The fifth International Fashion Showcase (IFS) entitled 'Fashion Utopias' is a series of specially commissioned and curated fashion installations featuring work by over 80 emerging designers from 24 countries. Created by British Council and British Fashion Council it forms a key part of London Fashion Week’s public-facing programme which celebrates the universal relevance of fashion in contemporary culture. 

Dates: 19 – 23 February 2016
Opening Hours: 10.00 – 18.00 Daily
Location: West Wing Galleries, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA
www.somersethouse.org.uk
Free admission with pre-registration advised.  Pre-register: here
Transport: Temple, Embankment, Charing Cross, Waterloo 

Read the full press release here

IFS 2016 'Fashion Utopias' is a part of Somerset House’s Utopia 2016: A Year of Imagination and Possibility. The West Wing at Somerset House will be transformed into a Utopian terrain, designed by Hatty Ellis Coward, where emerging generation of international designers and curators invite visitors to share their vision of the future. The countries taking part in IFS 2016 will be: Austria, Czech Republic, Egypt, Guatemala, Indonesia, Korea, Lebanon, Portugal, Philippines, Nigeria, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine.‘Next in Line', a group installation curated by Shonagh Marshall will feature designers from 11 further nations: Argentina, Bahrain, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, United Arab Emirates. 

IFS provides opportunities for designers like these to engage with the UK fashion community and to build international connections, paving the way towards future creative and commercial collaborations.

A series of seminars, visits and mentoring opportunities, organised by London College of Fashion, will help designers prepare for the showcase. The Designer Support Programme will bring together a network of LCF affiliated academics and researchers, to offer mentoring opportunities and business development during IFS. A collaboration with Fashion Scout will offer designers involved in IFS the opportunity to show their work on the catwalk.

Key Events

Take part in our series of exciting public programme events and talks happening throughout the exhibition. See our full list of events here

Fashion Utopias: Then & Now
Date: 19 February
Time: 13.30- 17.30 
Where: Screening Room, Embankment Entrance Somerset House, Victoria Embankment, London, WC2R 2PH
Tickets: £10/£8 Concessions
Booking: www.somersethouse.org.uk

Fashion Utopias: Friday Late in partnership with Time Out London
Date: 19 February
Time: 19.00– 21.00, 
Where: West Wing Galleries, Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA
Tickets: £15
Booking: www.timeout.com/IFSLate  

Time Out London joins us as event partners for a Friday Late on 19 February, an evening of fashion, music, performance and activities going behind the scenes of Fashion Utopias.

Fashion Workshops: A series of craft workshops exploring textile design and craft from around the world.
Date: 20 Feb 2016
Time: 11.00 - 17.00
Where: Utopian Treasury, Embankment Entrance Somerset House, Victoria Embankment, London, WC2R 2PH

Drop in, spaces limited

• 11.00 METAMORPHOSISTEXTIL

A workshop with Sofia Contreras from Guatemalan brand MËUS exploring symbology in Mayan textiles. Visitors will trace symbols in textile design from ancient to contemporary and create their own symbols.

• 13.00 Shape and Structure: Fashion Workshop with Czech and Slovak Designers

A practical workshop suitable for all ages, focusing on contemporary embroidery and weaving used by young designers. Participants will be working with various materials and techniques, some traditional, some recycled or newly developed by the designers themselves. The individual pieces of embroidery will later be attached together and form a large collective canvas.  Material, tools and guidance will be provided. Drop in any time between 13.00-17.00.

Fashion Utopias spotlight tours
Dates: 22 & 23 February
Times: 12.30 & 16.30 
Drop in. Spaces are limited, registration form will be available on reception 30 minutes before tour start time.

Exhibition spotlight tours with curators and fashion industry insiders who will choose their highlights from Fashion Utopias

Find out more information about the tours here

Keynote Debate: New Ways, Better Ways - Imagining a Utopian Fashion System Date 23 February,

Time:18.45 – 20.00
Where: Kings Cultural Institute, East Wing, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 2LS

Free admission, spaces limited.
Booking: www.somersethouse.org.uk

The International Fashion Showcase is directed by Anna Orsini, Strategic Consultant British Fashion Council and Niamh Tuft, Programme Manager British Council.

The British Council and the British Fashion Council would like to thank Bonaveri, sponsor of Next in Line and the IFS Curator Award, and official mannequin supplier to the International Fashion Showcase; our partners London College of Fashion and Fashion Scout for the mentoring and showcasing opportunities offered to the International Fashion Showcase designers; collaborators Direct Drive TV & Inition and Unmade for the unique opportunities offered to designers; event partners Time Out; and furniture suppliers Arper.

For full information go to Fashion Utopias: IFS 2016

Follow the journey @British_Design on Twitter and Instagram #IFS2016 #FashionUtopias