BFC unveils London Fashion Week: Insiders as LFW boosts consumer engagement

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Feb 1, 2019

The British Fashion Council (BFC) has announced a brand new event format for its London Fashion Week Festival, the consumer-facing weekend event that coincides with LFW next month. It’s launching London Fashion Week: Insiders, which it said “will provide unrivalled consumer access to London Fashion Week for the first time in its history.”

The Insiders schedule will take place over two days during LFW on February 16 and 17 at The Store X, 180 Strand with see-now, buy-now catwalk shows, industry talks, retail space and consumer experiences.

The BFC is also working with BBC Earth and “sustainable fashion designer” Amy Powney of Mother of Pearl in a partnership to discuss Positive Fashion. “In the first event of its kind, this collaboration brings together the global reach of the BBC, the pioneering sustainability strategy of Mother of Pearl and the fashion influence of the BFC,” to host a talk series on Saturday, February 16, the organisation said.

The focus will be the impact the industry has on the planet “while highlighting the positive tangible opportunity for sustainable fashion choices and mindful consumer behaviour.” And in a big publicity boost linked to the BBC partnership, the event will be filmed by BBC Earth and content will be published across digital and social platforms, "ensuring global consumer reach across the BBC and BFC communities.” Speakers will be announced soon.

The two-day runway preview will see SS19 collections on Sunday from Fyodor Golan and Osman with the Saturday catwalk schedule to be announced in the next few weeks.

The BFC also said that the talks scheduled for Sunday will be led by fashion industry insiders with the full schedule to be unveiled soon.

Meanwhile the event’s limited edition tote bag has been designed this time by print specialist Richard Quinn who was the headline-grabber at last February’s LFW when the Queen turned up at his show.

The event will have two ticket types available, Insider and Front Row. The Insider grants the ticket holder event access – shopping and experiential activity, a seat at a London Fashion Week: Insiders catwalk show and a fashion industry insider talk, access to the Insiders' lounge, a limited-edition Richard Quinn tote bag and a glass of champagne.

The Front Row ticket has all that plus a front row seat at a London Fashion Week: Insiders catwalk show, access to a private VIP London Fashion Week lounge, priority seating at a fashion industry insider talk, complimentary champagne, soft drinks and snacks and a VIP version of the limited-edition Richard Quinn tote bag filled with lifestyle, fashion and beauty product.