Post-virus, catwalks replaced with discussions about sustainability and inclusivity
What does London fashion week look like in the new normal? Picture Davos, but with different shoes.
There were barely any catwalk shows. Instead, there were discussions about sustainability, inclusivity and the meaning of citizenship post-pandemic. Live events were ultra-exclusive: wary of the reputational damage to an already poleaxed industry if fashion events were seen to be flouting social distancing at an infection tipping point, brands limited audiences to tiny groups.
“The world is having big conversations right now, and fashion only makes sense if we think about it in that context,” said designer Roksanda Ilinčić. She brought beautifully dressed women to a glamorous venue – so far, so business as usual – but instead of having them parade a catwalk in silence, invited them to spend the day chatting. Body image activist Honey Ross, dressed in raspberry satin, talked about the Susan Sontag book she was reading; author Chanté Joseph told journalists about her new book about the British history of the black power movement. Wearing a floor length yellow silk gown Awuor Dit, a political science graduate and former refugee, discussed feminism with Noëlla Musunka, founder and CEO of the Malaika Foundation.
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