I attended London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2020, held from September 13th to 17th. London is often known for its gloomy weather, but during the event, it was hit by an Indian summer, and the five days were blessed with sunny skies, with temperatures reaching nearly 30°C during the day. Perhaps due to the weather, this season's fashion week was a huge success. London, in particular, is a place where young designers can be discovered and new, cutting-edge creations can be encountered. Furthermore, over the past few seasons, mid-career designers have also shown strong growth and are evolving in their own unique ways. In this article, we'll be summarizing the brands that caught our eye at this season's London Fashion Week in two parts!

TOGA Spring/Summer 2020 Collection
When it comes to London's most intriguing brands, TOGA, led by designer Yasuko Furuta, is sure to be one. This marks the brand's 12th season since moving its presentations to London, and it has continued to grow steadily and consistently. This is a brand unique to a female designer, able to interpret the trends of the times and deliver what modern women subconsciously desire at the perfect time. This season, the brand showcased a collection inspired by the work of Frances Alys, a Belgian artist based in Mexico City. Among his many works, Furuta was particularly inspired by his video work "Paradox of Practice 1 (Sometimes Doing Things That Aren't Really Effective)," which documented the process of pushing a giant block of ice through Mexico City until it melted completely. In the collection notes, designer Furuta wrote, "I wanted to spend more time on unnecessary things in the production process and see what would come out of them." The collection explored the beauty of essentially unnecessary elements, including a tailored jacket with a vinyl flower corsage, slacks with large slits revealing a floral lining, and flip-flops accented with PVC elements. The hair and makeup were incredibly natural, showcasing the collection's relaxed yet powerful elegance. Furuta's closing words, "Ultimately, creating fashion itself is unnecessary. But it is precisely this very passion that is so important," were deeply meaningful and thought-provoking.



Toga Spring/Summer 2020 Collection

All Looks from the TOGA Spring/Summer 2020 Collection


JW ANDERSON, a standout at London Fashion Week and a rapidly growing mid-career brand, also presented a stunning collection with a relaxed atmosphere. Every season, attention is focused not only on the contents of the collection, but also on the work of art-loving creative director Jonathan Anderson, who draws inspiration from them. This season, the designer featured Canadian visual artist Liz Magor. "I was drawn to the act of 'seeing,' which she tries to communicate through her work. The idea is to focus on objects that are no longer needed and give them a new home. I tried to cancel out the noise and focus on silhouettes," Anderson said backstage after the show. The show venue was decorated with her objets d'art, consisting of old dolls, used clothing, toys and other unwanted items casually placed in transparent bags, with models strutting about among them. The silhouettes, which were so versatile they could be described as artistic, were impressive, with asymmetrical dresses with draping, trench coats with exaggerated sleeves and tailored jackets that strangely puffed out from the waistline. Furthermore, this season's collection featured dazzling jewellery decorations. This styling, where the hems of your bottoms are rolled up with the lace of your espadrilles, is something you'll want to try right away with your existing shoes!


Christopher Kane Spring/Summer 2020 Collection
Mid-sized brand Christopher Kane showed his first collection since leaving luxury group Kering. His eye-catching designs didn't translate directly to sales, and he had received harsh criticism over the past few seasons, before announcing his independence. While many in the industry expressed concern, it seems he's finally let go, as he presented a psychedelic creation that is characteristic of his original style. The main theme of the collection was nature! From prints of fields bursting with wildflowers to autumnal paisley patterns, and then to vibrant blue skies, the collection leaped beyond Earth and into space. The PVC boots, bags, and details on the chest of dresses, all featuring transformative patterns reminiscent of cell structure, were eye-catching. While many brands have recently adopted nature as their theme, inspired by environmental issues, this was the first time we'd seen such a futuristic and fun-filled collection, highlighting Kane's talent. At the finale, Kane gave a speech wearing a T-shirt with the words "MORE JOY" printed on it. The collection, with its energetic atmosphere, seemed to say, "Those who enjoy life win!" Christopher Kane has taken a new direction, and we're excited to see what the future holds!


Christopher Kane Spring/Summer 2020 Collection
Every look from the Christopher Kane Spring/Summer 2020 Collection


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