National Fashion Events during 2012
The London Festival
21 June to 9 September 2012 venues across London
Fashion & Art Collusion is part of the London 2012 Festival, a spectacular 12-week nationwide celebration from 21 June and running until 9 September 2012, bringing together leading artists from across the world with the very best from the UK.
The UK’s most prestigious and renowned fashioned designers collaborate with leading visual artists on specially commissioned one-off works of art. ‘Britain Creates 2012′ features high-profile UK fashion designers including Sarah Burton, Christopher Bailey for Burberry, Hussein Chalayan, Giles Deacon, Erdem, Stephen Jones, Christopher Kane, Mary Katrantzou, Jonathan Saunders and Paul Smith, who will collaborate with leading visual artists including Jeremy Deller, Jess Flood-Paddock, Marc Quinn and Gavin Turk, Michael Raedecker and Cerith Wyn Evans. Fashion connecting with art celebrating London 2012.
The specially created exclusive pieces unveiled on 27 June 2012 at a VIP Gala fundraising event before going on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A). Monies raised from the gala form part of a bursary to encourage and support emerging artists and designers and to help encourage future collaborations. Read more > London 2012 British Fashion Festival
British Glamour Since 1950
V&A London
19 May 2012 to 6 January 2013
Alexander McQueen, S/S 2011. Image: Courtesy Christopher Moore, Catwalking
Clearly destined to be an exhibition full of glamour with 60 ballgowns from 1950 through to the present day. Featuring ballgowns, red carpet couture, and catwalk show stoppers. Laid out over two floors, uniquely Great British, worn at private parties, royal state occasions, opening nights with designer couture names such as Hardy Amies, Ossie Clark, Bill Gibb, Belleville Sassoon, Murray Arbeid, Bruce Oldfield and Julien McDonald. A selection of royal ballgowns will be displayed including Norman Hartnell gown designed for Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother, Princess Diana’s, ‘Elvis dress’ designed by Catherine Walker and gowns worn by today’s young royals. Dresses worn by actresses and celebrities including Sandra Bullock, Daphne Guiness, Elizabeth Hurley and Bianca Jagger will also feature. Read more > V&A Museum London
V&A London Design Festival
V& A Museum
14 – 26 September 2012
As part of The London Design Festival Juliana will be giving a lunch time talk on Tuesday 18 September, with V&A Museum curator Angus Patterson, followed by a drop in design workshop. Her work can be seen in the Iron Work Gallery from 14 – 26 September.
Kensington Palace
26 March to 31 August 2012
Kensington Palace re-opened 26 March 2012, after a £12million regeneration project with exhibition – Diana: a glimpses of a modern princess. A small but stunning range from Gianna Versace, Emanuel , Catherine Walker, Bellville Sasson and Lorcan Mullany of dresses worn by Diana, The Princess of Wales. The exhibition is open from 26 March – 31 August 2012 in time for the Queens Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic & Paralympic Games 2012.
Royal Fashion Stamps
Royal Mail launched Great British commerative fashion stamps. 
A selection of 10 fashion stamps celebrating such names as Zandra Rhodes, Ossie Clark, Paul Smith, Vivien Westwood, available during the summer 2012, in a special presentational pack with words by Prof. Amy de la haye of London College of Fashion.
The Queens Diamond Jubilee
The Queen celebrates 60 years as Monarch in 2012. New website celebrates Her Majesty’s life and times and is the official source for announcements and information about the Diamond Jubilee, with events, meetings, and expo’s running throughout the year to mark this very special occassion with 5 June 2012 declared a National Holiday. The official website of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
Diamonds – A Jubilee Celebration
V& A Museum London
Buckingham Palace London
31 July – 7 October 2012
The Queen’s 10,000 diamonds are now on display at Buckingham Palace London to mark Queen Elizabeth’s 60th year on the throne, in a stunning display of gems gathered over the centuries as objects of beauty and symbols of power. The exhibition, runs from 31 July to 7 October 2012 coincides with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations this year.
Photo: The Royal Collection
Read more > Royal Collections
Hollywood Costumes
V& A Museum London
20 October 2012 to 27 January 2013
The V&A anticipate this to be one of the most popular collections they have put together taking five years in the making. Some costumes date back a century, others such as Dame Helen Mirren’s tweeds and Barbour jacket worn in a scene from the recent film ‘The Queen,’ The Wizard Of Oz, Shakespeare in Love, The Matrix, Indiana Jones, Kate Winslett in The Titanic and many more. The Hollywood Costume exhibition will be displayed with film clips, montages and interviews with the designers, directors and actors.
Kate Winslett as Rose DeWitt in ‘Titanic’, 1997, costume designed by Deborah L. Scott. 20th Century Fox/Paramount/The Kobal Collection
Read more > V&A Museum London
Past Events & Exhibitions during 2012
The #Greats Britain Campaign
‘The GREATS’ Campaign was especially launched Spring 2012 to promote ‘all things British’ in time to celebrate for The Queens Diamond Jubilee and The London 2012 Games including a dedicated ‘Shopping is Great’ poster, a campaign including national TV advertising, spearheaded by VisitBritain.com the UK’s tourism arm.
Great British fashion companies and organisations including supremo Mulberry are supporting the campaign and top British figures in fashion including Sir Paul Smith and Dame Vivienne Westwood.
Promoting British Fashion around the World
Additionally Visit Britain, the UK’s national tourist agency recruited Victoria Beckham, to act as an international ambassador for the #GREATS campaign, helping to promote the best of Britain around the world, whilst under the spotlight this year, with the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
BT Art Boxes – July 2012
It’s a campaign dedicated to show off the best of British design talent.
Across London’s streets, during July 2012, you’ll find replicas of the Gilbert Scott phone box, transformed by some of the UK’s leading inspirational fashion talent. The boxes will be auctioned off to raise funds for Childline’s 25th anniversary. Read more > http://www.btartboxes.com/09Visit.php
June 2012
HRH The Prince of Wales hosted a reception at St James’s Palace to celebrate the launch of London Collections Men – a brand new showcase of British menswear, style and culture 14 June to Sunday 17th June.
The reception provided a unique opportunity for international and UK media, retailers and style influencers to network with London’s menswear designers and businesses in magnificent and uniquely British surroundings during this very special year of Culture.
The Collections shown at The Hospital Club located in the heart of Covent Garden, the venue provided a space for presentations, events, screenings and lounges across the three day showcase. UK and International media and buyers had access to the on-site facilities including lounges and meeting spaces. Designers include Margaret Howell, Paul Smith and Aquascutum. Read more > British Fashion Council
British Design 1948-2012 at The V&A London
31 March–12 August 2012
Anarchy in the UK T-shirt, by Vivienne Westwood & Malcolm McLaren, 1977-8, worn and altered by Johnny Rotten. Museum no. S.794-1990
This exhibition showcased more than 300 products celebrating the best of British post-war art and design from the 1948 ‘austerity’ games to the summer of 2012. The exhibition highlighted significant moments in the history of British design and how the country continued to nurture artistic talent and be a world leader in creativity and design. Staged from 31 March until mid August 2012, included product design, fashion and textiles, graphics, photography and more. Some of the very best of British creative industries being staged during 2012 Olympic Year.
Vintage Style – Corsetry
British Glamour since 1950 – learn how to create a couture corset bodice based upon the dress designs of this period led by Brighton based Juliana Sissons 15 – 17 June 2012. Part of British Design Season at the V&A
Read more > V&A Workshops
Read more > V&A Museum
About Fashion 2012
Fashion 2012 is the official fashion industry activity for The London Olympic Year 2012. Created by the British Fashion Council (BFC) it’s a central focal point under which the industry is able to showcase and celebrate British fashion. It will provide a schedule for the major fashion events and activities throughout London’s Olympic year.
February 2012
Fash/On Film
A new British Fashion Council initiative sponsored by the retail store group River Island. The scheme aims to support and develop relationships between fashion designers and film makers, providing a showcasing opportunity at London Fashion Week. It recognises the ongoing growth of fashion film as an important creative product of the industry and London’s position at the centre of this film revolution.
Launching this new initiative, River Island will produce a short film showcasing their new Design Forum collection designed by Royal College of Art graduate Julian J Smith; it’s premiere being during London Fashion Week.
As part of this new intitiative Fash/On Film showcase there will be special filming presentations during the late Spring in London. It sees the launch of its first nationwide search for emerging film making talent, inviting up-and-coming creatives to submit film ideas in response to a brief set by a leading British designer in conjunction with Fash/On Film.
One filmmaker will be selected to receive professional support and mentoring through the production process, offering a unique opportunity to gain insight into and experience of the fashion film industry. This film will be shown at London Fashion Week September 2012, creating a prestigious launch pad into the fashion and film industry.
Fashion & Art Collusion
Fashion & Art Collusion is part of the London 2012 Festival, a spectacular 12-week nationwide celebration from 21st June and running until 9th September 2012, bringing together leading artists from across the world with the very best from the UK. The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are a celebration of excellence and performance and these partnerships have been commissioned to create pieces of work to reflect these special values.
The specially created exclusive pieces will be unveiled on 27th June 2012 at a VIP Gala fundraising event before going on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A). Monies raised from the gala will form part of a bursary to encourage and support emerging artists and designers and to help encourage future collaborations
Read more > British Fashion Council
Victoria Beckham – Anna Wintour promote ‘All Things British’
Victoria’s ready-to-wear range is now sold in over a credible 300 stores globally and launched the global #GREAT campaign in February with Anna Wintour and other high profile Brits in New York efore the start of of AW 2012/2013 NY Fashion Week at New York’s Grand Central Tube Station.
The Queens Diamond Jubilee
The Queen celebrates 60 years as Monarch in 2012. New website celebrates Her Majesty’s life and times and is the official source for announcements and information about the Diamond Jubilee, with events, meetings, and expo’s running throughout the year to mark this very special occassion with 5 June 2012 declared a National Holiday. The official website of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
Queen Elizabeth II by Cecil Beaton at The V&A London
8 February – 22 April 2012
6 February 2012 sees the anniversary of the day 60 years ago that Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne. It’s the official start to her Jubilee – a year packed with celebratory festivities. 5 June 2012 declared a Public Holiday. A fantastic exhibition highlighting the monarchy and the fashions worn over the scores of years pictured by one of the most respected photographers of the time.
Read more > Queen Elizabeth II by Cecil Beaton
