London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026 marks a significant period for British fashion, under the fresh guidance of Chief Executive Laura Weir. The British Fashion Council (BFC) has embarked on a \"bold new era\", emphasizing new talent through its 2025/26 BFC NEWGEN initiative. This renewed focus aims to invigorate the fashion landscape by spotlighting designers who push creative boundaries.
A standout among this year's NEWGEN selections is Oscar Ouyang, a designer originally from Beijing now based in London, who recently unveiled his inaugural collection on the London Fashion Week runway. His Spring/Summer 2026 collection is a culmination of seven years of development during his time at Central Saint Martins. The designs uniquely weave together elements of folklore, modern streetwear, and intricate knitting techniques, resulting in a range that is both artistic and highly wearable. The show commenced with a military-inspired jacket paired with shimmering shorts and a fringed scarf, setting the tone for a series of tactile and multi-layered ensembles. These included knitted leggings worn beneath feathered shorts with a casual tee and beanie, and a short-sleeved knit shirt embellished with tassels, complemented by practical trousers and sneakers. The collection prominently featured a variety of knitwear, from classic vests and ponchos to avant-garde oversized tees and hand-crocheted tunics. Feathers served as a distinctive motif, appearing in models' hair, on sneakers, and as headwear, symbolizing \"the king of the forest.\"
Despite its imaginative details, the collection maintained a strong connection to reality through an earthy color palette and street-inspired silhouettes. The incorporation of technical fabrics, particularly in khaki outerwear and utilitarian green and navy trousers, further bridged the gap between fantastical narrative and everyday functionality. Each outfit, completed with Converse-style sneakers, meticulously balanced imaginative storytelling with practical design, highlighting Ouyang's talent for merging diverse inspirations into cohesive, fashion-forward streetwear pieces. This debut collection not only showcased his innovative approach but also reaffirmed the BFC's commitment to nurturing emergent design voices, promising an exciting future for the fashion industry.