Inside London Fashion Week’s biggest controversies as the hottest show in town celebrates its 40th year

London Fashion Week has become a staple of the arts scene dominated by the rich and famous, and as it approaches its 40th anniversary, FEMAIL documents its biggest scandals to date.

Besides the glitz and glamour, the show has been plagued by scandals over the years, ranging from nude models, lingerie-clad PETA activists to dead fish.

While the fashionistas and socialites of the world attend the coveted event religiously, it appears that London’s elite have glossed over some of the show’s most shocking moments.

London Fashion Week 2024 includes shows from designers such as Isabel Manns, AADNEVIK, Kazna Asker, Paolo Carzana and many more.

This year the show will take place from February 16 to 20.

John Galliano’s dead fish spectacle

Legendary fashion designer John Galliano wowed his London Fashion Week audience at his French Revolution-themed show in 1984.

John had only graduated from Central Saint Martin’s months earlier when he decided to throw dead fish into the crowd during his own show.

It was a bizarre stunt that made headlines as the crowd reeled from shock as a dead mackerel was thrown in their faces, but it seemed to cement his status as a fashion mogul.

Just five years later, in 1989, the Gibraltar-born designer’s LFW show was the hottest ticket in town when 15-year-old Kate Moss took to the catwalk for the first time.

The same year as her LFW debut, she was featured on the cover of popular arts publication The Face magazine and became Britain’s most famous model.

Alexander McQueen’s debut show – Highland Rape

Alexander McQueen was at the center of controversy in 1995 when his controversial Highland Rape collection hit the catwalk.

The late designer created the collection with his family in mind, using McQueen tartan for the designs to pay tribute to his Scottish heritage.

He used models draped in torn clothes to symbolize the Jacobite Risings and the Highland Clearances in Scotland.

McQueen claimed the designs symbolized the ‘rape’ of Scottish lands by the British.

The show’s controversial name went down in history for all the wrong reasons, but it certainly put McQueen’s name on people’s lips.

Skinny models

In 2006, Madrid Fashion Week took the momentous decision to ban models with a BMI of less than 18.5 from taking to the catwalk.

The decision came after mounting pressure from campaign groups over the alarmingly thin frames of models appearing on catwalks at fashion shows.

However, London Fashion Week came under fire in 2008 when it announced it was scrapping plans to make similar changes.

Mandatory health checks for underweight models were abolished due to huge opposition from the fashion industry, as other cities did not follow suit.

The measures were intended to discourage the use of size zero models, equivalent to a UK size four, but an investigation found them to be unworkable.

The planned requirement that models obtain a doctor’s certificate proving that they were in good health received government support. But research found that making them mandatory in London would lead to models flocking to rival fashion capitals such as New York, Paris and Milan.

Charlie Le Mindu’s nude fashion show

French hairstylist Charlie Le Mindu turned around broke the last taboo in the fashion world in 2008 by sending models stark naked down the catwalk.

The then 24-year-old, whose creations have been worn by Lady Gaga, caused a stir with a show featuring models dressed in bright pink high-heeled boots, hats, bags, wigs… and little else.

In a scene reminiscent of the Emperor’s New Clothes, many of the assembled fashionistas didn’t know where to look.

At London Fashion Week 2007, he unveiled a full-face headdress made from real mouse and rat carcasses, which outraged animal rights activists.

Topless PETA activists

Topless PETA activists organized a flash mob protest as London Fashion Week kicked off in 2018.

With the slogan ‘Wear Your Own Skin’ painted on their bodies, the activists encouraged passers-by to avoid fur, leather, sheepskin and other animal-derived materials as they stood outside The Store Studios in London.

The group of female PETA supporters braved the winter weather and bared their skin for a vegan protest at the start of London Fashion Week on The Strand.

PETA Director Elisa Allen noted, “Whether it is the fur of a scared fox or an angora rabbit or the skin of a gentle calf, it is not dust and it is not there for the taking.”

She added: ‘With so many innovative, high-quality vegan fabrics available, there is simply no excuse to wear the skin or hair of an animal.’

Extinction Rebellion protests

In 2019, the eco-activists from Extinction Rebellion covered in fake blood, they stuck themselves to the entrance of London Fashion Week on the first day.

In photos posted by Extinction Rebellion on Friday morning, activists are seen blocking the doors of the fair’s venue in The Strand, while others poured buckets of fake blood around the entrance to create a ‘bleeding red carpet’.

Protesters were led away by police who shouted: “You choose profit over the planet, profit over people, profit over our future.”

The environmental campaign movement said it was staging the so-called ‘die-in’ to urge the fashion industry to “tell the truth about its contribution to the climate and ecological crisis”.

The protesters, dressed in white clothing with red bloodstains, were photographed holding hands and carrying flags.

And last year, eco-protesters set off smoke bombs and covered the floor with black paint as they targeted London Fashion Week.

As part of the stunt, around 30 eco-fanatics stormed 180 The Strand – where the fashion show is being held – in protest against the world’s biggest polluter, Coca-Cola.

Climate activists in white overalls paraded up and down a red catwalk before dousing it in fake oil from two giant Coca-Cola bottles, while others set off black smoke grenades around them.