Trouble on the horizon for London Fashion Week?
As the bi-annual event packs up and leaves chilly London for Milan it threatens to be pushed from the prestigious style calendar altogether.
Designer powerhouse Gucci pulled some of their models out of the British event early to be in Milan ahead of their runway show today for fittings and rehearsals.
The stunt has left London casting and modelling agencies reeling and are demanding that the British Fashion Council reorganise the London week next year so as to avoid the supposed bullying tactics of other countries.
London Fashion Week is unfortunately placed between heavyweight weeks New York and Milan with only a day, sometimes hours between the end of one and the start of another. Not only does this make it difficult for internationally regarded models to make it from one event to the other in time, but it also poses problems for journalists and powerful editors getting to see some shows.
This threatens future shows as it means that the difficulties surrounding LFW will put off designers wanting to show in the supposed Fashion capital of the world. If designers cannot get the models that they want, then there will not be the high profile names showing on the runways, meaning advertising and funds for the event will not be enough to sustain it for much longer.
Those blaming the British Fashion Council want them to stand up to the money and power in New York and Milan to keep London on the map. Changing the dates of the London Fashion Week will make it easier for world-class models to attend all the events without having to compromise London in the middle of the fashion-off sandwich.
FemaleFirst Jenna Fordie
twitter: @Jenna_FAM
Tagged in London Fashion Week