Extinction Rebellion activists target London fashion week

Protesters to hold fashion funeral in demand for industry to take climate crisis seriously

Not long ago, high drama at London fashion week meant a battle over hemlines or between designer egos. But as the climate crisis challenges fashion's fundamental viability as an industry, the stakes, and tempers, have been raised.

Hours before the first catwalk show of the five-day run, the climate campaign group Extinction Rebellion staged a "die-in" outside the central London venue, throwing buckets of fake blood to symbolise how "business as usual" for fashion and other industries is leading toward the extinction of life on earth. The group is calling for the industry to be "cancelled" and is planning continued disruption to fashion week, culminating in a "funeral procession for fashion" to be staged on Tuesday evening.