Marks & Spencer Marks 100 Years of Fashion with First London Fashion Week Show

Marks & Spencer, a long-standing fixture in British fashion, recently held its inaugural runway show at London Fashion Week to commemorate 100 years since launching its first clothing collection. The event, held at the Design Museum, showcased a capsule collection designed to blend the brand's heritage with contemporary style.

A Century of Style

The brand's journey began as a 'penny bazaar' in Leeds in 1884, eventually expanding to multiple stalls before opening its first store in 1894. By 1926, Marks & Spencer was selling ready-made garments such as petticoats, pullovers, and underwear, aiming to make fashion accessible to the British public.

Stuart Machin, Chief Executive at M&S, highlighted the brand's enduring commitment to quality and value. "We started selling fashion 100 years ago with our first products being everyday essentials... M&S became known for bringing style to the high street - always with brilliant quality and value," Machin stated. He added that the brand's transformation focuses on "Protect[ing] the magic, Modernise[ing] the rest," ensuring that what has made M&S special for a century remains at the core of its offerings.

The collection presented at London Fashion Week draws inspiration from M&S's archives. For men's wear, this includes a dry-wax car coat, Japanese selvedge denim, heritage-check outerwear, and 1980s-style velvet tailoring. Women's wear features pieces like a tan leather borg jacket, inspired by a heritage St Michael design, a black tuxedo suit, and a crisp white shirt reminiscent of those worn by Christy Turlington in the 1990s.

Celebrity Attendance

The event attracted a notable contingent of celebrities and public figures. Actress Joan Collins, 93, was among the front-row attendees, seen chatting with singer Katherine Jenkins. Collins wore a chic black pencil skirt and a white satin blouse, while Jenkins opted for a brown satin dress and a matching trench coat. AJ Odudu also attended in a grey co-ord outfit.

Other guests included model Jodie Kidd, who showcased a green bralet and leather pencil skirt, and Lara Stone, who appeared in a cream trench coat with faux fur sleeves. Lennon Gallagher walked in the show, with his cousin Anais Gallagher in attendance. Model David Gandy, a collaborator with M&S, arrived in a checked coat, and Ian Wright, an M&S ambassador, was also present. Jamie Redknapp attended with his wife Frida, while TV presenter Sian Welby was joined by radio host Jordan North. Singer Jessie Ware was also spotted in an elegant white blouse and flared grey trousers.

John Lyttle, Managing Director of Fashion, Home & Beauty at M&S, emphasized that the show represents progress rather than a final destination. "There is much more to do as we continue to invest in our stores, modernise our supply chain and strengthen our data and digital capability," Lyttle commented. He reiterated the ambition to "serve customers better, grow online profitably and build a Fashion, Home and Beauty business for the next 100 years and beyond."