Vivienne Westwood exits the catwalk

Dame Vivienne Westwood is replacing her regular catwalk fashion show with a digital presentation.

The British designer and environmental activist, whose eponymous ready-to-wear label traditionally puts on a co-ed show within the frame of the Fashion Week calendar, is stepping back from the catwalk next year, WWD reports.

Instead, the brand will showcase its Autumn 2018 collection via a short film and series of photographs that will be emailed to press and buyers during the London Men’s Collections, which runs from January 6-8.

“We’re looking forward to showing you our winter collection, which instead of a catwalk, we will present through the form of film and imagery, so you can get a good look at it and love it as much as we do,” Dame Vivienne told WWD. “Buy less, choose well, make it last.”

The move is symbolic of a wider trend within the fashion industry for scaling down runway activity. Earlier this month, British accessories designer Anya Hindmarch announced plans to replace her catwalk shows with four yearly events, with the first being rolled out during London Fashion Week next February.

Meanwhile several major fashion houses have been streamlining their separate menswear and womenswear shows into singular, co-ed productions, with recent converts to the strategy including Balenciaga, Salvatore Ferragamo and Bottega Veneta.