Duchess Catherine and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, were joined by fashion royalty as they co-hosted a London Fashion Week event at Buckingham Palace on Monday (19.02.18).
Supermodels Naomi Campbell and Neelam Gill, VOGUE Editor Anna Wintour and fashion designer Stella McCartney were in attendance at The Commonwealth Fashion Exchange, which Catherine and Sophie were put in charge of on behalf of Queen Elizabeth.
The bash was held to celebrate and showcase designs, designers and artisans from across the Commonwealth’s 53 countries.
The initiative was launched earlier this month, by Commonwealth Secretary General the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland and Livia Firth – founder of sustainability consultancy Eco-Age – who initiated and produced the ambitious Exchange project.
Last night’s (19.02.18) reception saw 30 CFE creations displayed in the Palace’s State Apartment. From Thursday (22.02.18), the design looks showcased will be displayed at the new exhibition at Australia House on The Strand, before being exhibited during the Commonwealth Summit itself.
The exhibition has been carefully curated by VOGUE’s International Editor, Hamish Bowles.
A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said previously: "The initiative uses fashion as a common language and platform to help people understand the modern Commonwealth in a different way.
"The reception at Buckingham Palace will showcase the best of Commonwealth contemporary fashion and creativity with an exhibition of some of the bespoke fashion ‘looks’ which are the result of these exchanges."
Both Catherine and Sophie are style icons in their own right and are the perfect fit for the event, which saw renowned designers work together with producers from less-developed countries to "exemplify traditional handcraft techniques and trades".
The Duchess of Cambridge – who is pregnant with her third child with Prince William, with whom she has four-year-old Prince George and two-year-old Princess Charlotte – performed hosting duties after a night attending the BAFTA Awards at The Royal Albert Hall.
Naomi Campbell and Stella McCartney rub shoulders with royalty
