London Fashion Week September 2023 kicked off its three day extravagant fashionista event celebrating ‘All Things Fashion’ by Diana Dahlia PR and was an exceptional night of creativity, vibracy, inclusivity and stunning garments.
Championing ‘Unity in Diversity’ the night showcased a plethora of uniquely diverse designers from high fashion to streetwear collections, with each designer willing to share their artistic expression through culture and heritage, showcasing some of the most stunning pieces I’ve seen to date.
Headlining designer Adebayo Jones unveiled his ‘Emperor and Empress’ collection, leaving attendees (including myself) completely mesmerised by the presentation, detail, colours and textures of the pieces displayed. The collection incorporated influences from traditional African attires meshed with influences of 1950s classic formal wear, which were beautifully modelled to the sound of subtle classical music, creating a regal, dignified and classic atmosphere.
The showcase also dedicated a segment to celebrate 75 years of the arrival of the Empire Windrush, the iconic ship that brought some of the first Caribbean people to the UK, signifying the dawn of multicultural Britain. The segment included steel pan music, video presentations of the Windrush, carnival costumes and dancing along with a short theatrical piece of a couple arriving in the UK from the Caribbean during the Windrush era.
As a creative of Caribbean descent, it warmed my heart to see a part of my heritage included in the show as many often forget how significant this generation of Caribbean people were to England during the 1940s and 1950s, and just how much they have contributed to this country and its post-war development.
