By Alanna Lawson
Burberry’s ‘The Birds and The Bees’ collection, neo-gothic glamour and Westwood’s push for political independence made London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 15 a theatrical affair.
London’s principal fashion event saw haute couture showcased in world-class productions, with the integration of digital technology offering a taste of fashion’s future.
Burberry Chief Creative, Christopher Bailey previewed his Prorsum Womenswear SS15 collection from a custom-built venue in Kensington Gardens, seating an audience of 1,500 invited guests.
‘The Birds and The Bees’ collection evoked its season, with bright book cover designs, oversized butterfly prints and honey bees casting the hand-painted runway in color.
Other designers took a darker approach, with Erdem opting for rich lace and jungle foliage to accent Victorian structures, while Sophia Webster recreated a jungle rave for her SS15 footwear presentation. Models were arguably more rave than roar.
Dame Vivienne Westwood put her political foot forward at the Red Label SS15 show, promoting Scottish independence in a note atop each audience member’s seat.
Never without a touch of theatre, Westwood’s models donned interesting accessories including a pirate hat and circus-inspired make-up, and wore badges that said ‘Yes’ (to independence).
Westwood’s son Benjamin also made a bold move when he announced that exiled Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange would walk in his catwalk show at the Ecuadorian Embassy. However due to ill health Assange did not make his runway debut.
With the fashion industry evolving in leaps and bounds, who knows what’s in store for London Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2015. We can hardly wait.
For Elite Traveler’s runway report and a closer look at the collections of London Fashion Week SS15 watch the video above.