This September, London will see its very first Queer Fashion Show.
The event is timed to coincide with the final day of London Fashion Week, and is seen as a way to challenge how the fashion industry has traditionally seen gender and the LGBTQ+ community.
LQFS CEO Robyn Exton (the founder of the HER app), explained
The London Queer Fashion Show is about creating a space for brands that are challenging and expressing how young and queer audiences are already seeing their identity. We’re tired of dealing with the restricting gender norms the fashion industry has been defined by for decades.
Our designers are asking the right, provocative questions; we’re really proud to work with them on creating this event and show London how diverse fashion can truly be.”
Over 50 brands applied to exhibit at the event, and the chosen six reflect some of London’s most exciting designers.
This includes Akvile Jancauskaite who designs ready-to-wear couture with lots of clean lines and 90s inspired block colours.
US-based Ben Copperwheat and his explosions of colour.
Emily Witham creates equally fanciful clothing, with a recent menswear collection based on the Alice in Wonderland universe.
Thomas Thomas is a studio founded by SJ Weston, whose website boasts of “androgynous tailoring”, which she hopes removes the need for anyone to spend hours customising quote-unquote ‘men’s’ clothing, as she did.
Ingrid Kraftchenko is probably the most explicitly political exhibitor, albeit with a playful touch.
Bespoke tailor and London College of Fashion graduate Jack Goode completes the line-up.
On the other side of the curtain, models like Rain Dove and transgender activist Sam Moir Smith will be walking the catwalk and showing off the garms.
The event will be followed by an after party, where Wiggy Workshop will be on hand, bringing with them their glittering collection of hairpieces.
Tickets for the event cost £25 (although fashion show-only or after party-only tickets can be purchased too) and doors open at 6pm.
London Queer Fashion Show comes to Hackney Showroom (Amhurst Terrace, E8 2BT) on Wednesday 20 September.
