Streetwise, eco-friendly fashion hits London catwalk at Fashion Frenzee

A streetwise, eco-friendly fashion show closed London Fashion Week, staging Fashion Frenzee at the Guildhall Art Gallery. Curated by Nadia Perrier, director of the Central London Alliance, the event highlighted sustainable wear including garments made from rugby balls and pieces recovered from railway lost-property offices, with a lineup of models including Mrs Universe 2022.

A line-up of models including Mrs Universe 2022 went on parade on a bespoke runway, showcasing clothing aimed at cutting waste and giving new life to pre-loved items. A silent auction raised money for Integrity International Trust and Dress For Success. About 150 people attended the show.

Perrier described the aim of the event as part of a broader push to revive central London after the Covid-19 lockdowns. "More people are being attracted back into the centre of the capital - and it's still very much needed. We've migrated into habits of hybrid working which has had such an impact on central London - the recent train strikes don't help at all. But we're constantly looking at giving workers incentives to come back," she told the Daily Mail. "I'm proud that together with our brands and partners, we've made fashion not just stylish, but purposeful."

The show showcased a cross-section of designers, from technology-leaning streetwear to couture with ethical underpinnings. Le Ballon Responsable, founded by French rugby legend Serge Betsen, presented rugby-ball-turned-artisanal fashion pieces. Other contributors included Atelier de Nalin Thakral, reviving traditional Zardosi embroidery with ethical couture; CQ (Cheongsam Quotidien) London, blending Eastern heritage with Western design; and GOFF COURTNEY, described as redefining fashion as age-, size- and gender-free. The Collective by London 3x3 merged sport and sustainability through streetwear, while Pop Specs offered eyewear and Sanya Dutta promoted vegan fashion. The range underscored a common thread: rethinking waste and celebrating pre-loved garments.

Perrier noted the CLA’s broader remit beyond fashion, including sport festivals that anchor London's cultural calendar. She said the alliance formed five years ago in the wake of the pandemic and has since expanded to attract visitors back into the city centre, despite ongoing hybrid-work patterns. "We’ve migrated into habits of hybrid working which has had such an impact on central London," she said. "But the CLA is constantly looking at giving workers incentives to come back." She added that the fashion showcase was also about diversity and responsibility, stressing that the city’s fashion scene should be both creative and sustainable.

The event also highlighted collaborations with charities. Dress For Success, which helps empower women entering the workforce through clothing and coaching, and Integrity International Trust, which offers healthcare, education and disaster-recovery support, benefited from the auction proceeds. Florence King, the Lady Mayoress of the City of London, praised the Guildhall Art Gallery transformation as a backdrop for emerging and established designers and for promoting pre-loved clothing. "It was thrilling to watch the City of London Corporation’s Guildhall Art Gallery transform itself into a backdrop and stage to enable emerging and established designers to show off their incredible work, as well as promote 'pre-loved' clothing," she said.

The event coincided with broader CLA efforts in sport and culture in London. In recent years, the London Sports Festival has grown from the City’s first pop-up padel court—which attracted 6,380 players—to drawing more than 23,000 participants since its May launch. Nadia Perrier said the sports programming complements the fashion calendar by reinforcing community engagement and drawing more people to central London venues.

Michael Perrier, Nadia’s husband, spoke about his own health journey, which has shaped their work with the CLA. A former youth international who played for clubs including Sion, Aarau and Stade Lausanne Ouchy in Switzerland, he collapsed after a cardiorespiratory arrest at 32 in May 2021. He spent 72 hours in an induced coma before the doctors revived him on the fifth attempt. "They tried to resuscitate me five times. They say that if nothing happens after two attempts, it’s usually over — or that the after-effects quickly become irreversible. In my case, it wasn’t until the fifth attempt that they managed to revive my heart and start beating again," he recalled. He has since retrained as a physiotherapist and supports the family’s urban ventures, though he no longer plays football or padel at the same level.

The Perriers now live in Surrey with their four-year-old daughter, who Nadia described as the family’s "light and joy." She emphasized the importance of sustainable production and consumer choices in fashion. "The fashion and textiles industry contributes significantly to London’s economy, but it’s equally vital to cut waste and support pre-loved purchases," she said.

Tony Matharu, chairman of the Central London Alliance, framed Fashion Frenzee as a broader reflection of London’s character. "This conclusion of London Fashion Week was about more than fashion or the historic setting—it was about the story of London itself. Fashion Frenzee highlighted the city’s unique ability to host experiences and events that resonate across the broadest spectrum of people," he said.

The event underscored a culture shift toward responsible fashion and renewed community ties in central London. By weaving together sustainable design, charitable support, and cross-disciplinary programming, Fashion Frenzee represented a distinctive closing note to London Fashion Week—one that sought to reimagine waste as opportunity and to celebrate a city’s enduring appetite for creativity and inclusion.