London Fashion Week day one: Suffragettes, slogans and strength

Although the first day of London Fashion Week is generally quieter, this season had plenty of newsworthy moments.

Teatum Jones started proceedings with a show that screamed body positivity. A stand-out soundtrack featuring quotes from Meryl Streep’s damning Donald Trump speech played out alongside bold statements such as “your body is not an apology.”

The designers also included two disabled models in their line-up in a bid to showcase real diversity on the catwalk. The collection itself was inspired by controversial 1930s artist Hans Bellmer. Known for rejecting the ‘perfect’ Nazi ideals, his vision was seen in exaggerated sleeves and difficult fabrics like PVC.

Fyodor Golan, known for combining futurism with the brightest of shades, sent out an equally playful collection combining Post-it notes and The Powerpuff Girls.

A similar feminist note was seen at Bora Aksu. The designer took a harder turn for AW17, turning his usual floaty dresses into sterner looks inspired by Princess Sophia Dunleep Singh.

The princess was known for campaigning alongside Suffragette icon Emmeline Pankhurst and was often spotted selling The Suffragette newspaper outside Hampton Court Palace.

This demonstration of women’s rights was matched by the ageism protest taking place outside the new home of Fashion Week, 180 Strand. Five women over the age of 45 protested against the sole use of young models on the catwalk, telling the fashion industry to “grow up” among other things.

LFW entered the Wild West with Ashley Williams. Still on the logomania path, the ever-rising designer sent out slogan looks reading ‘save the planet’ and ‘misery’. A kilt-like pattern adorned loose trousers and long skirts while hoodies reigned supreme.

Cowboy hats sat atop hoods while earrings and hair clips shouting ‘PARANOIA’ caused a real talking point.

Many depictions of women surrounded the first day of LFW but each had one thing in common. No matter what these women were wearing – whether it was floaty or street – they were all strong and defiant in their attitudes.

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