The Designers to Watch at London Fashion Week 2026

There are just over ten days to go until the official start of London Fashion Week 2026, and the city is already buzzing with anticipation. Each February feels like a reset for British fashion, a moment to see who will surprise us, who will stay true to their signatures, and who will redefine what London style looks like today.

This season carries a certain poignancy. The schedule opens with Paul Costelloe, whose passing late last year left a space in the fashion calendar that no one can quite fill. With no successor announced, it is expected that the upcoming show will draw from the archives, serving as both a tribute and a farewell to one of London’s most enduring houses.

Still, the week ahead promises to balance reflection with the new. London remains a city that thrives on contrast, heritage and rebellion, tailoring and texture, storytelling and subversion. From established names such as Erdem and Richard Quinn to next-generation designers including Yaku and Masha Popova, this season’s line-up feels especially strong.

Below, I have rounded up some of my favourite designers showing at London Fashion Week AW26, with a few links to past reviews and collections that continue to inspire.

THURSDAY

Maximilian Raynor

A name I’ve featured before, Maximilian Raynor has quickly become one of the most exciting voices to emerge from Central Saint Martins’ BA Fashion course. The Derbyshire-born designer has already dressed Shygirl, Ellie Goulding and Rita Ora, and their graduate collection The Ballad of Two Lovers premiered with Perfect Magazine before being featured in both British and Italian Vogue. It also made its way to Rwanda for a show hosted by King Charles III. Romantic and subversive, Raynor’s work continues to blur the lines between storytelling, performance and craftsmanship, and their presence on this season’s schedule feels well deserved. You can find the article here. Or check out their website here.

London College of Fashion

I’ve written about the London College of Fashion many times, and with good reason. The institution, part of the University of the Arts London, has long led the way in fashion business, media and design education. Known for nurturing creative talent with a conscience, LCF’s philosophy is rooted in open, inclusive education and a willingness to question the status quo. Every year, its graduate presentations deliver bold ideas that push the conversation around identity, sustainability and innovation, a reminder of how deeply education shapes the future of British fashion. You can find the article here.

Central Saint Martins MA Fashion

Central Saint Martins remains the epicentre of radical creativity in London. The MA Fashion programme consistently introduces voices that redefine what the next era of fashion looks like. Last year’s graduates proved the school’s unmatched ability to merge tradition with experimentation, weaving their own cultural identities into design. Expect this year’s class to do the same, challenging conventions and offering a glimpse into the future of global fashion. You can find the article here.

FRIDAY

16Arlington

Marco Capaldo’s 16Arlington has become one of the most anticipated names on the London Fashion Week schedule. Last season’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection, The Heat, marked a noticeable shift for the brand. Shown inside the Royal Academy of Arts, it was a study in lightness and sensuality, with mimosa-scented air and biodegradable confetti setting the tone. Vivid yellows, tailored trenches, and metallic leather hinted at optimism, while fur coats and feathered eveningwear kept the brand’s signature glamour alive. Drawing inspiration from Pedro Almodóvar’s The Skin I Live In, Capaldo explored the tension between darkness and radiance, proving that 16Arlington continues to evolve without losing its edge. You can find the article here. Or check out their website here.

Fiorucci

A new addition to the London Fashion Week calendar, Fiorucci’s move from Milan feels like a homecoming of sorts. The brand’s youthful energy and irreverent spirit align perfectly with London’s playfully rebellious fashion scene. Known for its mix of nostalgia and pop-culture cool, Fiorucci is expected to bring a dose of joyful chaos to the schedule, blending archival references with contemporary streetwear in the way only Fiorucci can. You can check out their website here.

Bora Aksu

Bora Aksu’s shows are always deeply personal, and last season’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection remains one of his most emotional to date. Presented in the gardens of St. Paul’s Church in Covent Garden, it was a heartfelt tribute to his late mother, Birsen. Delicate fabrics, vintage silhouettes, and floral appliqués told stories of love, memory, and care. With its 1960s influences, intricate lace, and feather-light tulle, Aksu’s world continues to exist somewhere between fantasy and sincerity. His AW26 presentation is sure to build on that legacy of emotion and craftsmanship. You can find the article here. Or check out their website here.

Sinéad Gorey

Sinéad Gorey’s universe thrives on rebellion, and her Spring/Summer 2025 show captured the spirit of Brat Summer with unapologetic flair. Her take on prom night was part nostalgia, part defiance. Models stomped through a retro sports hall filled with tinsel and chaos, wearing candy-pink minis, pierced corsets, and diamanté-drenched lace-ups that rejected every traditional prom rule. Gorey’s collaboration with Converse and Human Mobile Devices added a futuristic edge, merging tech and streetwear into something distinctly her own. Expect her next collection to continue exploring youth culture through a lens of irreverence, power, and play. You can find the article here. Or check out their website here.

SATURDAY

DENZILPATRICK

Daniel Gayle’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection, One More Time With Feeling, marked his first London runway show and felt like a true homecoming. Drawing on the uniforms of the British working class, Gayle reimagined donkey jackets, bus driver shirts, and tracksuits in soft blush, cream, and mint blue, blending practicality with poetic detail. Bright orange swimming armbands, gilded trumpets, and braided ropes added a touch of whimsy to the nostalgia, while the orchestral finale of Pulp’s Common People struck an emotional chord. Presented at the Swiss Church, the show reflected London’s spirit of resilience and optimism, grounding Denzilpatrick’s evolving vision of modern British style. You can find the article here. Or check out their website here.

LABRUM

Foday Dumbuya’s Nomoli Odyssey collection for Labrum London was one of the most moving shows of Spring/Summer 2024, staged inside the Four Seasons at 10 Trinity Square, once the Port of London Authority where many immigrants first entered the city. The collection explored migration, identity, and belonging through vivid storytelling, weaving West African heritage into contemporary British tailoring. Masks appeared as prints and woven jacquards, symbolising courage and connection, while raffia and frayed fabrics nodded to traditional masquerade dress. With silhouettes inspired by the 1970s migration era and fabrics that combined transparency, pattern, and texture, Dumbuya captured the spirit of movement and memory. Nomoli Odyssey stood as a reminder that fashion can hold history, emotion, and hope within its seams. You can find the article here. Or check out their website here.

Yaku

One of the most striking debuts of London Fashion Week, Yaku’s Spring/Summer 2025 presentation, The ImPossible Family Reunion in RPG Space: Looking Back to Look Forward to Look Back Again, transformed 180 Strand into a living narrative. Drawing on Afrofuturism and personal heritage, Yaku staged four immersive tableaus that explored family, memory, and identity through a video game-inspired world. Using re-dyed deadstock fabrics and introducing womenswear for the first time, the collection balanced sustainability with imagination. Sculptural silhouettes and earthy motifs grounded the fantasy, while emotional storytelling made it feel deeply human. Conceptual yet intimate, Yaku’s debut proved that fashion can be both world-building and profoundly personal. You can find the article here. Or check out their website here.

Masha Popova

Masha Popova returned to London Fashion Week with a Spring/Summer 2025 collection that felt like a joyful exploration of colour, texture, and movement. Her designs, sculptural yet wearable, balanced fluid tailoring with playful layering, creating silhouettes that oscillated between precision and freedom. Popova’s palette was bright and unexpected, with jewel tones punctuated by softer pastels, and fabrics ranged from lightweight silks to structured cottons. Accessories and detailing, from exaggerated cuffs to voluminous sleeves, added a sense of drama without overshadowing the wearability of each piece. The overall effect was a confident, modern femininity, one that asserted Popova as a designer unafraid to blend artistry with practicality, making her collection a standout in a season full of innovation.

TOGA

Toga’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection at London Fashion Week explored a blend of Japanese heritage and contemporary London style. Layering remained central, with asymmetrical cuts, twisted fabrics, and deconstructed tailoring creating movement and structure. Subtle pops of colour and metallic accents punctuated a largely muted palette, while textures from pleated nylons to hand-painted cotton added visual interest. Accessories such as sculptural bags and distinctive jewellery complemented the looks without overwhelming them. The collection balanced experimental techniques with wearable elements, showing the brand’s continued exploration of form and material. Check out their website here.

Chopova Lowena

Chopova Lowena’s Spring/Summer 2025 presentation combined craft-focused detailing with a playful approach to proportion. The collection highlighted patchwork techniques, layered textiles, and hand-painted surfaces, creating a sense of texture and depth across the runway. Silhouettes ranged from oversized jackets to cropped tops and wide-leg trousers, offering contrast between structure and ease. Subtle colour blocking and muted tones were punctuated by occasional bright accents, keeping the collection grounded yet dynamic. Accessories, including reimagined handbags and minimal footwear, reinforced the handcrafted ethos without drawing focus from the garments themselves. Check out their website here.

SUNDAY

Erdem

Erdem’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection at London Fashion Week explored identity, history, and self-expression, drawing inspiration from Radclyffe Hall’s 1928 novel The Well of Loneliness. Set against the British Museum, the collection balanced tailored suits in navy pinstripes and tuxedo jackets with flowing tea dresses in pale peach and mint, highlighting the tension between masculine and feminine. Collaborating with Savile Row’s Edward Sexton, Erdem incorporated Hall’s title page as a subtle badge of honour on the sleeves, linking each piece to queer history. Hair and makeup reinforced this duality, from structured cornrows to luminous, gender-neutral complexions, grounding delicate fabrics and embellishments in a human and lived-in perspective. You can find the article here. Or check out their website here.

Simone Rocha

Simone Rocha’s Spring/Summer 2025 show blended fashion and performance art, taking place at the historic Old Bailey and drawing on the work of choreographers like Pina Bausch. The collection played with proportion and contrast, combining oversized coats with ballerina skirts, lingerie-inspired details, and embellished denim, while floral motifs and crystal-adorned pieces added both delicacy and impact. Rocha also showcased her ongoing collaboration with Crocs, turning practical footwear into high-fashion statements. Overall, the show was a carefully choreographed exploration of duality and contrast, marrying femininity with rebellion and structure with imperfection. You can find the article here. Or check out their website here.

Richard Quinn

At London Fashion Week, Richard Quinn presented his Spring/Summer 2025 collection in The Dorchester Hotel’s grand ballroom, filling the space with dramatic chandeliers, black carpeting, and lush floral arrangements. The collection combined mid-century elegance with modern embellishments, featuring sweeping gowns, voluminous tulle skirts, and floral beading in bold colours. Standout pieces included a red tulle gown with black bows, a pink beaded column dress, and a yellow floral dress paired with a matching coat. Quinn’s attention to detail and craftsmanship were evident throughout, with sequins, feathers, and pearls adding texture and depth, creating a theatrical yet wearable collection that balanced romance and drama. You can find the article here. Or check out their website here.

Justin Cassin

Closing out London Fashion Week, Justin Cassin presented a concise Spring/Summer 2025 collection of 22 looks that blended modern tailoring with a streetwear edge. Highlights included a glossy green puffer jacket paired with black sequined trousers, a distressed black blazer worn sans shirt with boxy trousers, and a series of long, sharply cut trench coats. Across the collection, Cassin maintained his signature balance of urban attitude and sartorial precision, creating pieces that felt wearable yet distinctly contemporary. You can find the article here. Or check out their website here.

MONDAY

Ashish

Ashish’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection brought the label’s signature sparkle and craft-forward approach to London Fashion Week, with sequins, beading, and metallic threads woven throughout. The collection explored playful layering, pairing shimmering mini dresses with more relaxed separates, and mixing textures like satin, mesh, and embellished knits. Colour palettes ranged from soft pastels to bold, saturated hues, giving the runway a lively rhythm without overwhelming the eye. Silhouettes were varied, from fluid draped dresses to tailored jackets and trousers, showing a thoughtful balance between glamour and wearability. The accessories and footwear were understated, letting the intricate detailing of the garments remain the focal point of the show. Or check out their website here.

Di Petsa

At London Fashion Week, Di Petsa presented her Spring/Summer 2025 collection, “My Body Is a Labyrinth,” exploring intimacy, self-acceptance, and the divine feminine. Drawing on Greek mythology, the Minotaur symbolised shame and guilt, while motifs of menstruation and self-pleasure appeared in designs and styling, including sand in hair, fake sunburn, and streaks suggesting period stains. Wet-look fabrics were paired with new menswear silhouettes like pleated shirts and sculpted denim, and an immersive soundscape of cicadas and hypnotic electronica heightened the atmosphere. The collection offered a striking mix of conceptual narrative and wearable pieces, reflecting on body autonomy and the complexities of womanhood. You can find the article here. Or check out their website here.