Harrogate Fashion Week (HFW) closed the doors on its largest event to date this week, with more than 300 brands exhibiting and over 2,000 visitors descending on the North Yorkshire spa town – a 13.5 per cent increase in footfall compared with the previous season.
Now firmly established as a key date in the UK fashion trade calendar, the three-day show (4–6 August) brought together womenswear, accessories and footwear brands across four bustling halls at Harrogate Convention Centre.
Buyers from around the UK praised the event’s brand mix, sense of community and friendly atmosphere, with many citing its vibrant yet relaxed ambiance as one of the key reasons for returning season after season.
“Harrogate is absolutely the most fabulous place to come,” said Dorothy Robinson, founder of womenswear indie group Dotique. “It’s a beautiful town, and it’s nice to meet all the other buyers. There are social events, and it’s just the most beautiful location.”
Retailers explored new and returning collections for SS26, with many highlighting the value of the in-person format. “You have to see everything before you buy it – the colours, the feel, the fit,” said Sophie Robinson, who runs Dotique in Witney. “Shopping in person is so important; we’ve got to do it ourselves, for our customers.”
Deborah McDermott from Velvet Ladieswear in Ramsbottom added: “It’s probably the best fashion trade show that there is. We see a lot of our brands here and we try to find new ones too. It’s great networking – we love catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.”
Brand representatives also praised the show’s professional layout and upbeat energy. “Harrogate Fashion Week is a great show with lovely people and a happy atmosphere,” said Myles Cunningham from d.e.c.k by Decollage. “It works well as it’s very professional and has a great layout!”
Louise Collins of Alice Collins described the event as “a great place to see all brands under one roof,” noting the importance of buyers being able to see and feel product firsthand.
Newer brands also benefited from the exposure. “We’re exhibiting because one of our brands is only two years old, so it’s really important to get it out there and show everyone how great it is,” said Emily McLeish from Jam Agent, who showcased labels including Every Other, Everau, Orfeo, Religion Clothing and Saint Tropez. “It’s a really lovely show to come to – the setup is easy, everyone is great to work with, and the customers are so lovely.”
Georgia Flynn, event director, said she was thrilled with the success of the show’s latest edition: “To have over 2,000 visitors join us, a record number of brands exhibiting and such positive feedback from both makes all our hard work worthwhile. We’re so proud of how far the show has come, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back in February.”
The next edition of Harrogate Fashion Week takes place from Sunday 1 to Tuesday 3 February 2026. Registration updates will be shared via the show’s Instagram account: @harrogatefashionweek.