While fashion week schedules in Paris and Milan might be packed with big-name luxury houses, London is the best city for spotting the next star designers before they become household names. The capital is home to some of the best fashion schools in the world, as well as a series of talent incubators fostering the next generation of creatives, making London Fashion Week a hotbed of dynamic runway shows from some of the industry’s most innovative emerging labels. It also waives show fees for designers presenting physically on the main schedule, removing another barrier for up-and-coming designers.
Read on for five of the hottest design talents to look out for at London Fashion Week 2026, running from February 19 to 23.
Talia Byre
From striped rugby tops to plaid skirts, crisp white shirting and minimal backless maxi dresses, Talia Lipkin-Connor is creating wardrobe staples for the effortlessly cool. The designer launched her womenswear label from her sister’s flat during lockdown after graduating in 2020 with a masters from Central Saint Martins, and has since developed a distinctive aesthetic vision that nails how women in London – whether creative or corporate – want to dress. Her label’s name is a homage to her great uncle’s Liverpool boutique Lucinda Byre, which sold Mulberry and Mary Quant to a loyal community in the ’70s and ’80s. Her brand, which first debuted on the London Fashion Week schedule last season, has an ethos firmly rooted in heritage, ritual and the concept of creating clothes to last—as well as looking great on a Lime bike to the pub.
taliabyre.com
Liberowe
Some designers explode onto the fashion scene via a viral social media moment while others focus on building strong ecommerce businesses. But Paris-born, Queen’s Park-based designer Talia Loubaton has taken the old school route, growing her brand via trunk shows and word of mouth. She founded Liberowe in 2021, and the label initially centred on her signature Raja jacket, inspired by sherwanis – traditional Indian mens’ coats. It’s since expanded into dinner-ready dresses, sumptuous velvet outerwear and polished suiting inspired by the ’60 and ’70s.
“The idea was to bring together elements of traditional Indian menswear and Parisian fashion; two worlds that have deeply shaped my identity as a designer,” says Loubaton, whose designs reference the menswear she’s seen on her trips to India. “I mostly think about what I would wear, what would feel strong and safe, versatile and intentional. I often question the notions of femininity, strength and fragility.”
Already stocked in Net-a-Porter, Harrods and Harvey Nichols, and with a cult following among fashion editors and insiders, the brand is making its LFW debut this season, firmly establishing it as one of London’s most exciting womenswear labels. “The collection we’re presenting feels very true to the brand, in line with who we are and what we stand for ¬– except, this time, we dug further and deeper into craft, technique and materiality.”
liberowe.com
Jawara Alleyne
London-based designer Jaware Alleyne shot to fame when Rihanna appeared in the September 2021 issue of Dazed wearing his “joint” dress (which literally resembled a spliff). Rihanna later proclaimed Alleyne her favourite designer of the moment, officially shooting his boundary-pushing, slashed and draped designs to stardom. Alleyne grew up between Jamaica and the Cayman Islands before moving to London at 19, and graduated with a masters in fashion from Central Saint Martins in 2020, launching his eponymous label with the support of incubator Fashion East. Inspired by the pirate stories and mythical lore on which he was raised, Alleyne’s creations are daring, safety pin-heavy, punk-infused and bursting with a wonderful wackiness that makes them catnip for megastars and cool kids alike.
jawaraalleyne.com
Keburia
Self-taught Georgian designer George Keburia founded his eponymous label in 2015, quickly becoming a pioneer of the burgeoning Tbilisi fashion scene. Keburia is a child of post-Soviet Georgia, and his designs explore the social turbulence he witnessed up close, from homophobia to the aftermath of the Georgian civil war in the ’90s.
“I think art and fashion should reflect reality, whether through subtle narrative references in a collection or standing up on the streets when it matters,” says the 36-year-old designer. “Keburia exists somewhere between romance and rebellion.”
Keburia returns to the LFW schedule for his sophomore show, and his autumn/winter 2026 collection will continue the brand’s exploration of off-kilter femininity. “I wanted to play with contrasts, thinking about ceremonial uniforms and military structure, strong shoulders, disciplined lines and then softening them with faux fur and more sensual textures,” he says. “There’s always that tension between control and romance. It feels more precise this season, but still playful in the way it subverts tradition, especially through outerwear, which becomes both armour and ornament.”
Worn by everyone from Lady Gaga to Solange, Rosalia and Miley Cyrus, Keburia is big on exaggerated feminine forms, cartoonish prints and playful visual references — think sailor’s anchors, military insignia and blown-up bananas. If you were a fan of Jeremy Scott’s Moschino, this is a brand to have on your radar.
georgekeburia.com
Agro Studio
Most designers on the LFW schedule court headlines and likes season after season before garnering celebrity attention. But Agro Studio’s George Oxby and Angus Cockram had Beyonce, Raye and Pink Pantheress on board before they ever so much as looked at a show venue. The label launched in 2021 in the couture mould, creating high-impact bespoke pieces for music artists and films from its east London atelier. “There’s always a tension between heritage and something more modern or unexpected. It’s about confidence, individuality and clothes that feel built, not flimsy,” explain the founders, both graduates of the London College of Fashion. “We care about making things properly, here, with people we know.”
At its LFW debut in September 2025, Agro Studio brought Oxby and Cockram’s high-octane, joy-filled vision to a wider audience with its first ready-to-wear collection – a unisex offering of satin fishtail gowns, deconstructed tailoring, shearling cropped jackets and corsetry detailing. “Ready-to-wear is just expanding the language. It gives us consistency and a stronger foundation, but the pieces still have presence.”
The upcoming autumn/winter 2026 collection, The Wanderer, explores resilience and movement. Expect Icelandic sheepskin in rust, grey and black, leather aviator layers, strong outerwear, layered knits and flashes of crystal and tinsel. “It’s textured, grounded and cinematic. It feels like the most complete version of us so far.”
agrostudio.co.uk
