London's Fashion Shines At King's Annual Runway Show.

Arielle Sam-Alao
11 hours ago
3 min read

Recent conversations around the state of British fashion have often been accompanied by sighs of worry. But King's annual fashion show, which took place on 20th March 2026, was a reminder that the industry's future is in confident hands. Showcasing the work of emerging designers and models drawn entirely from the student body, the evening was a testament to homegrown talent — bold, diverse, and unafraid to take risks.

Opal by Linh Huagan presented a collection of ethereal bridal looks that blurred the line between clothing and sculpture. Across the looks, Huagan explored how fabric can be manipulated into structural but also delicate pieces. Coral-like formations appeared across the collection, grounding each outfit into a consistent design language. The standout look was the lattice gown, with its tiered branching forms reminiscent of a butterfly.

Built around the designer's conception that innocence and emotions are exploited until a person has no choice but to harden, turning cold as a form of 'self-protection'. Frozen Innocence by Jeylun and Rehyan strikes a beautiful balance between fragility and strength. The icy blue taffeta gown, adorned with a shawl adorned with pearls that form an armour around the model, evoked the image of Cinderella on her way home from the ball.

In Self Promise by Michelle, the designer explored the lingering negative thoughts that take us captive. By focusing on recycled materials, the collection is based on the idea that you can reinvent yourself despite your own self-doubt.

In Opposites Attract by Akyra, by exploring the tension between stripes and spots, the collection leaned into youth without sacrificing cohesion. Frilled minskirts and bold prints gave it a retro energy, whilst its standout look, a white dress with a striped skirt and train, elevated the playful youth of the collection. In Ivory Bloom, the reverse happens, with a clean tennis dress paired with a simple blazer and a flower affixed to the lapel. Proving that simplicity can be its own statement.

Aquamarine by Nina aimed to reflect ‘the ocean's beauty and unpredictability'. The ocean motif stood out in the mini-dress in a clean cerulean blue, with a diagonal band of pearls and crystals cutting across the garment. The sea-green fingerless gloves were almost mossy in texture, reminiscent of the algae on the ocean floor. The oceanic references extended beyond the sea, from mermaids to pirates. A red satin cami tucked into a rhinestones trimmed denim stones, with the model adorned with seashell jewellery and a mauve halter mini-dress with a criss-cross neckline.

Flutter by Mersey, inspired by movement and nature, showcased designs where the fabrics lived and breathed with every step. The gold and blush look with butterfly hardware and shimmering gold organza panels mirrored Aphrodite in its glamour. Whilst its sister, a more subdued piece, recalled the sensual energy of Circe.

Bridal Couture in the way of Angel Makole aimed to ensure that each part of the bridal ensemble was as glamorous as the other. The collection merged tradition, in the bride's ethereal gown, with rebellion, in the bridesmaids' sultry mini-dress.

Other standout collections included Blue Blur by Francesca, which gave new meaning to the office siren, subverting traditional fabrics with radical silhouettes.

and Marea by Amelie, where the designer aimed to ‘explore femininity as a space of transformation, inner strength and transcendence’, through evocations of Athenian aesthetics and silhouettes.

The show closed out with "A Latitude of Belonging" by Lì Chún 俐淳. According to the designer, the show aimed to 'trace a flight path between Taiwan, Beijing and York, adopting a bird's-eye view to map a life suspended between worlds'. As an exploration of the third-culture kid identity, the collection's motifs could not be confined to a single space. Instead, they moved between colours and textures. A personal favourite of mine was a moss-green column dress, reminiscent of a forest sanctuary, whilst a dark navy top paired with a cream satin skirt reminded me of a bird mid-flight.