Buyers braved the weekend’s windy weather conditions to visit the latest edition of Harrogate Fashion Week. Now in its sixth season, the two-day event showcased new collections from 120 brands across two fully-booked halls inside the spa town’s Convention Centre.
Occasionwear was particularly strong at this season’s show, representing the event industry’s expected return to glory following the challenges of the pandemic.
Exhibitors reported a busy show across the board – particularly on the event’s opening day – with buyers placing bigger orders than the last autumn/winter season for categories such as outerwear and knitwear.
Organisers Wendy Adams and Sarah Moody say they are “delighted with this season’s event,” which sold out for the first time since its launch in 2018. Key womenswear collections included Foil, Orientique, by basics, Pomodoro, Marble, Lizabella, Gardeur, John Charles and Elisa Cavaletti while buyers were able to see footwear collections from the likes of Bugatti, Lotus and Ruby Shoo. Exhibitors showing for the first time in Harrogate included Brakeburn, Tily and Grace, NYDJ, Marie Mero and Smith and Soul.
Penny Callaghan, founder of From My Mother’s Garden, showcased her collection for the first time at the show. Her range is expanding for SS22, with dresses, raincoats, jumpsuits and bomber jackets joining its signature robes and kimonos. “We’ve had a great response to our new pieces,” she says. “It was great to get such a positive reaction to the collection and we have also signed up lots of great new stockists, so it’s been a successful show. For a small independent label, it is so gratifying to have such a good take-up.”
Meanwhile, British lifestyle label Capri London unveiled its new branding and sustainably focused AW22 collection. MD Hari Krishnadasan says he was very happy with the reaction from buyers at the show and that sales had been extremely positive. “We’ve had really good feedback about our rebrand and fresh feel of our new logo and conscious strapline,” he says. “It’s been a great show and we’ve been really pleased to see our loyal customers and to be able to introduce the brand to some new stockists too.”
The next edition of Harrogate Fashion Week will take place from 31 July – 1 August with 95 per cent of this season’s exhibitors already signed up.