A longstanding fixture of London Fashion Week, Fashion Scout returned this season with its acclaimed Ones to Watch showcase, officially joining the LFW Evening Schedule. The moment marked a notable milestone for the platform, reflecting its sustained influence and curatorial authority within an increasingly competitive global fashion calendar.

The AW26 presentation brought together a carefully selected group of emerging designers from across Europe and Asia. Each label offered a distinct creative language, while the collective lineup highlighted the international scope shaping contemporary fashion in London today. Recognition at this level signals industry confidence and reinforces Fashion Scout’s role as a launchpad for designers poised to shape the future of the industry.

Among the standout talents was Min-Ji Kim, whose knitwear-driven practice challenged conventional ideas of scale and proportion. Sculptural silhouettes and tactile surfaces transformed garments into expressive forms, exploring emotional in-between states through bold colour and material experimentation. Her work dressed individuals who occupy space with intention, softness, and quiet strength.

Craftsmanship and surface exploration defined the collection by Adolf Maldonado. Drawing from a background rooted in traditional dressmaking, Maldonado presented refined silhouettes shaped by texture and structure. Organic references inspired by insects and natural forms translated into sculptural pieces that balanced delicacy with resilience.

A slower, more introspective approach emerged from Label Astha Garg. The collection centred on material integrity and social sustainability, presenting fashion as a sensory and emotional experience. Subtle silhouettes and thoughtful textures reflected a deliberate design process grounded in responsibility and collaboration with artisans.

Architectural restraint characterised the work of Invisible Boundaries. Prioritising proportion and construction over decoration, the brand communicated through spatial presence and gesture. The resulting garments conveyed intensity and clarity, offering a deeply personal experience through quiet, disciplined design.

Bridging heritage with contemporary luxury, Khushi Kumar presented garments conceived as modern heirlooms. Indian craftsmanship formed the foundation of the collection, reinterpreted through cinematic storytelling and sustainability-led practices. Traditional techniques were placed within a modern international context, allowing cultural memory to feel relevant and forward-facing.

Art and fashion intersected in the presentation by MAD DAISY, whose AW26 collection translated the light and texture of Impressionist painter Jean-Baptiste Armand Guillaumin into wearable form. Silk, linen, and cotton served as painterly surfaces, creating a dialogue between museum culture and contemporary urban dressing.

Closing the lineup, Aleksa Vertige delivered a collection informed by discipline and cultural inquiry. Inspired by Bushidō, the Japanese samurai code of honour, the designs featured structured silhouettes and a restrained palette of muted tones. Traditional macramé techniques added depth and craftsmanship, grounding the collection in heritage while maintaining a modern architectural sensibility across womenswear and menswear.

As Fashion Scout approaches its twentieth anniversary, the platform continues to reinforce London’s reputation as a city of discovery. Founder and Director Martyn Roberts emphasised the commitment to providing designers with a professionally produced, internationally visible stage. Co-Director Biljana Poposka Roberts described the season as fashion without borders, where diverse cultural perspectives converge within a single, cohesive runway moment.

The Ones to Watch AW26 showcase presented a clear vision of fashion’s direction, shaped by global perspectives, conceptual rigour, and a renewed focus on craft, narrative, and individuality.