Behind the scenes at LONDON FASHION WEEK

Its dazzling catwalk shows and glitzy events take months to create, and these women are at the heart of making LFW unforgettable

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For a heady mix of beauty, imagination and style, it's hard to top London Fashion Week. Since its low-key launch in a west London car park in 1984, LFW has grown into a must-see event for the international fashion crowd, renowned for its creativity and cultural diversity.

From 18-22 September, catwalks are likely to pop up everywhere, from Soho basements to Somerset House, hosting a huge range of designers showcasing their Spring/Summer 2026 collections across traditional runways, digital platforms and immersive installations.

Fashion is a vital part of our creative economy, generating a staggering £60 billion every year. So giving a platform to established designers as well as emerging talent is key, with the British Fashion Council curating the biannual LFW for both the February and September events.

But the glamour doesn’t come cheap. The biggest shows cost up to £500,000, covering venue hire, set build, lighting, choreography, music and models. Very few shows attract enough sponsorship to make money - it’s all about creating a buzz to drive future sales.

LFW features around 100 shows across the five days, with events running from 9am until well into the night. But what does it take to put all this together? We take a look behind the scenes.

THE CASTING DIRECTOR

BACKSTAGE, IT CAN FEEL LIKE CHASING CHICKENS'

Sarah Bunter, 45, from Brighton, runs Bunter Casting, selecting models for London Fashion Week shows.

Fashion Week is a crazy, wonderful, exhausting few days. With many models only flying in to London the week before, we usually have just one or two days to see our shortlist.