London Fashion Designers: 13 Houses to Know in 2026

The London fashion designers worth knowing in 2026 range from founder-led eveningwear houses such as Roksanda, Erdem and Jenny Packham to newer names like Richard Quinn and Solace London. Coveti stocks 13 London houses, from colour-blocked Roksanda gowns to McQueen tailoring, and ships them worldwide. This guide explains who each one is and what to buy them for.

London has a particular reputation in fashion. Its houses tend to be founded by one designer, often trained at Central Saint Martins and the Royal College of Art, and many stay independent for decades. The result is a city of strong, personal signatures. Below, each house is described only with facts we have checked, followed by a table that sorts them by signature and occasion.

What is London Fashion Week?

London Fashion Week is the British Fashion Council’s showcase for designers, held twice a year in February and September.

The February shows present Autumn Winter collections and the September shows present Spring Summer. Many of the houses below built their names there. Roksanda was introduced at London Fashion Week in 2005 and still shows in London. David Koma has shown there since launching in 2009, and Emilia Wickstead since 2011. In February 2018, Queen Elizabeth II sat on the front row at Richard Quinn’s show, her first commercial runway, and presented him with the first Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design.

Which London fashion designers does Coveti stock?

Coveti carries 13 London houses: Roksanda, Erdem, Emilia Wickstead, Huishan Zhang, Safiyaa, Solace London, David Koma, Richard Quinn, Self-Portrait, ME+EM, Alexander McQueen, Roland Mouret and Jenny Packham.

Who is Roksanda?

Roksanda is the London house of Roksanda Ilincic, the Belgrade-born designer known for colour blocking, architectural draping and sculptural volume.

She studied architecture and design in Belgrade, moved to London in 1999 for an MA in Womenswear at Central Saint Martins, and introduced her label at London Fashion Week in 2005. The flagship at 9 Mount Street in Mayfair opened in June 2014 in a Grade II listed building, designed with the architect David Adjaye. Awards include British Designer of the Year at the Elle Style Awards 2016, and she was appointed MBE in 2023. The Princess of Wales, Michelle Obama and Cate Blanchett have all worn the label.

This season, the Nella Dress in Ultra Pink pairs ultra pink silk satin with a single cape over an orange lining, a clear lesson in her colour pairings. The Kami Dress in Light Aqua is a bias-cut silk satin column with wide draped sleeves. For tailoring, the Ivara Jacket in Brown Melange has a statement circular cut out at the back, and the Ines Trouser in Navy runs wide and voluminous in satin-faced wool. The Hiba Dress in Meadow Green sets a cap sleeve against a draped cape sleeve. See the full Roksanda collection, the designer’s story in who is Roksanda Ilincic, and our list of brands like Roksanda.

Which London designers are best for eveningwear?

For black tie and gala, the strongest London names are Jenny Packham, Safiyaa, Huishan Zhang, Richard Quinn and David Koma.

Jenny Packham

Jenny Packham founded her London label in 1988 after studying at Saint Martin’s School of Art. The house makes hand-beaded evening gowns and bridal, and in 2013 the V&A showed a selection of her work to mark 25 years of the label. The Princess of Wales has worn at least eight of her dresses. The Nova Dress in Ballet Pink shows the soft side of the Jenny Packham collection.

Safiyaa

German-born designer Daniela Karnuts founded Safiyaa in London in 2011 and named it after her daughter. The house began in made-to-measure, and its architectural gowns and cape dresses in stretch heavy crepe still carry that tailor’s precision. The Beril Wine Long Dress is a good introduction to the Safiyaa collection.

Huishan Zhang

Born in Qingdao, Huishan Zhang studied at Central Saint Martins, took an MA in Pattern Cutting and trained inside the Dior Haute Couture atelier. In May 2012, the year he founded his house, the V&A acquired his couture dragon dress for its permanent collection. His flagship is on Mount Street in Mayfair. The Drew Gown in Pink Fuchsia Duchesse shows his way with a structured fabric. Browse the Huishan Zhang collection.

Richard Quinn

Richard Quinn launched his label in 2016 after the Central Saint Martins MA and designs from Peckham in South London, where he runs his own print studio. His language is bold printed florals, full tulle volume and oversized bows. The Tulle Three-Bow Navy Ball Gown has all three ideas in one dress. See the Richard Quinn collection.

David Koma

David Koma is the working name of Davit Komakhidze, born in Tbilisi, who completed the Central Saint Martins MA in 2009 and launched his label in London the same year. The house is known for body-contouring silhouettes, hand embroidery, crystal and cut-outs. He was creative director of Mugler from 2013 to 2017 and has led Blumarine since 2024. The Crystal Feather One Shoulder Gown is pure house signature. Browse the David Koma collection.

Which London designers are best for wedding guests and day occasions?

Erdem, Emilia Wickstead, Self-Portrait and Solace London lead for wedding guest and formal day dressing.

Erdem

Erdem Moralioglu, born in Montreal in 1977, studied at the Royal College of Art and launched his label in London in 2005. Floral prints, hand embroidery and historical references define the house. He was named British Fashion Council Womenswear Designer of the Year in 2014 and appointed MBE in 2020, and the flagship on South Audley Street in Mayfair opened in 2015. The Long Sleeve Draped Gown is a strong place to start in the Erdem collection.

Emilia Wickstead

Emilia Wickstead, born in Auckland and a 2007 Central Saint Martins graduate, founded her label in London in 2008 on a made-to-measure model. The house is known for structured, waist-defined dresses in strong colours, and its flagship on Sloane Street opened in 2022. The Keeley Dress in Red Duchess Satin captures that one-colour formality. See the Emilia Wickstead collection.

Self-Portrait

Self-Portrait was founded in London in 2013 by the designer Han Chong and is best known for lace and guipure dresses. Chong also leads Roland Mouret today. The Burgundy Guipure Lace Midi Dress is a typical piece from the Self-Portrait collection.

Solace London

Laura Taylor and Ryan Holliday-Stevens founded Solace London in 2013. Its first stockist was Selfridges. The label makes structured eveningwear with graphic shapes in plain colours: one-shoulder columns, strapless corseted gowns and sculpted sleeves. The Olivia Maxi Dress in Plum shows the clean line of the Solace London collection.

Which London designers are best for tailoring?

For tailoring, look to Alexander McQueen, Roland Mouret and ME+EM, with Roksanda for a more sculptural jacket.

Alexander McQueen

Lee Alexander McQueen was born in London in 1969, apprenticed on Savile Row at Anderson and Sheppard and Gieves and Hawkes, then took his MA at Central Saint Martins. The house was born in 1992. It remains headquartered in London, with its flagship at 27 Old Bond Street, and the bumster trouser, corsetry and the skull motif are still its codes. The Asymmetric Drape Evening Dress in Blue shows the cutting at evening level. Browse the Alexander McQueen collection.

Roland Mouret

Roland Mouret, born in Lourdes in 1961, established his house in London in 1998. He drapes and pins cloth directly on a living body, then takes the pattern from the result. That method produced the Galaxy dress, a sheath with a deep square neck and folded shoulders that defined the mid-2000s red carpet. See the Roland Mouret collection.

ME+EM

Clare Hornby founded ME+EM in London in 2009 and still runs it. The label is known for sharp-shouldered tailoring, fluid trousers and Fit + Flare dresses, and it received a Royal Warrant from Queen Camilla in 2026. The Sharp Shoulder Blazer in Merlot is the house in one piece. Browse the ME+EM collection.

How do you choose between London designers?

Start with the occasion, then pick the house whose signature matches your taste in colour and shape.

• For colour: Roksanda for unexpected pairings, Emilia Wickstead for one strong shade.
• For embellishment: Jenny Packham for beading, David Koma for crystal.
• For romance: Erdem for florals and embroidery, Richard Quinn for tulle and bows.
• For structure: Safiyaa and Solace London for clean architectural eveningwear.
• For everyday: ME+EM tailoring and knitwear.

Most London houses cut on the UK size ladder. If you shop in US sizes, UK sizes generally run four higher, so a UK 8 is a US 4. Our guide to British sizing and British brands covers the conversions, and the Roksanda size guide gives the house’s own body chart. For newer names on the scene, read the new British designers to know, and for how the Princess of Wales wears several of these houses, see our guide to Kate Middleton style.

Browse all designer evening gowns, the wider edit of designer dresses and designer jackets to compare the houses side by side.

Frequently asked questions

Who are the best London fashion designers?

Leading London houses include Alexander McQueen, Roksanda, Erdem, Jenny Packham, Emilia Wickstead, Huishan Zhang, Safiyaa, David Koma, Richard Quinn, Roland Mouret, Self-Portrait, Solace London and ME+EM. Coveti stocks all 13.

When is London Fashion Week?

London Fashion Week is the British Fashion Council’s showcase, held twice a year in February and September.

Is Roksanda a London designer?

Yes. Roksanda Ilincic was born in Belgrade, studied at Central Saint Martins and introduced her label at London Fashion Week in 2005. Her flagship is at 9 Mount Street in Mayfair.

Which London designer is best for black tie?

Jenny Packham for beaded gowns, Safiyaa for architectural crepe, Huishan Zhang for couture-trained duchesse and Roksanda for colour-blocked silk satin are all strong black tie choices.

Do London designers use UK sizing?

Most London houses cut on the UK size ladder. UK sizes are generally four higher than US sizes, so a UK 8 is a US 4.