Where have all the fashion trade shows gone? Online!

As long standing fashion industry professionals, we’ve attended all the major UK fashion trade shows since their inception. They are a key part of our calendar, not just to see clients and friends but also to catch up on the latest trends and innovations. This year, not surprisingly, they’ve all disappeared.

But they haven’t disappeared entirely – in their place are a patchwork of virtual events, online catwalks and video seminars. Here’s what you need to know:

Pure London

Probably our favourite trade show of them all, Pure is cancelled for the remainder of the year and will reappear 14^th-16^th Feb 2021.

In its place will be a digital-only forum designed to unite the fashion industry called Fashion Together on 1-2 September 2020. Fashion Together will provide an exclusive seminar programme and practical advice and is open to fashion brands and buyers. Details about Fashion Together are yet to be announced.

Scoop

Scoop is cancelled for the remainder of the year and will reappear 14^th-16^th Feb 2021 at the Saatchi Gallery for its AW21 edition. Fashion Together will incorporate Scoop.

Jacket Required

Jacket Required is cancelled for the remainder of the year and will reappear 14th-16th Feb 2021 at the Saatchi Gallery for its AW21 edition. Fashion Together will incorporate Jacket Required.

MODA

Moda will no longer take place in 2020 and will return to The NEC Birmingham on 7th – 9th February 2021. For the AW21 edition, Moda will be co-hosted with leading retail show Spring Fair. Fashion Together will incorporate MODA.

International Jewellery London

Scheduled to take place at Alexandra Palace, from 13 to 15 September 2020, this show has now been cancelled. No alternative date has yet been set.

London Edge

Scheduled for 6th and 7th of Sept 2020, this show is still on. This might change as the Government’s advice evolves, but currently it’s still on.

Fashion Weeks SS21

Face to face events are slowing coming back, with physical shows confirmed in Paris, London and Milan. London Fashion Week will blend the digital and the physical for SS21. A spokesperson for The British Fashion Council told Drapers: “LFW in September will be going ahead, and we envisage it to be a hybrid of digital and physical – depending on whether designers would like to host catwalk shows or presentations.”

One brand that will be absent from September’s schedule is Saint Laurent. The French label was the first to step away from the traditional catwalk calendar, stating in April that it “will not present its collections in any of the pre-set schedules of 2020″, with other brands like Gucci also changing their schedules to two shows a year, not six. Start of a trend? Probably.

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What is clear is that everything is in a state of flux for event organisers, brand exhibitors, and visitors alike. And it is this uncertainty which is the hardest to prepare for. We will keep you informed through our Twitter feed of any changes to the above.

In the meantime, if you would like a demo of our B2B wholesale webstore, which lets you showcase current and future lines to retailers within a secure user and password protected environment, let us know. It is a comprehensive, integrated B2B solution for UK fashion brands wishing to trade wholesale online.

Drop us a line at info@ilevelsoftware.co.uk or call us on 01234 761 757 to find out more – we’d be more than happy to demo our solution(s) over screenshare.