International buyers and members of the press moved from the high-tech glamour of the British Fashion Council's white PVC catwalk tents, in the grounds of the Natural History Museum in south Kensington, to the Royal Opera House, the Chelsea Physic Garden and the down-and-dirty, oil-stained concrete floor of the Harrods underground loading bay in Knightsbridge for the nine shows on yesterday's calendar.

This London Fashion Week, which will generate £50 million in global media coverage, is perfectly positioned to reprogramme the city as the hottest fashion spot on the planet.

The line-up of shows includes Stella McCartney's London Fashion Week catwalk debut with sportswear giant Adidas and comeback shows by two of our best talents, Luella Bartley and Matthew Williamson, who have been showing in rival New York for five years.