London Fashion Week declared 'open for business'

As the fashion world gears up for a hectic few weeks of Spring/Summer 2016 shows, London is preparing for its moment in the spotlight.

Against a backdrop of Brexit-related uncertainty, London Fashion Week (LFW) has declared itself firmly open for business, getting ready to welcome over 5,000 guests from 58 countries and 83 major designers scheduled for its 64th edition.

Figures released in June show that the British fashion industry's national worth has grown by 8 per cent since 2013, now totalling £28 billion (about US $37 billion), and LFW is capitalizing on the strength of the sector with an event that will focus on change and innovation.

This season all eyes will be on the U.K. house of Burberry as it shows its menswear and womenswear collections together for the first time, with the pieces available to buy directly afterwards. The label, headed by Christopher Bailey, isn't the only major player to embrace this change -- Fyodor Golan, House of Holland and Topshop Unique will also be showing see-now buy-now collections. Meanwhile, Aquascutum, Belstaff, Joseph and this year's Woolmark Womenswear winner Teatum Jones will also put menswear and womenswear together on the catwalk.

In addition to the official catwalk schedule, the SS17 edition of LFW will also feature over 150 labels presenting in the Designer Showrooms at Brewer Street Car Park. International brands MM6 and Versus return to the city, while Huishan Zhang, Molly Goddard and Teatum Jones will all be showing on catwalks for the first time. And in a bid to diffuse the excitement all over the U.K., 20 Ocean Outdoor screens across Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London Manchester and Newcastle will broadcast LFW content.