Back on the catwalk: Live shows return at London Fashion Week

Back on the catwalk: Live shows return at London Fashion Week

Catwalk shows resumed at London Fashion Week on Friday, after previous editions of the landmark industry event were forced online by the coronavirus pandemic. The sight of models and audiences together again was a welcome sight for a country hoping to bounce back after lifting most restrictions in July. A total of 28 shows are planned over five days, featuring 131 brands, including those from well-established designers such as Britain’s Edward Crutchley and Serbia’s Roksanda. Irish designer Simone Rocha’s brand is celebrating its 10th anniversary. But there are two notable absentees: former Spice Girl turned fashion designer Victoria Beckham, and the luxury brand Burberry.

The designer Saul Nash, 28, opened proceedings on Friday morning with a sportswear collection exploring his adolescence in Hackney, northeast London. Nash, who is also a dancer and choreographer, made freedom of movement at the centre of his fluid creations, with removable hoods and sleeves. He revisited the staple of the British school uniform-the short-sleeved shirt-in breathable fabric with a zip for a chic, casual look. On a tracksuit he used a distorted print of a childhood transport map. In a different style, British designer Edward Crutchley’s puffy dresses in aniseed green or floral prints showcased a