Afternoon:
12°c
Victoria Beckham hails Burberry's return to catwalk
23.09.09
Victoria Beckham hailed Burberry's triumphant return to the British catwalks.
Actresses Emma Watson, Gwyneth Paltrow and American Vogue editor Anna Wintour were among a host of stars attending the eagerly-awaited finale at London Fashion Week last night.
Speaking afterwards, the former Spice Girl, wearing a black dress, described Burberry Prorsum's new collection as "fantastic".
"I've had a lot of fun," she added.
One of the most eagerly awaited catwalk shows was switched to London from Milan to help celebrate 25 years of fashion in Britain.
Burberry was founded in the mid 1800s when a 21-year-old draper's apprentice opened a small outfitter's shop in Basingstoke, Hampshire.
After shrugging off its links with "chav" culture in the UK in recent years, the brand has regained its reputation with the elite, featuring in the Sex and the City film.
Angela Ahrendts, Burberry's chief executive, said the company - which has enjoyed a surge in popularity over the past year - was doing good business at the show.
Of the decision to switch the brand's show to London, Ahrendts told Sky News: "You know it just felt like the right time for us. The city is celebrating 25 years of London fashion.
"It's been unbelievable the support we have had. We are thrilled to be back.
"A tremendous amount of business is done here. It is a halo for the brand."
The eagerly-awaited spring/summer collection, designed by the Yorkshire-born Christopher Bailey, marked the first time the global fashion brand has shown on the LFW catwalk since Bailey became creative director.
The return of Burberry marks another boost to London's reputation for fashion.
Sienna Miller had previously paid tribute to the dress sense of London women as she took centre stage at one of the most prestigious shows.
The actress and designer fronts uber-stylish label Twenty8Twelve with her sister Savannah.
The duo were centre of attention as they presented their second collection at London Fashion Week in the capital on Monday night.
She said: "London girls are really at the forefront, I think my biggest inspiration and Sav's for this collection was driving through London.
"People really aren't afraid to be themselves here and it's a really inspirational place to live and design in."
Reader views (2)
Of course this will be the British firm Burberry who closed it's plant in Port Talbot and switched production in China.
Boycott Burberry!
- Blue Baby, London
She looks ill in that photo - ill and anorexic. I think it's down to her dodgy eye shadow, not just her bony frame.
- Isabel, Woking
