Known Source Reclaims Fashion’s Legacy After LFW with an Epic Archive Fashion Event

As the curtains close on London Fashion Week, the industry’s gaze typically shifts toward next season of new silhouettes, new designers, new ideas. But Known Source is proposing a different rhythm. Arriving just after the frenzy of AW26, the culture-led luxury archive platform invites collectors, stylists and fashion devotees to slow down and look back. As the calendar moves faster than ever, archive fashion offers something grounding: proof of what has endured. It reminds us that beyond the hype cycle, true design stands the test of time.

Launching on Saturday 28th February, Known Source will take over The Exchange in Marylebone for its biggest archive and vintage fashion experience to date. The 9,000-square-foot monthly residency marks a significant expansion for the platform, transforming the space into a living archive, part marketplace, part cultural forum. More than 2,000 rare pieces sourced from 40 of the best Known Source dealers will anchor the launch, creating an immersive environment where fashion is not just purchased, but studied, discussed and recontextualised.

Archive fashion has become one of the most powerful forces shaping contemporary style. From red carpets to street style, designers and stylists consistently pull from past collections to create present-day impact. The appetite for vintage Alexander McQueen or early Vivienne Westwood is not driven by nostalgia alone; it is driven by quality design, and cultural weight. In an era increasingly concerned with sustainability and longevity, archive pieces challenge the disposability of modern fashion cycles.

The opening weekend will spotlight designers who have shaped British style at its core. Visitors can expect to encounter archival work from McQueen and Westwood alongside the theatrical romanticism of John Galliano and the utilitarian depth of Hardy Blechman’s Maharishi. British tailoring will also take centre stage, with pieces from Thomas Burberry’s house, Paul Smith, Joe Casely-Hayford, Melissa Monro and Herbie Mensah, demonstrating the sharp construction and refinement that define the nation’s sartorial identity.

The curation expands globally also, Italian masters such as Miuccia Prada, Giorgio Armani, Massimo Ostiand Franco Moschino sit alongside European innovators like Jean Paul Gaultier, Jil Sander and Marithé & François Girbaud. Japanese visionaries including Issey Miyake, Rei Kawakubo and Toshikiyo Hirata of Kapital round out the experience, underscoring archive fashion’s global dialogue. Together, these names represent decades of experimentation, boundary-pushing and design language that continues to inform today’s collections.

Known Source positions the takeover as an experience as opposed to an archive sale. Under the banner “Archive Is The Future,” the event integrates experiential moments that deepen understanding. Industry insiders including Truss Archive, Dominique Fenn and Gemma Metheringham will lead talks and trend predictions, connecting past movements to present trajectories. Archive catwalk screenings featuring McQueen, Westwood and Miyake will bring historical runway moments back to life, while exclusive dealer documentaries, spotlighting Thrifty Towel, Warm Waves and Archive By Thidarat, designed to shed light on the curatorial labour behind sourcing these treasures.

Interactive elements further reinforce the living nature of the archive. Live tailoring and alterations services ensure that garments continue their journey, adapted for new owners without losing their original integrity. The current landscape is increasingly shaped by resale platforms and digital marketplaces, the physicality of Known Source’s event stands out. It offers community, a space to meet, connect and learn from collectors, stylists and enthusiasts who view fashion not just as clothing, but as artefact.

Arriving just after London Fashion Week, the timing feels deliberate and poetic. While runways debut tomorrow’s ideas, Known Source asks us to reconsider yesterday’s. It reminds us that fashion’s most powerful statements often reveal themselves over time, once the noise subsides. By dedicating 9,000 square feet in the heart of Marylebone to archive excellence, Known Source is making archive the future and you don't want to be left behind.

Get Tickets HERE