Blenheim Palace will host the third annual Sustainable Fashion Show this September as part of Sustainable Fashion Week 2026, bringing together emerging designers, community models and environmentally conscious fashion innovators from across Oxfordshire and beyond.
Presented by Oxfordshire not-for-profit organisation Cherwell Collective, the runway event will take place on 29 September and aims to showcase how sustainable design and circular fashion practices are reshaping the future of the industry.
The show returns to Blenheim Palace for a third consecutive year and forms part of a wider national programme of Sustainable Fashion Week events taking place across the UK following London Fashion Week.
Organisers say the event is designed to make fashion more accessible for emerging designers, particularly those focused on sustainability, who are often excluded from traditional runway opportunities due to high participation costs.
Dr Emily L. Connally, founder of Cherwell Collective, said the event removes many of the barriers faced by smaller independent designers.
She said: “Most fashion shows are inaccessible to emerging and local designers, especially ones focused on sustainability.
“We’ve waived a participation fee that would normally have put these designers out thousands of pounds, and are providing them with all logistical oversight, models, and coordination needed for the show.”
The event has been made possible through funding from The National Lottery Community Fund alongside support from Blenheim Palace.
Guests attending the show can expect a runway featuring collections from more than 10 designers and over 70 looks, with a strong focus on sustainable and alternative materials. Designers will present collections created using rescued, upcycled and pre-loved textiles, alongside experimental materials including biodegradable fabrics and repurposed plastic waste.
The organisers say the show is centred around the idea that sustainable fashion should be inclusive and accessible to everybody. Volunteer models from the local community will take part after receiving runway training, with organisers aiming to reflect a diverse range of ages, body types and backgrounds.
Alongside the catwalk presentation, the event will include a VIP reception featuring live music, photography, networking opportunities, drinks and canapés.
The Sustainable Fashion Show has grown significantly since launching, involving more than 360 community participants over the past three years. Cherwell Collective has also received regional recognition for its environmental work, including awards for sustainable business and climate action.
The runway show will act as the centrepiece of Oxfordshire’s Sustainable Fashion Week programme, which will also include a clothing swap event at TAP Social in Oxford on 26 September and a free exhibition exploring the carbon cost of fashion in Kidlington.
Cherwell Collective describes itself as a grassroots organisation working to help create a circular economy through community-led environmental initiatives. Since 2023, the group says it has diverted more than 1,200 tonnes of waste from landfill through its WISH Partnership and helped keep textiles in circulation that would otherwise generate significant carbon emissions through replacement production.
Tickets for the Sustainable Fashion Show at Blenheim Palace are on sale now, with early bird discounts available until 1 June 2026.
