Fashion East Reveals Exciting Line-Up for 25th Anniversary Celebration

Fashion East, a prominent talent incubator spearheaded by Lulu Kennedy, is marking its 25th anniversary this London Fashion Week. Over the years, it has played a vital role in launching the careers of renowned designers, including Kim Jones, JW Anderson, and Roksanda.

In celebration of this milestone, Fashion East will host a London Fashion Week Hub in partnership with Dazed and Nike at the Institute of Contemporary Arts. The hub will feature a retrospective exhibition, public panel discussions, and film screenings aimed at engaging students, fashion lovers, and the creative community at large.

Celebrating 25 Years of Supporting Emerging Fashion Talent

The centerpiece of these festivities will be the ‘Us Lot: 25 Years of Fashion East, powered by Nike’ exhibition, opening to the public from September 20 to 21 at the ICA’s lower gallery.

This retrospective exhibit, curated by Lulu Kennedy and Raphaelle Moore with creative consultant Patrick Waugh, offers a unique glimpse into the incubator’s history. It includes special commissions and sculptures from artists like Simone Rocha, Craig Green, and Richard Malone, along with captivating artworks from Jawara Alleyne and Claire Barrow. Notable fashion photography depicting alumni by talents such as Wolfgang Tillmans, Joyce NG, and Jamie Hawkesworth will also be on display, featuring previously unseen images from Fashion East’s archives.

Events to Engage the Community

Alongside the exhibition, a public program curated with Dazed and Nowness will include panel discussions. Dazed’s fashion features director Emma Davidson will lead a talk featuring Fashion East alumni like Karoline Vitto, A Sai Ta, and Olly Shinder, who will share their journeys in the fashion world and unforgettable moments from their inaugural LFW shows.

Two fashion film screenings will also take place, exploring the interplay between movement and fashion while providing intimate snapshots of visionary creators such as Simone Rocha and Jonathan Anderson.

Additionally, Fashion East will present its spring/summer 2026 catwalk showcase. This showcase will highlight a trio of emerging designers and feature runway shows for alumni Jawara Alleyne and Ashley Williams, continuing its commitment to nurturing the next generation of talent.

Spring/Summer 2026 Designer Line-Up Unveiled

The SS26 designer showcase will introduce several exciting talents, including Jacek Gleba, a Central Saint Martins MA graduate from Barcelona, who will be making his debut with Fashion East. He will join Mayhew, the brand by UK-based designer Louis Mayhew, who collaborates with creative partner Lara McGrath on styling.

Additionally, Nuba, the label from Central Saint Martins graduate Cameron Williams, will make a return to the Fashion East line-up for the third season.

Reflecting on the anniversary plans, Kennedy and Moore expressed their excitement: “Collaborating with the remarkable Institute of Contemporary Arts is a true honor. This season is particularly special for us, and exploring the archives has been immensely rewarding. We are incredibly proud of our alumni and their innovative work.”

They added, “This season’s collection features refined, radical, and authentic designs that we can’t wait for you to experience.”

Since its launch in 2000, Fashion East has been at the forefront of nurturing emerging fashion talent, paving the way for designers such as Simone Rocha, Maximilian Davis, Nensi Dojaka, and many others.