I went to a London Fashion Week catwalk show and this is what I learnt
Barrus is turning heads at London Fashion Week with 7 Hills, 7 Heals, a multisensory showcase that transports audiences from Whitehall Court to the hills of Istanbul.
On Friday, I attended a London Fashion Week event at the Royal Horseguards Hotel. The runway show blended fragrance, light and texture to bring the city’s spirit alive.
The 32-piece line features flowing silks, chiffons, crepe, and specially woven textiles that capture Istanbul’s multifaceted nature.
Rather than leaning on star power, the show stood out to me for its atmosphere and storytelling, where every choice is grounded in cultural meaning.
The colour palettes of turquoise, brick, stone, and green painted visual stories inspired by the architecture of the Bosphorus metropolis.
Founded by creative director Neslisah Yilmaz in 2014, Barrus draws inspiration from her Turkish heritage, weaving history, architecture, and natural materials into contemporary couture.
Yilmaz described the collection as “a love letter to the city that shaped me.”
The label’s collaboration with luxury scent house Art de Huile infused the fabric with a scent reminiscent of Istanbul’s famous spice bazaars.
I sat quietly through much of the show amongst rows of fashion week regulars, editors, and guests as we were watching a performance rather than a runway.
I also noticed several people take photos and put their phones away, only to bring them back out as soon as they saw what the next model was wearing.
The applause was steady and genuine, not thunderous, which gave the evening an intimate feel without seeming sensationalist.
Barrus’s presence at London Fashion Week also highlighted Turkish fashion’s growing reach.
Designers from Turkey remain underrepresented on the global stage, yet the country’s craft traditions and contemporary voices carry a distinctive identity.
By staging 7 Hills, 7 Heals in London, Barrus positioned itself as both a cultural ambassador and a reminder that Turkish fashion has stories still waiting to be told.
However, despite the collection’s deep inspiration from Istanbul, the runway seemed to feature little to no Turkish models.
So while the city’s textures, scents, and architecture were perfectly captured, the lack of Turkish talent undermined the cultural storytelling for me.
This absence only adds to ongoing conversations about representation in fashion, though this makes for an interesting example as the founders of both brands are Turkish.
Ultimately, 7 Hills, 7 Heals is as much of an invitation to experience Istanbul’s heritage and soul as it is a collection of clothes.
Instead of focusing purely on clothes, it aimed to transport its audience into the heart of the historic Turkish city.
It proves that fashion can move beyond aesthetics and measurements to celebrate Istanbul’s heritage, even if it overlooks the importance of representation.