The “Spotlight Series” turned Hyde Park into a stage for schools, platforms and Lagos couture

Fashion Week & The City made its return last Thursday with “The Spotlight Series”, a fast-moving multi-designer runway staged inside St John’s Church, Hyde Park — a format built for quick discovery rather than a single-brand narrative.

This season’s line-up paired industry platforms with education-led talent. Paris Runway Official designers joined the programme, while London School of Trends showcased designers shaped through an industry-focused, hands-on training model — reinforcing how fashion-week visibility increasingly sits across schools, collectives, and independent labels, not only heritage houses.

The show’s closing moment belonged to Bibi Lawrence, the Lagos-based luxury womenswear label founded by creative director Blessing Eleh. The brand’s signature sits at the intersection of African heritage and contemporary couture, with cultural storytelling running through its approach to bridal and occasion dressing — positioning the label as a strong fit for a “spotlight” format where identity and craft need to read instantly.

Bibi Lawrence (Lagos / Blessing Eleh) — Heritage-to-couture womenswear with a bridal/occasion focus and cultural storytelling at its core.

London School of Trends designers — New-generation designers shaped by practical training and industry-facing presentation.

Paris Runway Official designers — A collective runway presence reflecting an international platform approach to showcasing talent.