Independent platform brings together 11 emerging designers, 10 artists and the launch of Renaissance Archive 001 at Devonshire Square
On a late-summer evening at Devonshire Square in the City of London, an independent platform called Renaissance brought together emerging designers, visual artists, musicians and creative practitioners around a single, urgent question: whose stories does the industry make room for, and at what stage?
LONDON, 13 September 2026 — Renaissance, an independent platform for emerging creative talent, made its London debut with the Renaissance Fashion & Art Show 2026, held at Devonshire Square on 29 August. Laura Onome Momodu, Founder and Creative Director, produced the event, which was presented under the theme Global Origins — Stories Untold.
The programme brought together fashion, art, live music and creative culture, welcoming designers, artists, models, creative practitioners and guests. It included runway presentations by 11 emerging designers, an exhibition by 10 artists and the debut of Renaissance Archive 001, the platform’s first print publication.
Renaissance was created to give emerging designers, artists, models, and multidisciplinary creatives structured opportunities to present work, build relationships, and develop professional presence across fashion, art, and creative culture, before the industry decides they are ready to be noticed.
“We want Renaissance to be a platform where people can discover talent, connect and create opportunities. There is no stage for emerging culture, so we built it.” — Laura Onome Momodu, Founder & Creative Director, Renaissance.
Renaissance made its London debut at Devonshire Square on 29 August 2026, presenting 11 emerging designers, 10 artists and the launch of its first print publication, Renaissance Archive 001.
Global Origins — Stories Untold
The 2026 Renaissance Fashion & Art Show took cultural biography as its organising principle. The theme, Global Origins, Stories Untold, asked participating designers and artists to work from their own roots, identities, lived experiences and personal histories — treating those materials not as background detail but as the central substance of creative production.
The fashion programme took place in the Western Courtyard at Devonshire Square, where 11 designers presented collections on the runway. Ten artists exhibited work simultaneously at the DSQ Cube as part of the wider event programme. Rather than separating fashion and visual art into parallel tracks, the programme positioned both as responses to the same set of questions about origin, identity and creative expression.
Large-scale floral installations by Yan Skates shaped the event’s physical environment, creating a visual thread connecting the runway, the exhibition space and the surrounding venue.
Participating designers
- Maria Goundry
- Eduarda Sazonova
- Jordan Cheung
- Haseeb Ali
- Emily Holdsworth
- Ivan Traykov
- Sarah Triyana
- Anthony Nwoke
- Angela A. Ouya
- Angela Akporoh
- Jade Chrysanthe
Participating artists
- Jason Bezas
- Kuan Yu Chou
- Ryan Static
- Chawntay Barrett
- Lu Yu
- Tom Halsall
- Loi Lynton
- Anthonia Nnenna Ndukauba
- Izrahyel Francis
- Silvia Ilona Sørhagen
Renaissance Archive 001
The event also marked the debut of Renaissance Archive 001, the platform’s first print publication.
The 86-page publication was created under the artistic direction of Marie Buchem, Renaissance Art Director and Curator. It features 22 portraits and written profiles focused on the creatives behind the work, their practices, perspectives and the personal contexts shaping what they make. Its first edition of 50 copies sold out on opening night, according to the organisers. A second edition is now in production.
Where the show gave participating creatives a runway and an exhibition wall, Renaissance Archive 001 gives them a documented record, one that exists independently of the event and travels further than the evening itself.
“Every artist has a language and a world of their own. Art needs no translation. It carries our origins, our experiences and the stories that shape us. Renaissance is a place where those stories can be encountered, connected and understood.” — Marie Buchem, Art Director & Curator, Renaissance.
A platform for connection
Renaissance was founded on the argument that the industry’s existing infrastructure consistently supports creative talent too late, after reputation is established, after connections are already in place. Its model inverts that logic, offering structured visibility, cross-disciplinary access and professional exchange at an early career stage.
Several of the 11 participating designers presented work on a London runway for the first time at the event, according to the organisers. The programme also brought artists, designers and guests from across the wider creative sector into direct conversation. Selected attendees included Aja Barber, Nisha Boehm, Jeffrey Kelly, Amanda (Nigel Ip) and representatives from the British Fashion Council.
“Renaissance is about creating a space where creatives can meet, be seen and grow together. We do not want to wait for people to become established before we support them. We want to be there from the beginning.” — Victor Odemena, Marketing Lead, Renaissance.
Devonshire Square provided venue support, and Coventry University London provided institutional backing. Media partners included ROE Magazine. The London Model Academy, Access Models, Vine Street, Wearable Art Collective, Pretty Gorgeous Hair and Yan Skates also supported the event. Puig, Penhaligon’s, Carolina Herrera and Rabanne provided product support.
Looking ahead
Renaissance is developing further shows, publications and creative projects as it expands its work across fashion, art and creative culture. No specific dates or locations have been confirmed. The platform’s stated long-term ambition is to build an international stage for emerging creative talent.
“We are just getting started. Keep an eye on us. We will build the global stage for emerging talent.” — Laura Onome Momodu, Founder & Creative Director, Renaissance.
About Renaissance
Renaissance is an independent platform for emerging creative talent at the intersection of fashion, art and creative culture. Founded by Laura Onome Momodu, Renaissance creates opportunities for artists, designers, models and other creatives to present work, connect across disciplines and develop new professional pathways.
The platform is led by:
- Laura Onome Momodu — Founder & Creative Director
- Marie Buchem — Art Director & Curator
- Victor Odemena — Marketing Lead
Press contact and socials
Press contact renaissancefashionshow@gmail.com
Instagram @renaissance_fashion_show
TikTok @weare.renaissance
