Barrus Brings the Spirit of Istanbul to London Fashion Week

London Fashion Week has always been a stage where fashion becomes more than clothing. This season, Barrus returned with a show that was part memory, part sensory journey, and wholly dedicated to the spirit of Istanbul. The Spring Summer 2026 collection, titled 7 Hills 7 Heals, is as much a love letter to the city as it is a meditation on resilience and feminine strength.

For Creative Director Neslisah Yilmaz, the starting point was Istanbul itself. Built on seven storied hills and steeped in centuries of culture, the city offered a backdrop of textures, scents, and hidden lights. The result was a 32 piece collection that fused silk, chiffon, and crepe with tailoring that felt sculptural yet fluid. Each garment moved like a story being told, shifting from stone to water, solitude to reconnection.

The atmosphere was heightened by the presence of a celebrity line up that underlined Barrus’s cross cultural ethos. Lady Amelia Windsor, whose modern elegance has made her a style figure beyond the royal family, stepped out in designs that mirrored the collection’s blend of tradition and contemporary ease. She was joined by Lady Victoria Hervey, an aristocrat turned entrepreneur whose outspoken glamour brought jet set flair to the runway, and Juliet Mayhew, the breakout star of The Real Housewives of London, whose candid energy lit up the show.

Windsor described her excitement at being part of the presentation, calling Barrus’s work a way of bringing the culture of Istanbul into London with authenticity and beauty. Hervey spoke of London Fashion Week as an unmissable moment in the calendar and praised the show’s unique blend of heritage and style. Mayhew summed it up with her usual candour, likening the collection to a living slice of Istanbul, with its aromas, colours, and glamour distilled into wearable form.

What set Barrus apart this season was the way the collection invited audiences to experience fashion beyond the visual. Scarves infused with aromatherapy oils, created in collaboration with scent house Art de Huile, released fragrance as they moved, echoing the air of spice bazaars and floral gardens. The partnership drew on the expertise of Art de Huile founder Ms Hulya Kayhan, a pharmacist and academic with a Master’s degree from King’s College, who has built a reputation for combining science with the poetry of scent. Adding to the sense of wonder, select garments were made with luminous fabric woven with nanotechnology, glowing faintly in the dark to evoke the city’s nightscape.

The colour palette drew directly from Istanbul’s layered soul. Green recalled its gardens, blue the sweep of the Bosphorus, while brick, stone, turquoise, and redbud pulled from rooftops, ceramics, and blossoms. Worn on the runway, the colours carried the warmth of memory and the edge of modernity.

Speaking of her inspiration, Yilmaz described the collection as a journey through the living soul of Istanbul. To her, the city is not a place but a layered spirit of resilience, beauty, and quiet strength. By weaving those elements into each garment, Barrus created a narrative that felt both personal and expansive.

Sustainability has long been part of the Barrus philosophy, and this season reinforced that stance. Fabrics were locally sourced and ethically produced, couture was crafted in small batches, and processes were designed to be eco conscious. It was a reminder that the artistry of fashion can honour the environment as much as it honours culture.

The show took place at The Royal Horseguards Hotel, a setting that balanced grandeur with intimacy. The presentation concluded with news that the collection would be available for pre order and showroom viewings in London and Paris, followed by post show pop ups in both London and Istanbul.

In a week where the capital was alive with creativity, Barrus managed to cut through with something more than spectacle. 7 Hills 7 Heals was not simply a showcase of design but a conversation between cities, a celebration of heritage, and a promise that fashion can move us in ways far beyond what we wear.