What People Wore to the Shows
Photography ©Charley Locatelli
SS27 x GFC at Protein Studios
With the sun shining outside Protein Studios, the mood inside was just as bright. There was a distinctly international feel to the room, with designers, guests and creatives arriving from across the world. The atmosphere was friendly, open and noticeably bubbly; everyone seemed genuinely excited to discover new designers and see what they had brought to London.
This was my second show of LFW, and my first in the daytime, which gave the experience a completely different rhythm. Afternoon shows feel far more relaxed, with a little more space and time to settle into the pace of fashion week. Compared with the rush of the evening schedule, the atmosphere felt more considered and unhurried, a chance to ease in and meet those around you rather than be swept straight into it.
SS27 x GFC brought together four designers from Italy, Germany, France and Lesotho, giving the afternoon a genuinely international energy.
The opening collection from ME (Maria Elena di Terlizzi), set to Ciara’s Get Up, leaned into hot pink, clean lines and polished silhouettes. Classic princess references evolved into white silk, emerald tones and sparkle. Feminine, glossy and unapologetically fun.
From Lesotho, Joachim brought a more textured, rooted perspective. Ponchos, intricate prints, feathers, wool ruffles and power tailoring came together in earthy browns, blues and reds. An indigo, hot coral tailored dress with shaggy fringe sleeves and a drop waist was a standout look.
After the show, Joachim shared his influences and process. He began as a tailor in 2018 before moving into knitwear, working with wool and mohair — materials central to Lesotho’s identity and economy. His dream is to keep production at home while transforming familiar blankets, prints and everyday dress into contemporary fashion. For the diaspora, his message is simple: home never really leaves you.
Spike Cherry’s collection, soundtracked by Le Lac des Cygnes, was the show’s most surreal moment. Long braids moved like tails, paired with micro-skirts, crochet, leather, belts and fur. Sexy, strange and slightly feral, the collection drew on Cherry’s background as an international figure skater and her ideas around discipline, pressure and performance. Speaking with the designer, the collection was born from the extreme pain and determination she experienced in sport, while also acting as a critical lens on the sexualisation of young children competing on the ice. The final white swan look provided a striking closing statement.
Oscuro brought the energy back to Berlin. Soundtracked by Teor’s Freak Me, models strode the runway in all black: utilitarian, pared-back and effortlessly cool. Track trousers, tucked-in jeans, wellies and clean jackets were styled with an intentionally stripped-back attitude.
Four designers, four distinct identities. SS27 x GFC felt like a reminder that emerging fashion is at its most interesting when designers bring their own world with them. Fashion week can be just as much about the people and conversations around the clothes as the runway itself.
Thank you Charley for your insights, this was your first fashion week in London and you have been a fantastic reporter. well done.
Copy and Photography by Charley Locatelli for Fashiontent & @mysecretavenue
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