Naomi Campbell Just Put On The Best Show Of London Fashion Week – And For A Good Cause

The supermodel's annual #fashionforrelief extravaganza was staged at the British Museum - and had the best front row of fashion week

naomi campbell fashion for relief

by Natalie Hammond |
Updated on

The best was saved until last on Saturday. Fashion for Relief, the charity founded by supermodel Naomi Campbell in 2005 that has raised money for Times Up, the Ebola crisis and Hurricane Katrina among other humanitarian causes in its 14 years, staged its famously starry show, dinner and auction in one of London’s most famous institutions - the British Museum.

Erin O'Connor on the catwalk at Fashion For Relief
Erin O'Connor on the catwalk at Fashion For Relief ©Getty

The late call time did nothing to deter the celebrity big guns - or the ticket-holders. At 7.50pm, a full hour and 10 mins before the start of the show, the queue was snaking alongside the wrought-iron railings and photographers were camped at the entrance. Once inside, guests were squished together like sardines - sardines that, luckily, were distracted by Casamigos Tequila cocktails - until they were funnelled into the museum’s cavernous atrium. Anna Wintour, Adwoa Aboah, Maya Jama, Naomie Harris, Iris Law, Alexa Chung, Maxim Magnus, Luke Evans and Karon Elson were already greeting one another on the front row. Pierce Brosnan attended, performing the step-and-repeat with son Paris, who later modelled in the show. Naomie chose a tessellated Mary Katrantzou minidress for the occasion, while Adwoa wore a spaghetti-strapped black lace slip. And that was just the guests.

Adwoa Aboah and Maxim Magnus on the front row at Fashion For Relief
Adwoa Aboah and Maxim Magnus on the front row at Fashion For Relief ©Getty

The star billing on the catwalk went to Erin O’Connor, Stella Maxwell, Adut Akech, who Naomi referred to as her “daughter” on Instagram Stories earlier in the day, Isabeli Fontana and, of course, Naomi herself, while the clothes were provided by the likes of Alexander McQueen, Gucci, Richard Quinn and Tomi Kuzumi. But celerity-spotting, and imaginary dress shopping, aside, there was a serious message. The proceeds from this year's event are going towards the Mayor's Fund for London, a charity who works in partnership with schools, community organisations, employers, other charities, social enterprises and local authorities across all 33 boroughs to support young Londoners, and UNICEF.

Before the show kicked off, the rather prescient words, “So what would be the world be / If all was carefree?” were sung by a memerising soprano to the sitting audience. Urgent calls to action - including, “60 million children don’t have access to education”, and, “We can break the cycle together”, - were flashed onto the museum’s curved wall in block letters. The message? We cannot afford to ignore these problems - and the responsibility is ours to do something about them.

Naomi Campbell and Adut Akech backstage at Fashion for Relief
Naomi Campbell and Adut Akech backstage at Fashion for Relief ©Getty

Naomi’s Fashion For Relief shows, so far staged in New York, Moscow, Cannes, Mumbai and Dar es Salaam, are always a hot ticket - and have raised millions of dollars for vulnerable children around the world. Bella Hadid, Natalia Vodianova and Naomi walked when it last popped up in Cannes. The line up at 2017’s, which raised money for Save The Children, included Kate Moss and Faye Dunaway.

The show was closed by Naomi and Adut leading a gaggle of students, all sporting Fashion For Relief T-shirts, from a school in Lambeth for a victory lap around the catwalk. A fitting end to a fashion show with a difference.

SEE: All The Pictures From Naomi Campbell's Fashion For Relief

Gallery

Fashion For Relief 2019

Adut Akech and Naomi Campbell posed together as they arrived at the Fashion For Relief show1 of 15

Adut Akech and Naomi Campbell posed together as they arrived at the Fashion For Relief show

Pierce Brosnan with his son Paris, who modelled in the Fashion For Relief show2 of 15

Pierce Brosnan with his son Paris, who modelled in the Fashion For Relief show

Naomi Campbell, wearing vintage Alau00efa, posed with Pierce Brosnan3 of 15

Naomi Campbell, wearing vintage Alaïa, posed with Pierce Brosnan

Alexa Chung wore Gucci to attend the Fashion For Relief show4 of 15

Alexa Chung wore Gucci to attend the Fashion For Relief show

Ella Eyre wore a fuchsia mini dress5 of 15

Ella Eyre wore a fuchsia mini dress

Naomie Harris wore a Mary Katrantzou shift dress6 of 15

Naomie Harris wore a Mary Katrantzou shift dress

Naomi Campbell posed backstage with make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury7 of 15

Naomi Campbell posed backstage with make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury

Anna Wintour, Edward Enninful and Maya Jama were among the guests on the front row8 of 15

Anna Wintour, Edward Enninful and Maya Jama were among the guests on the front row

Naomi looked incredible in a plunging, sheer dress9 of 15

Naomi looked incredible in a plunging, sheer dress

Maya Jama wore a dress by Lebanese label HassIdriss10 of 15

Maya Jama wore a dress by Lebanese label HassIdriss

Anna Wintour arrived at the show in a leopard print dress11 of 15

Anna Wintour arrived at the show in a leopard print dress

Mollie King wore a green silk dress by Galvan12 of 15

Mollie King wore a green silk dress by Galvan

Stella Maxwell and Paris Brosnan on the catwalk13 of 15

Stella Maxwell and Paris Brosnan on the catwalk

Naomi on the catwalk14 of 15

Naomi on the catwalk

Adwoa Aboah arrived in a slip dress15 of 15

Adwoa Aboah arrived in a slip dress

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