Are high fashion events becoming more accessible to the general public?

First taking place in 1983, London Fashion week (LFW) soon became a highly anticipated event that now happens twice a year. This year, the general public were invited to be a part of LFW, through the means of Q&A’s, in person events, NFTs and online streaming.

LFW was the first to stream their runways live, opening up a space for the general public to enjoy high fashion events, from the comfort of their own home!

Since this, progress has been made in terms of accessibility. Since 2020, when the first fully digital LFW was held, due to the ongoing pandemic, accessibility to fashion events has rapidly increased. With, for example, this year’s London Fashion Week having a digital schedule too. Select shows, like Max Zara Sterck and Johanna Parv, to name a few, featured online; my personal highlight being ONRUSHW23FH.

LFW also had a “celebrating NEWGEN” event hosted by TikTok, where it aimed to “support future excellence in design and to build global, high-end fashion brands of the future”. It is a way designers can connect with Gen Z, which is important as they are the future of fashion, and will make up a large proportion of their customer base in time.

From this year’s fashion week, one free physical event people could attend was Richard Quinn’s exhibition, at Covent Garden. As well as this, people could buy NFTs from the collection and use this to buy a set of accessories for £50 (right), which is just another way LFW is slowly becoming even financially accessible, by allowing the public to purchase designer items- although these sets were very limited in stock.

From online streams of certain shows, to catch-up videos on the LFW website and free runway shows covered by TikTok- inclusivity at LFW is heading in the right direction. However, there is still more that can be done. There is the question of: will LFW become accessible enough, so all people with a 'passion for fashion' can attend? Or if this will ever happen?

Although the next LFW is now in February, we have amazing online access to find all the inspiration you need for your next outfit!

Edited by Olivia Booth