London goes fur-free as kicks off its leg
of fashion week shows
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[September 14, 2018]
By Marie-Louise Gumuchian and Jayson Mansaray
LONDON (Reuters) - London Fashion Week
kicked off on Friday, declaring itself fur-free for the first time as an
increasing number of designers seek to better their green credentials.
The five-day trade event, the second leg of the month-long spring/summer
2019 catwalk season, has fewer big names than New York, Milan and Paris
but draws buyers, journalists and bloggers from around the world for its
emerging talent and established brands such as Burberry, Christopher
Kane and Erdem.
According to a survey by the British Fashion Council (BFC), no animal
fur will feature on the London catwalks or in designer presentations
this season.
"We ask every season whether fur will be represented on the catwalk or
in presentations...This is the first time that designers have said that
there will be 100 percent no fur on the catwalk," BFC Chief Executive
Caroline Rush told Reuters.

"I think it just reflects a change in their creative choices and the
power of the consumer and really thinking about the images that they're
putting out through fashion week."
Burberry last week said it would no longer use real fur, the latest
fashion house to ditch animal skin amid growing pressure from animal
rights groups and younger clients' changing tastes. Other labels turning
their back on fur include Italian luxury labels Versace and Gucci.
"Of the big four (fashion capitals), (London) is certainly the first
that can say that we'll be 100 percent fur free this time," Rush added.
Getting the ball rolling with a bold and colorful show, designer Richard
Malone chose hot pink, mustard yellow and sharp blues and greens for his
edgy collection which appeared to draw on 1960s-1980s influences.
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A model presents a creation at the J. JS Lee catwalk show at London
Fashion Week Women's, London, Britain September 14, 2018.
REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

Models strutted in light jackets with exaggerated shoulders,
tasseled mini-skirts and narrow over-the-knee biker shorts worn with
chunky platform boots. Printed tops featured the face of a stranger
in a crowd, according to show notes.
Asked to describe the line, Malone said it was "bossy and fun ...
like fun for a women to wear, and also quite powerful for a women to
wear."
The women's clothing market grew by 3.2 percent to 28.4 billion
pounds ($37.26 billion) last year in Britain, according to market
research firm Mintel, and sales are forecast to increase to 33.5
billion pounds in 2022.
Among the highlights this season is Victoria Beckham who is
celebrating 10 years in fashion by bringing her catwalk show to
London from New York, and the first collection by Burberry's new
chief creative officer Riccardo Tisci. ($1 = 0.7623 pounds)
Graphic on UK womenswear sales: https://tmsnrt.rs/2NIg9Lk
(Reporting By Marie-Louise Gumuchian and Jayson Mansaray; Writing by
Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
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