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London Fashion Week has become a staple of the arts scene dominated by the rich and famous and, as it approaches its 40th anniversary, FEMAIL documents its biggest scandals to date.
Beyond the glitz and glamour, the show has been plagued by scandals over the years, from nude models to lingerie-clad PETA activists to dead fish.
While the world’s fashionistas and socialites religiously attend the coveted event, it appears that London’s elite have overlooked some of the show’s most shocking moments.
London Fashion Week 2024 will include shows by designers such as Isabel Manns, AADNEVIK, Kazna Asker, Paolo Carzana and several more.
This year the fair will be held from February 16 to 20.
The Dead Fish Show by John Galliano
John Galliano, pictured arriving at the Fashion Awards 2021 at the Royal Albert Hall, was responsible for putting Kate Moss on the map, but interestingly, he also threw a dead plate into the crowd at LFW 1984.
Legendary fashion designer John Galliano wowed his audience at London Fashion Week with his French Revolution-themed show in 1984.
John had barely graduated from Central Saint Martin’s months earlier when he decided to throw dead fish into the crowd during his own show.
It was a bizarre stunt that grabbed the headlines as the crowd reeled from the shock of having a dead mackerel thrown in their faces; However, it seemed to cement his status as a fashion great.
Just five years later, in 1989, the Gibraltar-born designer’s LFW show was the hottest ticket in town when 15-year-old Kate Moss hit the runway for the first time.
The same year as her LFW debut, she appeared on the cover of popular art publication The Face and became Britain’s most famous model.
Alexander McQueen’s Debut Show: Highland Rape
Alexander McQueen was known for his extravagant experimental designs; Above is a model wearing them at London Fashion Week (not wearing the Highland Rape collection)
Alexander McQueen was the center of controversy in 1995 when his controversial Highland Rape collection hit the runway.
The late designer created the collection with his family in mind and used McQueen’s tartan in the designs to pay homage to his Scottish heritage.
He used models wrapped in torn garments to symbolize the Jacobite Risings and the Highland Settlements in Scotland.
McQueen claimed the designs symbolized the “rape” of Scottish lands by the British.
The show’s controversial name went down in history for the wrong reasons; However, it certainly put McQueen’s name on people’s lips.
skinny models
A model walks the runway during the Miu Miu Ready to Wear Spring/Summer 2023 fashion show as part of Paris Fashion Week.
In 2006, Madrid Fashion Week made the momentous decision to prohibit models with a BMI below 18.5 from parading.
The decision was made following growing pressure from campaign groups over the frighteningly thin frames of models appearing on fashion show catwalks.
However, London Fashion Week came under fire in 2008 when it announced it was scrapping plans to make similar changes.
Mandatory medical checks for underweight models were abandoned in the face of massive opposition from the fashion industry, as other cities did not follow suit.
The measures were intended to discourage the use of size zero models, equivalent to a British size four, but an investigation concluded they were unviable.
The requirement for models to obtain a medical certificate attesting to their good health was supported by the government. But research found that making them mandatory in London would lead models to flock to rival fashion capitals such as New York, Paris and Milan.
Charlie Le Mindu’s naked parade
Charlie Le Mindu certainly turned heads at London Fashion Week in 2008, sending the crowd into a frenzy by dressing his models in nothing but accessories.
French stylist Charlie Le Mindu attracted attention when She broke the last taboo in the fashion world in 2008 by sending models down the runway completely naked.
The 24-year-old, whose creations have been worn by Lady Gaga, caused a stir with a show in which models wore hot pink high-heeled boots, hats, bags, wigs… and little else.
In a scene reminiscent of The Emperor’s New Clothes, many of the gathered fashionistas didn’t know where to look.
At London Fashion Week in 2007, she debuted a full-face headdress made from real mice and rat carcasses, outraging animal rights activists.
Topless PETA activists
Topless vegan protesters storm London Fashion Week in furious flash mob organized by PETA in 2018
PETA activists protest against the use of crocodile skin in fashion PETA protest against the use of crocodile skin in fashion
Topless PETA activists organized a flash mob protest when London Fashion Week began in 2018.
With the slogan “Wear your own fur” painted on their bodies, activists encouraged passers-by to avoid fur, leather, sheepskin and other animal materials as they stood outside The Store Studios in London.
The group of female PETA supporters braved the winter weather and stripped off for a vegan protest at the start of London Fashion Week on The Strand.
PETA director Elisa Allen commented: “Whether it’s the fur of a frightened fox or angora rabbit or the skin of a gentle calf, it’s not fabric and it’s not ours for the taking.”
He added: “With so many innovative, high-quality vegan fabrics available, there is simply no excuse to use animal skin or hair.”
Extinction Rebellion protests
Extinction Rebellion to target London Fashion Week with smoke bombs in 2023
Five members of Extinction Rebellion lying on the ‘blood’-soaked pavement in front of press photographers in 2019
That same year, eco-protesters glued themselves to the entrance to London Fashion Week.
In 2019, the eco-activists of Extinction Rebellion Covered in fake blood they plastered themselves at the entrance to London Fashion Week on its first day.
Footage released by Extinction Rebellion on Friday morning shows activists blocking the gates to the showground on The Strand, while others dumped buckets of fake blood around the entrance to create a “bleeding red carpet”.
Protesters were chased away by police shouting: “You choose profits over the planet, profits over people, profits over our future.”
The environmental movement said it was organizing the so-called “die-in” to urge the fashion industry to “tell the truth about its contribution to the climate and ecological crisis.”
The protesters, dressed in white clothes with red blood stains, were photographed holding hands and carrying flags.
And last year, eco-protesters set off smoke bombs and covered the ground in black paint as they targeted London Fashion Week.
As part of the stunt, about 30 green fans stormed 180 The Strand, where the fashion show is being held, in a protest against the “world’s biggest polluter,” Coca-Cola.
Climate change agitators dressed in white jumpsuits paraded down a red catwalk before dousing it with fake oil from two giant Coca-Cola bottles, while others lobbed black smoke grenades around them.