Fashion Week Sees Activist Altercations, Controversial Ads, and Royal Appearances

London Fashion Week featured a notable appearance by Victoria Starmer, wife of former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who modeled in designer Edeline Lee's show. The collection drew inspiration from the Greek myth of Sisyphus, and Lee's designs are known to be favored by the Princess of Wales and have been worn by various celebrities.

Meanwhile, New York Fashion Week was marked by controversy. Converse was forced to pull an advertisement after widespread criticism that it resembled Ku Klux Klan imagery, specifically a robe and a depiction of lynching. The company issued an apology, stating, "This should not have happened and we will do better." Additionally, Steven Kolb, the chief executive of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), resigned after being filmed physically restraining animal rights activists during an incident at New York Fashion Week. Kolb, who led the CFDA for two decades, cited the decision as the right moment for a new chapter for both himself and the organization.