25th September 2026 | A Week in Fashion

London Fashion Week is Back in the Spotlight

London has been buzzing with fashion this September, as designers returned to the capital for a particularly British edition of Fashion Week. With McQueen returning to the official schedule for the first time since 2001, alongside Burberry, Erdem, Simone Rocha and Richard Quinn, the event had a strong sense of homecoming.

The British Fashion Council also reported a 19% rise in accredited buyer attendance, suggesting renewed international interest in the London fashion scene.

Christopher Kane Takes on Mulberry

One of the season’s most anticipated debuts came from Christopher Kane, who presented his first collection for Mulberry. Combining the house’s famous leather heritage with Kane’s distinctive approach to womenswear, the collection marks a new chapter for one of Britain’s best-known luxury brands.

The collection is due to arrive in January 2027 — so expect Mulberry to remain firmly on the fashion radar.

M&S Gets Runway-Ready

High-street fashion had its moment too. Marks & Spencer made its London Fashion Week catwalk debut, celebrating its centenary with a collection inspired by the brand’s archive.

From tailoring and knitwear to denim and floral prints, the collection offered a more accessible take on runway fashion — with around half of the looks priced below £50. Even better, customers could shop the collection immediately after the show.

What We're Wearing Now

London street style is leaning into colour, nostalgia and individuality. Purple, bold prints, relaxed trousers, loafers and playful early-2000s references are all making an appearance.

The mood is less about looking perfectly put together and more about mixing pieces, having fun and showing some personality.

The Second-Hand Movement Grows

Sustainability remains a key part of the conversation, with Oxfam’s Secondhand September encouraging shoppers to embrace pre-loved fashion. Resale is increasingly moving from the sidelines into the mainstream, with second-hand clothing now featuring prominently alongside major fashion-week activity.

The Takeaway

From heritage houses making comebacks to high-street brands embracing the runway, British fashion feels like it is entering a new chapter.

The common thread? A mixture of heritage, accessibility and experimentation — with London once again proving that British fashion doesn't have to stand still.

Watch this space: Christopher Kane's Mulberry, the next generation of London designers and the continuing rise of resale are all stories to follow into 2027.

Fashion Business Briefing

It's not just the clothes making headlines. The UK is having an interesting Autumn, with signs of recovery sitting alongside continued pressure on traditional retail.

Next keeps growing: The high-street giant has raised its profit forecast for the fourth time this year, now expecting £1.26bn in annual profits. Warm weather helped boost summer sales, although Next is taking a more cautious view of the months ahead.

ASOS bounces back: After a challenging period, ASOS is reporting improving margins, stronger womenswear sales and growth in its fourth quarter. Topshop is among the brands helping to drive the recovery.

Burberry finds its footing: Britain's biggest luxury fashion name is showing signs of improvement, with its first revenue growth in three years. Its focus is firmly back on British heritage, outerwear and a younger customer.

Luxury retail remains under pressure: Harvey Nichols' administration has left a number of fashion and beauty suppliers facing substantial losses, while Frasers Group continues to expand its influence across Britain's luxury retail landscape.

The bigger picture: British fashion currently looks like a market of two halves — established retailers such as Next are performing strongly, while parts of luxury and department-store retail continue to restructure. Meanwhile, brands are increasingly looking at heritage, tighter stock control, digital sales and more disciplined costs as they navigate a cautious consumer.