100 Years of British Royal Fashion

Home to some of the well-nigh successful British loftier-end manner designers including Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney, London is a major actor in the fashion industry and has rightfully earned its identify as one of the almost of import iconic fashion capitals in the world.

Famous for setting trends and sporting the latest couture, the London fashion scene is a diverse array of mode and design which has been influencing trends around the world for many decades. One of the world's most creative cities, the streets of London are lined with quirky boutiques, thriving markets and high-end shops offering collections of sought subsequently items alongside unique, i-off designs.

The fascinating history behind London's mode industry has helped to shape the city into what it is today, and contributed to its remarkable reputation as a central hub for innovative way. While trends come and get, and the style is ever-changing, one affair that's remained the aforementioned throughout the years is that London famously carries the mode of the upper class, influenced by English royalty and leads the way in smart precipitous tailoring, shoe making and fine mitt-crafting.

Allow's accept a look at the history of fashion in London and how it's evolved and expanded throughout the years…

Medieval Period

While London's fashion industry is now recognised as one of the most exciting and innovative in the world, things weren't e'er this way back in Medieval Uk. Despite a thriving mercantile economy for which London was regarded as the central hub for trading and cultural exchange, the city struggled to compete with the likes of Paris and Rome in the style stakes.

It played a key role in the international way system though, as London dominated the field in the export of unfinished products and materials such as wool and silk, while also importing loftier-stop luxury items such equally embroideries and fur. Life in London during medieval times was entirely different depending on whether you were rich or poor. The rich could afford these luxury items, and the poor could only dream to.

It wasn't long before London became the identify that the richest and nearly influential of people flocked to, following the unmissable presence of parliament, police force courts and political parties in the city. The palaces of royalty such every bit Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, and Charles I all resided in London, and this collection the influence of luxury style and true English language style, for which London seeked the expert craftmanship of quality produce such as leather appurtenances from the likes of France and Italy.

18th Century

Zero was understated in 18th Century fashion. This was the time that we saw beautiful silk embroidery, exaggerated wigs, elaborate full dresses and skirts for women, and formal knee-length coats for men. London's style scene blossomed during this period, as they excelled in sharp tailoring, fitted gowns and silhouette-enhancing ensembles, much like the influences from English royalty.

London's substantial evolution during this period, combined with the flourishing social scene – which involved balls, theatre shows and court presentations – contributed to the urban center's ascent success which encouraged craftsmen and wearable entrepreneurs to fix up their base in the upper-case letter.

19th Century

Victorian way saw 18th century apparel modernised for both men and women. Men's tail coats were shortened at the front and trousers were now more accepted and fashionable. Ladies formal gowns nonetheless incorporated corsets, but waistlines were dropped to reveal a more natural silhouette and short puff sleeves were all the rage.

During this fourth dimension, London'southward wearable manufacture rapidly expanded and the Due west End earned its reputation for producing and selling high-end, upwardly market place luxuries while the more than working-class areas of the Eastward End became the home of lower value manufacturing, and however to this day remains an affiliation of cultures with a strong industrial groundwork.

20th Century

British fashion in the 20th century saw an array of different trends and styles, changing substantially from decade to decade. The shift in styles in this period is fascinating, and was largely influenced by key events in history which were happening at the fourth dimension.

During World State of war Two it became more than acceptable for women to wear trousers due to the rationing of fabrics. Following the end of the war, women began to limited themselves through more stylish fasion – a time which saw full skirts becoming the height of fashion.

Belatedly 20th century saw rebellious fashion and outlandish styles accept centre stage with thanks to the influences of The Mods of 1960s Carnaby Street and the Punks of 1970s King's Road. This was a trend that was adopted worldwide, and fast tracked London into the limelight as 1 of the major trend-setting capitals of the globe.

London Fashion Calendar week

An incredibly crucial function of the global way market place, London Fashion Week is the twice yearly highlight of the capital letter's fashion agenda, and takes pride in operating as role of the manner week Big Four alongisde New York, Paris and Milan.

Today's prestigious London Way Week events take come a long way since the very first testify which was held in a Due west London machine park in 1984 and saw designers such as Betty Jackson, David Fielden and John Galliano debut their collections.

After a successful launch in the 80'south, London Mode Week took a hit in the early 90's due to the effects of the recession. Despite downscaling the show to just a few rooms at The Ritz with a minor number of designers, 1992'due south LFW was a superlative moment for London Fashion as it saw influential designer Alexander McQueen debut his make for the very beginning fourth dimension.

LFW hitting the headlines a year later on in 1993 when Naomi Campbell headed topless down the runway, which led to Stella McCartney'due south 1995 runway collection selling out in its entirety ii years later, afterwards all optics were on London once more. Things blew up again in 1997 when, against all expectations of high fashion models, Sophie Dahl strutted her stunning size fourteen effigy downward the runway, raising questions and debates over anorexia and unrealistic expectations in the industry.

Everything that LFW was known for was transformed in the early on 2000s, when for the get-go time always, high-street manner brand Topshop debuted their styles due to high-end designers such as Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen instead making their mode over to Europe. This was a crucial signal in shaping fashion into what it is today, assuasive high street fashion stores to be appreciated as accepted influencers in the manufacture, for those who cull not to splash out on high-cease luxuries.

Today, London Fashion Week continues to bring in some of the nearly important and influential mode designers from all over the earth such as Burberry, merely has now transformed into a more accessible event in which the need for digital has played a huge part; allowing entry for fashion bloggers and live-streaming the events has go commonplace.

London Fashion Calendar week has ever been and volition go along to be an integral function of the fashion scene in London, as one of the most highly anticipated events to testify the change in mode from Spring/Summer in Feb and Autumn/Wintertime in September.

Here at Biddle Sawyer Silks, nosotros pride ourselves on existence one of the leading silk suppliers in London. For many years we take worked with major fashion designers, loftier-street fashion houses and upwardly and coming designers, supplying fine quality wholesale silk and bespoke printed silks.

If you're interested in working with united states, or want to find out more about our services, please go in bear upon with us and a member of our team volition get dorsum to you.

Read more – Biddle Sawyer Silks: Who we are and what we do

Share this post