy store taking us back to a chamber of memories. “There was this feeling of nostalgia in the collection,” Khanna shared. “This girl went back to her grandmother’s home after many years, and it evoked these childhood memories. The same feeling came when you entered Hamleys; everyone was transported back. It felt like the right emotional connection.”
The runway saw a meld of traditional embroidery and modern design. From Chikankari embroidery on coats aired with slouchy trousers to jeans, corset tops, skirts, and boots embellished with silvery elements the edit challenged the notion that Indian fashion is “too ethnic” or “too formal,” offering new ways to wear silhouettes.
Platform for Emerging Voices
The Spring/Summer 2026 shows also gave a platform to emerging design voices like Dreaming Eli, Kyle Ho, Lucila Safdie, Rory William Docherty and more alongside returning talents like Aaron Esh and Ahluwalia and.
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Of them, Dreaming Eli’s show captivated many for its sensuous showcase where reworked tweed, sheer fabrics & corsetry and embroidered “Amore” motifs on nude mesh, brought in romantic aesthetic against the backdrop of a Gothic church while Lucila Safdie grabbed the attention of girls with its frilled tops and skirts, itsy-bitsy bottoms, slim pants, and short dresses to bring back the joy of girlhood.