LFW CREATIVETH – SHOW 2
For Creativeth’s HOT LDN SUMMER edition, two fashion showcases were on the lineup during London Fashion Week. As champions of emerging talent, these shows give a platform for new designers to present their work. While Thursday’s show leaned toward streetwear and contemporary ready-to-wear, the weekend event celebrated the maximalism of costume, the drama of couture, and the glamour of occasionwear.
Set in the heart of East London at the Guild Church of St Katherine Cree, guests gathered beneath stained glass windows and engraved arches. With seven designers showcasing their newest collections, there were plenty of good fashion moments to look forward to, and a low murmur of anticipation filled the space before the first designer was announced.
1. Lina Denkova ‘Out of Frame’
Opening the evening, Bulgarian designer Lina Denkova presented Out of the Frame, a collection merging fashion with theatre.
Backstage, she described it as inspired by rebirth, revelation, and awakening—not just for the individual but for the industry itself, urging creativity beyond convention. Integrating performance art, she explained, gives her work soul and meaning.
On the runway, Venetian-style masks and structured skirts evoked a 19th-century masquerade, while sequins, frills, and fringes recalled Roaring Twenties decadence. Models performed with theatrical flourishes, turning the runway into a stage.
The garments were no less dramatic: opulent gowns and three sharp menswear looks. A blazer embroidered with swans was paired with a jewelled pink dress adorned with black feathers; a glittering yellow gown with satin attachments was matched with an emerald floral blazer, together symbolising sun and earth.
Other highlights included a green sequinned gown opening into sheer pleats, and a champagne corset dress with conical cups, beaded details, and exaggerated hips. Rosettes appeared throughout, from gold-beaded corsets to a metallic green showpiece.
The hair and makeup, created in collaboration with Elena Katsarova, amplified the spectacle. Standouts included a sculpted ripple-effect hairpiece and blue-and-gold pleated headwear resembling gift bows, paired with a glittering gown and horned mask.
Extravagant and camp, Denkova’s collection balanced meticulous technique with a clear artistic vision.
2. La Maison Opale ‘The Celestials’
La Maison Opale followed with The Celestials. The designer uses the traditional macramé technique to create unique pieces of haute couture.
Long, shimmering ropes of fabric took centre stage in this collection, knotted together to create elegant dresses that take your breath away. The looks felt goddess-like—Olympus-ready pieces that celebrated feminine energy and movement.
Hypnotically swishing and swaying with the walks of the models, the sensual dresses were an ode to feminine beauty. Long, shimmering ropes of fabric took centre stage in this collection, knotted together to create elegant dresses that take your breath away. The looks felt goddess-like—Olympus-ready pieces that celebrated feminine energy and movement. Hypnotically swishing and swaying with the walks of the models, the sensual dresses were an ode to feminine beauty. It was the designer’s second showing at ‘Hot London Summer’, but this stunning collection deserved to be shown twice. Any woman who wants to stand out will want one of these for next summer. These are the perfect dresses at festivals, beach parties, maybe even a wedding if you are the bride – or if you want to get on the bride’s blacklist for stealing the show.
3. Laura Tailor – “Second Life of Denim”
With sustainability at the core of her work, Laura Tailor’s Second Life of Denim explored the resilience and creative potential of this material. Each upcycled piece retained traces of its past, celebrating rather than concealing its former life, while transforming it into something fresh. Entire looks and intricate details were crafted from reused denim, showcasing its durability and versatility.
Highlights included a two-piece top and skirt joined by a single floral motif, blossoming with denim daisies. Jeans and a patchwork jacket echoed the same technique, while a men’s vest and shorts, constructed entirely from long rectangular strips, offered a strikingly simple silhouette. Patchwork appeared throughout, as did pleating—in a double-layered midi skirt and crop top with matching sleeves.
Tailor also experimented with embellishment: crystals traced seams and structural lines, adding a sparkling edge. Red zips and Union Jack patches introduced playful boldness, while rosette-adorned tops, skirts, and off-shoulder pieces leaned more romantic.
The most daring designs included trousers and a shirt-jacket combo with pocket linings stitched visibly on the outside, and a skirt layered with denim pockets resembling scales. The finale doubled the drama with a pair of trousers sewn together in a Balenciaga-esque gesture of deconstruction.
Youthful, wearable, and inventive, the collection was a tour de force of denim’s adaptability.
Pretty Disturbia – “Paradise Circus”
Falling down the rabbit hole was the mood of Pretty Disturbia’s “Paradise Circus”. At once whimsical and gothic, it felt like Alice in Wonderland collided with Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice. Purple plaids clashed against black-and-white stripes, skull motifs danced alongside ruffles and bows, and gothic Victoriana met playful fantasy.
The accessories heightened the drama, with crowns spiked and embellished with skulls in a nod to Día de los Muertos. Tailoring impressed here too, from a sharply cut coat to a flamboyant corseted gown with crinolined skirt and lacey shoulder straps. A parade of mini-skirts kept the mood youthful and in tune with the Instagram generation, while the signature prints tied the fantasy world together and gave coherence to the collection.
It was Alice in Wonderland: Halloween edition—dark, theatrical, and perfectly on trend with the current Wednesday Addams obsession and Burtonesque nostalgia.
Laraville – “Braids and Bows”
Laraville’s Braids and Bows explored the balance of femininity and strength, drawing on her Nigerian heritage and the powerful women who inspire her. The runway was alive with bright, joyful colour and playful shapes that blended British and Nigerian influences.
A standout look paired a green high-waisted skirt with a pleated edge and a vivid yellow cropped top, its neckline and sleeves folding into an oversized bow integrated seamlessly into the garment’s structure. Bows ran as a recurring motif, also reappearing in a delightful yellow cropped top styled with wide palazzo trousers.
The designer experimented with silhouette, favouring loose shapes and voluminous, puffy textures while still maintaining a distinctly feminine aesthetic. Celebratory and bold, the collection reflected Laraville’s personal perspective on culture, womanhood, and strength.
Timen
The only all-menswear designer of the showcase, Timen delivered an understated but thoughtful collection. Her designs leaned on minimalist silhouettes but with a focus on unusual fabric choice—organza.
The sheer, airy texture gave a surprising delicacy to otherwise classic pieces, blurring the lines between strength and fragility in menswear. Clean, considered, and quietly experimental.
Fierce & Flawless Couture – “Stardust”
Closing with a flourish of colour and sparkle, “Stardust” by Fierce & Flawless Couture radiated individuality and glamour. At just 21 years old, the designer has already earned features in Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, and Elle, and it was clear why.
Every piece in the collection was a statement designed to empower, inspire and turn heads. Sequins, crystals, and bold hues shimmered under the runway lights. Some dresses perfectly contoured the wearers body shape, while others built drama with voluminous skirts.
It was youthful and maximal yet refined—every look brimming with glamour and a desire to stand out. The best part however, was the confidence of the young models and of the designer herself who closed the show in one of her most striking pieces, a bold magenta dress with a full ruffle floor-length skirt – we love a main character moment.
We got to see some great designs this fashion week, and Creativeth will continue to unearth and shine a spotlight on more talented designers for the AW26 at London Fashion week in January.