London Fashion Week is a prestigious event in the fashion industry, where designers, buyers, media, and other professionals gather to showcase and explore the latest trends. London is one of the main fashion capitals, alongside New York, Paris, and Milan and every September, London becomes the place to be for business travellers in this industry.
If you’re travelling for business during fashion week, particularly to see the pre-fall and fall collections, it’s crucial to prepare for both the business and personal challenges that come with event preparations.
Here is what you should keep in mind to make your business trip as seamless as possible.
Plan Your Travel Itinerary in Advance
One of the most important steps in preparing for a successful business trip during fashion week is to plan your travel itinerary well in advance. The upcoming London fashion week in September will be a busy time and the influx of visitors to London can make last-minute arrangements stressful and expensive. Advance bookings for flights, hotels, and transportation are essential to avoid extra costs and limited availability.
Business traveller schedules can change rapidly during the week, with some shows running late and others being rescheduled. Make sure you leave room for flexibility within your travel itinerary for these sudden changes. If you’re balancing shows with business meetings, ensure you leave enough time between events to travel, network, or simply take a break. It can be a busy hectic week on your physical and mental wellbeing so it’s key to take a minute to yourself so you can work at top performance.
Some key advice would be to book accommodation closer to the main event venues in central London, such as The Strand, Covent Garden, and Soho. This will help with travel time between shows but also help minimise your carbon footprint on your journey.
Balance Style and Comfort
While fashion week is a time to celebrate personal style, it’s also important to represent your brand professionally. Business meetings and networking events can be between catwalk shows, so make sure to choose your outfits accordingly. Pack clothing that is comfortable yet stylish, remember you will be attending long days of events and meetings so are the heels worth it? And don’t forget to pack layers, London’s weather in September can be unpredictable!
Consider the Environmental Impact of Fashion Week
As the fashion industry is increasingly held accountable for its impact on the environment, remember that attendees are also responsible. Fashion week events draw people from across the world, resulting in high greenhouse gas emissions and a significant environmental impact. For business travellers, considering your carbon footprint is becoming increasingly important.
In recent years, the industry’s greenhouse gas emissions have come under scrutiny, with the high energy consumption of shows and the waste associated with fast fashion practices contributing to the problem.
Business travellers should opt for more sustainable options where possible, such as taking direct flights, to reduce fuel consumption or staying in eco-friendly hotels. Ground transportation is imperative during fashion week so consider using car hires that offer hybrid or electric vehicles, which can reduce emissions whilst also providing bespoke services to meet business travellers needs.
At Good Travel Management, we train all our consultants in sustainable travel, helping our clients make the right choices to support their environmental objectives.
Some examples we can help with are:
- Comprehensive CO2 emissions reporting with tailored recommendations.
- Bespoke booking tool messaging for your team – creating positive habits that will reduce your environmental impact.
- Designing effective offsetting programmes to help you run a greener business.
- Travel policy development, focussing on the reduction of CO2 and more eco-friendly travel decisions.
- Unique recommendations on your travel habits and behaviours to help you fine-tune and improve the way you travel.
Navigate the City Efficiently
London’s public transport system can be both a challenge and a blessing for those during fashion week. With heavy traffic in the city centre, it’s best to mix public transportation with more convenient options like car hire services.
Having a reliable service to take you to events, particularly when time is tight, is worthwhile to save you stress. Good Travel Management offer bespoke executive car travel, allowing business travellers to arrive in comfort and style, while staying on schedule.
Be Ready to Network
Fashion week’s provide many networking opportunities. Whether you’re connecting with designers, buyers, or other industry professionals, it’s important to be ready to sell your business or speak about what you do. The fashion community come together during this time, making it the perfect moment to establish valuable conversations with like-minded individuals to develop business relationships. From catwalk shows to exclusive after-parties, be prepared to network in any setting, whether formal or casual.
Additionally, you could follow up after meetings or events with personalised messages or emails. Fashion Week can be chaotic, and a friendly follow-up can keep you on top of potential business opportunities.
Why Corporate Travel Management?
Travelling to London for Fashion Week offers many opportunities within the fashion industry, but it requires detailed planning to make the most of your time. From managing your travel itinerary and staying eco-conscious to dressing for the occasion, preparing properly will ensure a successful trip.
With pre-fall and fall collections on display, this September’s London Fashion Week promises to be a key moment in the industry, and your readiness can make all the difference in achieving your business goals.
Whether you need a personal driver, assistance with luggage handling, Good Travel Management provide bespoke travel services designed to help you stay focused on your work while handling the logistical aspects of your trip. These seamless services can provide you with comfort, efficiency, and professionalism, enhancing your overall experience.