London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026 is in full swing, and the city is already proving why it remains a global style capital. LFW is a powerhouse for emerging talent as this season will once again shine a spotlight on the future of fashion through the acclaimed BFC NEWGEN programme, which supports rising designers with global potential. This seasons NEWGEN designers include Oscar Ouyang, who focuses on gender-neutral fashion and knitwear and Yaku, a London-based label founded in 2023 and whose shows are known for immersive, story-driven environments.
As well as these rising stars, British heavyweights including Burberry, ERDEM and Simone Rocha will also showcase their SS26 collections. Mithridate and Dilara Findikoglu also promise to to unveil unforgettable presentations rich in drama and detail.
Early shows have already impressed with creativity and craft, and as the week unfolds, even more headline-worthy moments promise to set the tone for the season ahead. Read on for all the brands that stole the show during London Fashion Week SS26…
ERDEM
Images Courtesy of ERDEM
Erdem’s SS26 collection drifts between history and dream, inspired by 19th-century medium Hélène Smith and her imagined lives as courtier, princess, and Martian voyager. The show unfolded like a séance of shifting identities: striped cotton nightshirts cinched with floral pannier corsets, crystal-studded satin trench coats in misty greens and blush pinks, and ethereal cage dresses pieced from antique lace and spliced embroidery. Washed satins, cloud-print florals, and gleaming jet crystals evoked a fluid, otherworldly femininity. Regal, mystical, and cosmic.
Dilara Findikoglu
Images Courtesy of Dilara Findikoglu
Dilara Findikoglu’s SS26 “Cage of Innocence” confronts the quiet violence of societal constraint, transforming ideals of purity into symbols of liberation. The collection channels generations of women silenced by expectations of virtue, reimagining their unspoken dreams in fierce, unbound silhouettes. Architectural tailoring, ethereal draping, and razor-sharp details evoke both the weight of ancestral memory and the exhilaration of release. With each look, Findikoglu dismantles the invisible walls of tradition, offering a powerful vision of femininity defined by choice.
Mithridate
Images Courtesy of Mithridate
Mithridate’s SS26 “Edge of Seventeen” collection channels 1980s Sloane Ranger exuberance through Daniel Fletcher’s witty blend of British sporting heritage and city-night glamour. Rugby jerseys meet sequined party frocks, while carpet-like gowns, chopped-up sweaters, and bold family crests underscore a playful clash of country and town. Racing greens, chocolate browns, and soft pastels ground the palette as oversized luggage-inspired bags, tasselled shoes, and angular riding boots complete the look. With numbers echoing rugby fields and feng shui, the collection cements Mithridate’s signature fusion of Chinese craftsmanship and eccentric British elegance.
Patrick McDowell
Images Courtesy of Patrick McDowell
Patrick McDowell’s SS26 “The Lancashire Rose” unfolded as a deeply personal tribute to family, heritage, and sustainable craft. Staged in the atmospheric Control Room A of Battersea Power Station (the venue’s first fashion show), the collection honoured McDowell’s grandmother, a Lancashire weaver who inspired Patrick to start sewing. Ready-to-wear pieces fused meticulous British tailoring with circular design, highlighted by collaborations with artisans and innovators like DyeRecycle and Circ. Limited-edition Aspinal accessories, immersive digital storytelling, and delicate millinery underscored a narrative of memory and renewal, balancing intimate nostalgia with forward-looking sustainability and the quiet grandeur of British craftsmanship.
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Featured Image Courtesy of ERDEM