Darling Magazine

by Alice Lambert   While sustainable fashion is always a top priority, September is the month to celebrate all things secondhand.  Originally launching in 2019, ‘Secondhand September’ is a campaign initiated by the charity organisation Oxfam, asking consumers to try and only purchase pre-loved goods for 30 days. The purpose? To encourage shoppers to think more carefully about the consequences of fast fashion, whilst also finding innovative ways to liven-up your wardrobe away from high street style.    Secondhand shopping is not a new phenomenon, having originated with charity shops and resale traders, but its popularity has seesawed through the centuries as the concept of shopping pre-loved has gone in and out of fashion. In fact, selling secondhand clothing has been a concept for centuries and become a major industry way back in the early 1800s.  However, more recently there has been a rise in the conscious shopper movement as we look to purchase with our plane...

by Emily Duff APUJAN’s Spring Summer 2025 (SS25) show at London Fashion Week felt like stepping into a world where fantasy meets the fast-paced rhythm of modern life. Known for blending intricate textiles with narrative depth, APUJAN's latest collection, Mirror, Keys, and Drink Me, transported the audience into a storybook world through whimsical references, playful proportions, and reflections on our hyper-connected world. When asked how Taiwan's fashion scene informs his work, APUJAN spoke with admiration for the creatives from his home country. "Taiwanese fabrics, textiles, and the support from countless textile factories, musicians, pattern makers, and other creators who, like me, move between Taiwan and the UK, are all silently embedded in this collection," he explained. These influences aren't immediately obvious but form the backbone of the innovative materials and techniques that define his brand. For SS25, there’s a sense of tradition, but APUJAN is a des...

by Marvel Gyamfi-Asante SABIRAH's SS25 collection, ‘Lovingly Modest,’ showcased during London Fashion Week on Friday, September 13th at Lancaster Gate, felt like a runway love story.  Through elegant outfits, vibrant pops of colour, and an emotional tone, designer and creative director Deborah Latouche effortlessly blended a theme of love into each piece, creating a collection that was both visually stunning and deeply symbolic.   From the moment the first model stepped onto the runway, it was clear that love inspired the collection. The background music, Nat King Cole’s “LOVE,” set a nostalgic, heartfelt tone. The models’ graceful walk, like a bride walking down the aisle, perfectly matched the theme of love and allowed the audience to fully appreciate each detail.   Model Chloé Tiitwe grace the runway in SABIRAH’s SS25 collection at London Fashion Week.  In SABIRAH’s collection, the magic was in the finer details. The floral set design suggested blossoming love. Th...