London Fashion Week has attracted the most foreign buyers ever.
Designers including Burberry, Matthew Williamson and Ozwald Boateng will be among the 66 catwalk shows over the next six days.
The homegrown talent has attracted a strong contingent from the US, including Josef Boitano, vice president of Saks Fifth Avenue, Tomoko Ogura, fashion director of Barneys New York, and the head buyers from boutiques Seven and Maxfield. There is also a strong presence from Asia, Canada, the Middle East, Italy and France. The British Fashion Council said it was the strongest ever turnout of foreign buyers and fashion media.
US Vogue editor Anna Wintour will be attending, as will her French counterpart Carine Roitfeld and W magazine editor Stefano Tonchi.
British Fashion Council chairman Harold Tillman was joined last night at Somerset House at Fashion Week's official launch — co hosted by the Evening Standard — by Sir Philip Green and Sir Stuart Rose. Mr Tillman said: "I think we have reinvented ourselves to such an extent over the last two years that we are now the number one fashion destination in the world." Other fashion parties last night included Fendi's in Hoxton, attended by PIxie Lott and Dionne Bromfield. Professor Green, Daisy Lowe and Meg Mathews were among those celebrating Lily Allen's new venture Lucy In Disguise in Covent Garden.
Fearne Cotton joined friend Cat Deeley for the launch of her clothing range at The Ivy club, and Tamara Mellon was among those at the opening of Selfridges' new shoe department.
