Setting itself apart from other global fashion weeks, London thrives on a dynamic mix of established designers and emerging talent, making it a breeding ground for innovation. Yet, as another season unfolds, designers face the relentless churn of delivering a new collection that can both stay on trend and deliver something new.
On Thursday evening, two events, Vestiaire at Vout-O-Reenee’s and Blue Nude’s The Art Party at Hackney Downs Studios, offered a different approach. Rather than relying on the catwalk to present fashion, these gatherings embraced art as a means of expression, blurring the line between gallery and garment.
Both events, in their own way, questioned the necessity of the seasonal fashion calendar and the relentless cycle of production. The notion that fashion must adhere to the runway format was not just rejected – it was replaced with something more organic, more immersive. Art does not exist on a schedule, and for these designers and curators, fashion shouldn’t have to either.
Nestled within Vout-O-Reenee’s, a members’ club steeped in surrealist charm, Vestiaire unfolded in the crisp white walls of Stash Gallery. Curated by artist Dallas Athent, it was London Fashion Week’s only dedicated art show, bringing together a diverse group of artists using textiles and fabrics as their medium. The exhibition leaned into the tactile nature of fashion, treating garments as sculptural works rather than commercial products.
Athent’s vision for Vestiaire was to highlight the enduring collaboration between designers and artists, from Schiaparelli and Dalí to Jeremy Scott’s recent inspiration from Picasso.
“Fashion has always been an art form,” she explained, “but it has been constricted by this need to produce a collection every season. That’s not really how artists create.” The exhibition, arranged in a salon-style reminiscent of Impressionist gatherings, fostered the sense of community and collaboration, with each piece conversing with the next.
Across the city in Hackney Downs Studios, a different kind of artistic fashion gathering was taking place. Blue Nude, the Canadian brand helmed by Creative Director Katarina Protsack, launched its latest collection, Raha, not with a catwalk, but with a full-scale artistic experience. Inspired by Morocco and the unexpected ways cosiness and intimacy manifest in the country’s architecture and crafts, Raha translated warmth into textile form showcasing merino wool sweaters and scarves, with a rich autumnal palette and patterns.
Protsack sees her work as a visual art form, and the exhibition reflected this philosophy. Pieces were displayed as art objects with handbags suspended in a circular installation from the ceiling and garments hung like paintings against the walls. The setting itself became part of the experience. Hackney Downs Studios, a creative hub for independent artists, provided the perfect blank canvas for an evening of organic interaction, where guests moved freely, admiring not just the collection and art but each other’s outfits, forming spontaneous connections.
“This is the fourth event I’ve done in this concept,” Protsack shared. “For me, it hasn’t made sense to have a runway show. I like people to have a good time, mingle. I equally love art, design, and music, and for me, it made way more sense to create an environment where people can feel the creative energy. I’m really inspired by Andy Warhol and his Factory—when you get an amazing group of people together, the party itself becomes the art piece.”
The similarities between Vestiaire and The Art Party were striking with both events centred on fashion as an art form, both rejecting the rigidity of runway presentations, and encouraging interaction. The differences lay in their approach. Vestiaire felt like a curated conversation, a reflective look at the long-standing bond between fashion and fine art, while Blue Nude’s event was a living, breathing installation, a moment that belonged as much to the guests as to the garments on display.
Standing in either space, it was clear that fashion, at its core, is more than just clothing – it is sculpture, storytelling, a means of communication. Whether through the deliberate composition of Vestiaire’s salon-style curation or the free-flowing energy of Blue Nude’s Factory-inspired exhibit, both events underscored the same message: fashion is art, and art takes time.
Cristin is a writer and communications specialist with a decade of experience across media, PR, and journalism. She studied English and Drama at University College Dublin, where she began her career as a freelance journalist, contributing to national publications across Ireland while hosting InTune, a digital series spotlighting emerging Irish artists.
Her work in policy and non-profit communications has placed stories in The Irish Times and The Irish Independent, and since relocating to London in 2022, she has collaborated with major outlets including the BBC, Sky, ITV, The Times, The Guardian, and The Telegraph.
Passionate about fashion, culture, and media, she runs her personal blog Wandering Rocks exploring style and industry trends.
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