Catwalks at the London Fashion Week rocked the English capital

London Fashion Week (LFW) has rocked the catwalks in the capital and welcomed over 5,000 overseas guests from 58 countries proving London is a major player on the global stage.

Ahead of LFW Britain’s fashion conscious Prime Minister Theresa May and Chairman of the British Fashion Council Dame Natalie Massenet welcomed representatives from across the British fashion industry to a reception at 10 Downing Street. Theresa May emphasised the importance of the UK’s fashion industry which generates orders of over £100million each season.  Fashion is one of UK’S greatest success stories, contributing £28billion to Britain’s economy and supporting nearly 900,000 jobs, double the national average, with growth in retail, manufacturing and wholesale, this growth is greater than that of the UK GDP which only grew 5% in the same period; in 2015 the UK spent £12.4billion on fashion.

The 64th edition of LFW featured 83 designers showcasing their Spring/Summer 2017 collections. This year Indian designer Ashish Gupta is celebrating 10 years of showing at LFW and was inspired by the poet Rumi, Gupta first showed at LFW in 2005 and went on to win the New Generation award three times.

Prime Minister Theresa May said: “British fashion is of huge importance to our country… LFW is one of the biggest and most influential fashion events in the world…The Government I lead will do everything we can, including providing the right investment in training and skills, to help everyone, whatever people’s backgrounds, to go as far as their talents can take them… From our home grown start-ups to international fashion houses – every business in the industry will play a major role in ensuring we make a success of Brexit, by taking advantage of the opportunities that leaving the EU gives us and playing to our strengths as a great trading nation”.

Dame Natalie Massenet said, “This event is a sign of the ongoing value that the government places on our industry as we remain at the heart of the UK’s future. Our designers continue to grow their businesses, embrace technology and innovate…Our businesses reach further through live streamed catwalk shows to 180 countries taking the runways to a truly global audience. London is unique. It is a great place to live and work. It is a dynamic fashion, business, creative and cultural capital”.

The 64th edition of LFW featured 83 designers showcasing their Spring/Summer 2017 collections. This year Indian designer Ashish Gupta is celebrating 10 years of showing at LFW and was inspired by the poet Rumi, Gupta first showed at LFW in 2005 and went on to win

the New Generation award three times. Born in Delhi, the son of two doctors, he studied Fine Art in India, and then moved to London to complete an MA at Central St Martin’s (College of Art and Design). After graduating in 2000 his plans to work in a Paris design studio were foiled when his bag containing his entire portfolio of work and his cash were stolen at a Paris station. He began by making clothes for friends until being spotted by Browns Focus, who gave him his first order in 2001. Renowned for his clever use of sequins, Gupta exuberantly mixes sportswear, highoctane glamour and intricate craftsmanship. His beautiful, creations are manufactured in-house at his workshop in India. Gupta’s celebrity clients include: Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Karlie Kloss, Katy Perry, Lily Allen, Lindsey Lohan, Madonna, M.I.A, Miley Cyrus, Paloma Faith, Rihanna, Rita Ora and Taylor Swift.