The top talents include Bora Aksur, Kazna Asker, Nadine Merabi and Noon by Noor.

London Fashion Week has been strutting its stuff on the world stage for decades. The event has welcomed daring and diverse designers, from Baghdad to Bahrain. This year, it runs from 20 to 24 February and brings together talent from the Middle East and beyond. The designers include British Yemeni Kazna Asker, British Lebanese Nadine Merabi, Turkish Bora Aksur, Bahrain's Noon by Noor, and the special show, Morroco – Kingdom of Light. 

In 1984, the first London Fashion Week took place, and it was held in an unusual location: the car park of the Commonwealth Institute in Kensington. Forty years on, it is organised by the British Fashion Council and attracts the biggest designers from around the world. The event starts with London Fashion Week, which is a trade show by invite only, and finishes with London Fashion Weekend, which is open to the public. 

Kazna Asker

Kazna Asker wears her activism on her sleeve. She was born in Liverpool and is of Yemeni descent. While she is still only in her early twenties, she uses clothes to champion causes. She graduated from the prestigious Central Saint Martins in London. The graduate shows are fashion fairy tales. After Isabella Blow watched Alexander McQueen's show, she went onto become his patron. Stella McCartney convinced Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Yasmin Le Bon to walk in her student show. And, Kazna made history as the first designer to showcase a hijabi collection. 

After graduating, Kazna won the Debut Talent Award at Fashion Trust Arabia, and her designs were featured in Kurt Geiger's People Empowerment Campaign in Dubai. Now, at London Fashion Week, she is part of the British Fashion Council's NEWGEN.

The Autumn / Winter 2024 collection was called What Are We Fighting For? The pieces are truly unique, and have been handsewn by herself. She prides herself on combining Middle Eastern traditions with contemporary looks. Expect British sportswear mixed with Yemeni clothes – abayas made from shell suit material, anyone?

Dazed & Confused gave her the stamp of cool approval, and she featured in the publication. She reveals: "Growing up in the north, tracksuits are definitely part of the culture. Then being Yemeni, and going to Arabic school on the weekends, I would always see hijabs and abayas and traditional Islamic clothing. When I was on the MA, my research would include a lot of my cousins in their tracksuits and puffer jackets next to my grandma and aunties in their traditional clothing, so my goal was to combine the two and explore the intergenerational perspectives on culture and faith."

Bora Aksur 

Bora Aksur is a veteran of London Fashion Week. He was born in Türkiye, and is based in London. He graduated from Central Saint Martins in London. In 2002, he founded his label, and in 2003, he made his debut at London Fashion Week. He states: "My aim as a designer is to create my own definition of beauty, and for me, the female form is the most important tool. There is an imperfection to my work, which creates purity and beauty".

Bora Aksu's brand, which is named after himself, is inspired by his Turkish roots. The collections have a couture-like quality, and combine a romantic sensibility with elegance. While his pieces can be found in London's Liberty, Selfridges and Wolf & Badger, he has also expanded with 61 stores in Asia. Over his career, he has dressed A-list stars including Emily Blunt, Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller. 

Nadine Merabi

Nadine Merabi combines two cultures. She was born to a British mother and Lebanese father, and grew up in Manchester and Tripoli. After teaching herself to sew through YouTube videos, she opened her first boutique shop in Manchester. Named after herself, the brand prides itself on its craftsmanship and attention to detail. 

Nadine is inspired by the sights and sounds of Tripoli and her father, who would wear brightly coloured outfits. The current collection includes co-ords, dresses, jumpsuits, skirts and tops. The pieces can go effortlessly from day to night, and range from the oversized Monica White Blazer, to the velvet Kimberly Black Jumpsuit.

She shares: "To be honest, I don't look at trends. I design what I'm feeling and how I want to empower and give confidence to those wearing Merabi. I ask myself: what will make someone feel really good, happy, and confident within themselves?" 

Noon By Noor

Noon By Noor was created by the Bahrain-based cousins, Shaika Noor Al Khalifa and Shaikha Haya Al Khalifa. Launched in 2008, it was created locally but has an international customer base. Combining influences from home and beyond, the pieces are understated yet luxurious, and tailored yet feminine.

The brand can also be found in The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain; London's Harrods and My Wardrobe HQ; Paris' La Boutique – Le Bristol; and Doha's Harvey Nichols. Plus, it has been showcasing its collections at London Fashion Week for more than a decade.

The pair were profiled by Forbes for their influence on the fashion world. Noor Al Khalifa explained: "Travelling is a big source of inspiration. Whenever we are abroad, we search for cultural elements, from prominent references to the more subtle, that we can incorporate into our collections. Our label embraces a design element of East meets West. We are continuously inspired by our Eastern cultures, which is of great importance to us, and we blend it harmoniously with Western styles and designs, which is strongly influenced by our travels."

Whether it's local or international designers, London Fashion Week knows how to put on an inclusive show. 

GO: Visit https://londonfashionweek.co.uk for more information.