At 7:00 a.m., half-asleep and overloaded with bags for a one-night trip, my friend Lucy and I piled into an Uber, bidding farewell to rainy Fallowfield and heading to London Fashion Week. By the time we arrived at Manchester Piccadilly, we’d consumed nearly two litres of coffee between us—fuel for the long journey ahead. In true student fashion, we opted for the slower train via Crewe (because last-minute Avanti prices aren’t kind to those living off overdrafts), giving us plenty of time to transform from sleep-deprived students into Fashion Week attendees. Doing our makeup on the train seemed practical, though judging by the disapproving looks from nearby passengers as our table filled with bronzer and brushes, not everyone agreed.
By 2:00 p.m., we arrived at the chaotic Euston station and quickly realized we’d never make it to our 3:00 p.m. show. By the time we reached London Bridge, it hit us: the show was a lost cause. Slightly defeated but still determined to make the most of the day, we headed to Shoreditch to soak up the atmosphere before our next event.
After a chaotic ten-minute outfit change and a quick bag drop, we rushed to the tube. Spotting a group of men dressed for a fashion show—think shorts with loafers, fur hats, and sunglasses in an overcast city—I felt reassured. Despite the frantic morning, it seemed we were on the right track.
INFDARK: Raven
With no real plan, we decided to head to the original venue for the 3:00 p.m. show, hoping to get in somehow. When we arrived, we found a long queue of people dressed in couture, including a man in an entirely fire-engine-red outfit and a woman sporting a massive floral appliqué. I glanced down at my black trench coat and felt a bit underdressed but reminded myself: everyone starts somewhere. I wasn’t exactly a major fashion influencer.
As we neared the front of the queue, nerves kicked in. Surely, they wouldn’t just let us in if we weren’t on the list? When a woman approached and asked for our names, we hesitantly explained that we were from our university newspaper, had missed the earlier show, and would love to see this one. To our surprise, she barely listened to our story and waved us through. Not wanting to push our luck, we hurried inside, realizing we’d just talked our way into our first fashion show.
The brand was Infdark, with this AW collection drawing inspiration from the Raven. They say this collection ‘reinterprets this dark figure into the language of fashion’, drawing inspiration from the ‘sharpness of its beak’, the ‘flow of its feathers’ and ‘the structure of its skeleton’. This was certainly demonstrated with the Geometric patterns, strong sillhoutes and flowy black fabric which became hallmarks of the show. My favourite pieces would have to be the ones made with the black ripped fabric, which embodied the striking, almost intimidating, image of a Raven.
AHKEKE: Whispers of the secret garden
Next up was Ahkeke, a show I was invited to—though I had to attend alone. After a quick drink at a moody Shoreditch bar to calm my nerves, I headed back into Protein Studios, ready for my next visual feast.
Ahkeke’s collection was feminine, classic, and elevated, perfectly embodying its self-described aesthetic of “contemporary designs with timeless elegance.” What struck me most were the vibrant block colours—pinks, greens, purples, and blues. The brand described the collection as inspired by “a chance discovery of a secluded London garden,” and that’s exactly what these rich hues evoked. Inside the venue, the vibrancy contrasted sharply with the grey London sky outside, momentarily transporting me to a serene garden amidst the city’s chaos.
Beyond its striking palette, the collection celebrated femininity. The silhouettes were soft and delicate, yet confident and strong—proof that softness and power can, and should, coexist. My favourite pieces included a simple white dress that tied at the shoulders which I could see myself wearing in the summer, as well as a green, glittery suit, which although is less my style I was really visually drawn to.
Barrus: AW25 collection
My final show of the night was by the Turkish brand Barrus. This label had perfected the party dress, with an endless trail of chiffon, satin, and tulle emerging from behind the curtain. Standout pieces included a fully lace ensemble, complete with matching trousers, top, and shawl, a tangerine mini dress layered with sheer organza, and a lilac gown with a trailing cape. The collection, dominated by warm yellow and orange hues, was undeniably elegant. However after the bold collections earlier in the day , I left feeling as though I hadn’t seen anything particularly groundbreaking.
After the show, I rushed to meet my friend at the Flair fashion show afterparty. Stepping into the Banking Hall in the City of London felt like walking straight into an episode of Gossip Girl—towering marble pillars, a sweeping staircase, and a 40-foot dance floor packed with models, PR professionals, fashion influencers, and, most importantly, a free bar.
A few mojitos in, my friend and I were determined to make the most of the night. Networking mode: activated. We spoke to models, designers, photographers, and stylists, asked “How did you find the show?” a thousand times, and introduced ourselves as journalists—perhaps slightly premature, but it sounded good. I even walked away with a few new Instagram followers, which felt like a small victory.
At first, the thought of approaching these industry insiders was intimidating. But once I started talking to them, I realized how down-to-earth and friendly everyone was—including the designers themselves. What had initially felt like an overwhelming, high-fashion whirlwind, in which I felt out of place, turned out to be one of the most fun nights I’ve ever had.
As we stepped into the cold London night, the past 24 hours blurred into one unforgettable first taste of Fashion Week—early trains, last-minute outfit changes, amazing clothes, and plenty of faking it till we made it.
