London without Borders: Fashion Scout unites Global talent for AW26
Fashion Scout proudly announced the return of its highly anticipated Ones To Watch showcase this February. As part of the official London Fashion Week evening schedule, the AW26 catwalk spotlighted eight rising international talents redefining contemporary fashion through distinct cultural narratives and rigorous design perspectives.
Approaching its 20-year anniversary this September, Fashion Scout enters a landmark year, reinforcing its position as one of London Fashion Week’s most respected independent showcases. For nearly two decades, the platform has championed established and emerging international talent, supporting thousands of designers at pivotal stages of their careers and connecting them directly with global press, buyers and industry leaders.
This season’s official schedule listing carries particular significance. In an increasingly competitive global calendar, recognition at this level reflects both curatorial strength and industry endorsement, underscoring Fashion Scout’s continued relevance as a launchpad for designers shaping the future of international fashion.
“London has always been a city of discovery,” says Martyn Roberts, Founder & Director of Fashion Scout. “As we approach twenty years, our commitment remains unchanged: to provide designers with a professionally produced, internationally visible platform that allows their work to stand confidently on the global stage.”
Co-Director Biljana Poposka Roberts adds: “This season reflects fashion without borders. The designers presenting come from diverse cultural contexts, yet share a rigorous, contemporary approach. London becomes the meeting point, where different narratives coexist within one powerful runway moment.”
A PROVEN LAUNCHPAD
Ones To Watch has consistently identified designers at transformative stages in their careers. Alumni include Eudon Choi, Phoebe English, Susan Fang and Maximilian Raynor, each of whom debuted on the Fashion Scout runway before establishing internationally recognised brands.
Min-Ji Kim is a Korean-born, London-based designer holding a Master’s from London College of Fashion and a Bachelor’s in Textiles from RISD. Her practice centres on knitwear and textile experimentation, challenging scale, proportion and material expectation.
Through MinJiKimStudio, she constructs a surreal yet tender universe where garments become characters. Sculptural silhouettes, bold colour interplay and tactile surfaces invite the wearer to occupy space unapologetically. Her collections explore in-between emotional states, dressing “soft warriors” and creative outsiders who embrace individuality through texture and form.
Adolf Maldonado is a Spanish designer based in London whose work is rooted in craftsmanship and material exploration. Raised by a dressmaker mother, his relationship with clothing began early, shaped by an appreciation for technique and detail. A First Class Honours graduate of London Metropolitan University (BA Fashion Design, 2025), Maldonado approaches design through surface, texture and structure.
His collections balance feminine and masculine codes, creating sculptural yet wearable statement pieces. Drawing inspiration from nature, particularly insects, organic forms and microscopic textures, he translates quiet natural power into refined, modern couture silhouettes. His work explores tension between delicacy and strength, offering garments that feel expressive, confident and intimately constructed.
Astha Garg, currently completing her studies at London College of Fashion, approaches fashion as an immersive, sensory experience. Working between London and Dehradun, her concept-driven practice explores emotion, perception and the body’s relationship to texture and movement.
Her process is slow and deliberate, emphasising material integrity and social sustainability. Each piece is developed with intention, embedding meaning subtly within form. Through responsible sourcing and collaboration with artisans, Label Astha Garg presents garments that are both intimate and globally conscious, where sustainability is integrated into both design philosophy and production practice.
Khushi Kumar is an interdisciplinary high-fashion and experience house founded between Delhi and London. Guided by an Indian soul and a global mindset, the brand reimagines heritage craftsmanship through cinematic, memory-driven storytelling.
A graduate of Manchester School of Art with professional experience at Alexander McQueen and Christian Dior, Kumar bridges artisanal technique and modern luxury positioning. Awarded DKNY Graduate of the Year and recognised for sustainability-led design, her collections position Indian textiles within a contemporary international framework. Garments function as reimagined heirlooms, preserving craft while making it resonant for a new generation.
Founded by Dr. Margarita Fedoseev in 2017, MAD DAISY blends fashion, museum culture and contemporary technology to popularise art through clothing. For AW26, the brand presents “Lumière de Guillaumin,” translating the light and texture of French Impressionist painter Jean-Baptiste Armand Guillaumin into wearable forms.
Silk, linen and cotton become canvases for painterly prints and sculpted silhouettes, merging gallery heritage with modern urban dressing. MAD DAISY’s collections have been showcased internationally, including at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, and featured in publications such as Elle and Vanity Fair. The brand positions fashion as cultural dialogue, restoring emotional connection between art and daily life.
As London continues to define itself through innovation and cultural plurality, Fashion Scout remains central to that ecosystem, offering designers not only visibility, but structure, production excellence and meaningful industry access.
With momentum building toward its twentieth anniversary later this year, the AW26 edition signals a forward-focused chapter: global in perspective, rigorous in curation, and unified in creative ambition.
More about Fashion Scout
Approaching its 20-year anniversary this September, Fashion Scout enters a landmark year, reinforcing its position as one of London Fashion Week’s most respected independent showcases. For nearly two decades, the platform has championed established and emerging international talent, supporting thousands of designers at pivotal stages of their careers and connecting them directly with global press, buyers and industry leaders.
PR:
I.DEA PR @i.deapr
PRODUCTION:
Fashion Scout @fashionscout
MAKEUP:
Makeup By Mandy Gakhal For AOFMPro Using Dermalogica UK
@aofmakeup @mandygakhal @dermalogicauk
HAIR:
Hair By Narad Kutowaroo using Unite Haircare | Sally Beauty
@unite_hair @unite_hairtv @naradkutowaroo @sallybeautyuk @salonservicesuk
SHOW PRODUCTION:
Martyn Roberts: @mrfashionscout
