French fashion designer Pauline Dujancourt is set to make waves at London Fashion Week with her Autumn/Winter 2026/27 collection, a tribute to women persecuted during historical witch hunts. The 31-year-old designer, known for her sensual and airy knitwear, admits to feeling both excitement and nerves ahead of her third runway show. “I go through every emotion,” she told AFP, describing the rollercoaster of preparing for one of fashion’s most high-pressure stages.
From Paris to London
Dujancourt launched her label in April 2022 after training at Paris’s Ecole Duperre and London’s Central Saint Martins. London, with its reputation for raw creativity, has become her base. Her work has already earned recognition: she was a finalist for the prestigious LVMH Prize, won Elle UK’s young talent award, and is supported by the British Fashion Council.
Knitwear with Heritage
Handknitting is central to her brand identity, a skill she learned from her grandmother. Today, she collaborates with a community of knitters in Lima, Peru, producing intricate designs that highlight craftsmanship often overlooked in high fashion. “No one really realises how much work and technique it takes,” she said.
Her team of four assistant designers expands to nearly 50 people in the weeks leading up to the show. Together, they have been working since November to prepare 25 looks for the catwalk, combining mohair, Japanese metallic threads, and crochet floral motifs.
The Chaos Behind the Glamour
Despite the glamour of fashion week, backstage is often chaotic. At her last show, several models arrived late from another event, forcing her team to redo makeup and outfits in minutes. “I nearly died,” she recalled.
Her biggest fear? A model tripping or a garment ripping under the spotlight. Yet she embraces the adrenaline, calling the final assembly of pieces “the magical stage, when the clothes start to come alive.”
What Comes Next
After London, Dujancourt will head to Paris to meet buyers before beginning preparations for her September show. For her, fashion week is both a culmination and a beginning—a cycle of creativity, chaos, and renewal.
