Patrick McDowell presented his Spring Summer 2026 collection, The Lancashire Rose, at London Fashion Week. The show marked the designer’s first ready-to-wear collection and served as a deeply personal tribute to his grandmother, born in Lancashire in 1923 to a family of fabric weavers. She inspired McDowell to begin sewing on her 1950s machine, and her influence carried through every detail of the presentation.
McDowell described the collection as both a form of therapy and a way to grieve and honor his grandmother, known affectionately as the Lancashire rose. He emphasized her resourceful nature and her ability to create with limited means, values that continue to shape his design philosophy. Three generations of McDowell’s family watched the show from the audience, underscoring the personal nature of the collection.
McDowell collaborated with artisans to produce garments that expressed circularity and sustainability. His ready-to-wear line will be produced in limited numbers and distributed through select boutiques, maintaining the exclusivity that has defined his bespoke and made-to-measure work. Alongside the garments, accessories created with Aspinal of London added depth to the collection. The collaboration produced bags, scarves, and slippers inspired by a pair McDowell purchased over a decade ago, an idea brought to life with the support of Aspinal founder Iain Burton.
The venue itself amplified the meaning of the collection. Battersea Power Station’s Control Room A, with its restored 1930s panels, marble walls, and teak floors, reflected the designer’s approach to honoring history while reshaping it for the present. The soundtrack, created by composer Erland Cooper and directed by Dave Chase, layered recordings of McDowell’s grandmother with Cooper’s music, producing an atmosphere that carried both intimacy and weight.
Technology also played a role in extending the narrative. Through a partnership with Certilogo, each piece included a Digital Product Passport, enabling clients to verify authenticity, access exclusive content, and engage with circular services such as repair and redesign. McDowell used this feature to tell his grandmother’s story, even recreating her 1923 passport as part of the collection’s immersive experience.
Collaborations with sustainable innovators further defined The Lancashire Rose. DyeRecycle contributed to a red satin dress adorned with handmade silk organza rose petals, while Circ worked with McDowell to produce a gown and cape using their fiber-to-fiber recycling technology. These projects demonstrated how heritage craft and advanced textile research can come together to reduce waste and reframe luxury through sustainability.
Milliner Niall Daniel White, from The Kings Foundation’s fellowship, developed a capsule of three hats. Casadei supplied footwear, Blooming Haus provided floral installations, and Beautick created the hair and makeup looks. Broadwick Group and Vibration Production supported the staging, transforming Battersea into a space that reinforced the importance of craft, family, and innovation in McDowell’s practice.
For McDowell, the show was an act of remembrance and renewal, carrying forward the lessons of a grandmother whose resourcefulness and creativity continue to shape his design path.
