Under the new framework, participating brands must ensure at least 60% of their collections are created from certified preferred or deadstock materials. Single-use props at any fashion show are banned, and measurable environmental standards now replace vague pledges. For the wider fashion world, this is considered a cultural reset, not just a policy change.

With fashion trends 2026 leaning toward circularity and craftsmanship, the spotlight is on the designers who are turning sustainability into action. So, the real question is: are brands truly committed or simply adapting to survive?

Here are the designers whose sustainability efforts genuinely stand out this London Fashion Week.

Paul Costelloe

Founded in 1979, Paul Costelloe has long secured his place in fashion history, famously serving as Princess Diana's personal designer and building a long-standing heritage brand. In a fashion world increasingly drawn to fast cycles, Costelloe's commitment to craftsmanship feels refreshing.

Last year's 2025 fashion show stayed true to the brand's heritage, showcasing Irish tweed from Magee of Ireland and Harris of Scotland, alongside traditional knitwear and wool hosiery. These durable, natural materials are timeless, promoting longevity.

This approach embodies fashion for good, prioritising quality and responsible sourcing. As fashion week 2026 unfolds, we're eager to see how Costelloe continues to translate heritage into contemporary fashion trends 2026, and how his runway sets the tone for sustainability at London Fashion Week.

Tolu Coker

Tolu Coker is undoubtedly a designer to watch this London Fashion Week. The British-Nigerian Fashion and Textiles Designer and Central Saint Martins graduate places sustainability at the core of her creative practice.

Her work frequently incorporates upcycled and recycled fabrics, reflecting both environmental consciousness and personal history. Growing up in a working-class household where hand-me-downs and car boot sales were the norm, Coker understands that value in the fashion world is not defined by price, but by purpose.

Rather than simply participating in a traditional fashion show, Coker uses her platform to explore social responsibility. In 2020, during London Fashion Week, she collaborated with the charity Choose Love, releasing a T-shirt collection instead of staging a runway, with proceeds supporting displaced communities, a powerful reminder of using fashion for good.

As fashion week 2026 approaches, her work feels perfectly aligned with emerging fashion trends 2026, where storytelling and community shape the future of the fashion world.

Patrick McDowell

Since graduating from Central Saint Martins, Patrick McDowell has made it his mission to redefine luxury within the fashion world. His innovative model merges a drop system with made-to-order production, reducing waste while maintaining exclusivity, a radical shift for modern fashion history.

At this London Fashion Week, McDowell continues to champion repair, redesign and reuse, promoting longevity as a luxury in itself. His work demonstrates that a fashion show can be both aspirational and responsible.

Having spoken at the United Nations Headquarters in New York about sustainable design, McDowell represents a new generation shaping fashion trends 2026 with integrity. His commitment to fashion for good sets a standard for peers participating in fashion week 2026, proving that sustainability and creativity are not mutually exclusive.

Sinead Gorey

Exploring London nightlife, futurism and rave culture, Sinead Gorey brings a playful yet progressive voice to the fashion world. Her aesthetic may be rooted in partywear, but beneath the surface lies a thoughtful approach to production and materials.

Since her early London Fashion Week appearances, Gorey has experimented with responsible sourcing and mindful design, proving that sustainability does not have to sacrifice fun. Her runway presentations demonstrate how a fashion show can balance bold expression with conscious choices.

As we look toward fashion week 2026, Gorey's work feels particularly relevant. The evolution of fashion trends 2026 shows that consumers want individuality without environmental compromise. By merging rave-inspired silhouettes with responsible practices, she adds a new dimension to fashion for good, contributing to the next chapter of fashion history.

The Future of Fashion Week 2026

The shift taking place this season is bigger than any one designer. London Fashion Week is actively reshaping expectations across the fashion world, embedding measurable sustainability standards into its structure. This marks a crucial turning point in fashion history, where participation itself demands responsibility.

As fashion week 2026 unfolds, the most exciting fashion trends 2026 will not simply be about colour palettes or silhouettes. They will be about systems like supply chains, materials, transparency and longevity.

If this season proves anything, it's that the future of the fashion world depends not just on what we wear, but on how and why it's made.

Sources:

• londonfashionweek.co.uk
• d5mag.com
• anothermag.com
• padiphotos.co.uk