Lincoln’s Big City Fashion Show Celebrates a Sold-Out Evening of Style

Lincoln was transformed into a celebration of fashion, creativity, and local talent on Thursday evening as the Big City Fashion Show debuted with a sold-out event that shone a spotlight on the city’s thriving retail and education sectors.

Hosted at The Drill, the evening brought together an impressive lineup of local and national fashion retailers, Lincoln College students, and community partners, creating an unforgettable showcase of style and collaboration.

From high street favourites like Primark, River Island, M&S and New Look, to independent boutiques including Top to Bottom, Todd’s Menswear, and Jailhouse Frock, the catwalk offered a dynamic mix of looks, from everyday wear to high-end couture. The show also featured unique designs from Lincoln College’s Level 3 Fashion students, who closed the evening with an inspiring corset collection inspired by local architecture, including Lincoln Cathedral.

The event, organised by Lincoln BIG, formed part of its ongoing commitment to supporting city centre businesses and celebrating Lincoln’s vibrant retail community.

Danielle, Relationships and Operations Manager at Lincoln BIG commented: “The Big City Fashion Show is exactly what we love about our work at Lincoln BIG wokring on collaboration, and community. Seeing retailers, students, and local talent come together for such a fantastic evening truly showcases the best of what our city offers. It’s not just about fashion, it’s about the people and partnerships that make our events so special.”

The show featured 20 retailers in total, including Phase Eight, Hobbs, Joules, Cavani, Coneys, Agathas Boutique, and St Barnabas. Each brought their own unique flair to the runway, from elegant eveningwear and sharp tailoring to sustainable fashion and handcrafted couture.

The collaboration with Lincoln College once again highlighted the important role education plays in supporting Lincoln’s creative industries. Students not only designed and modelled their own garments but also worked behind the scenes in production, stage management, and styling.

Commercial Manager at Lincoln College, Nicola Hall, says: “More than 60 students across hair and beauty courses are involved, supported by dedicated staff, to style all the models' hair and makeup.  

“This is a rare opportunity for learners to work on a large-scale production, something they wouldn’t typically experience during their college training or even early in their careers.  

“It offers practical, hands-on experience under real-time pressure, developing their confidence, technical skills and ability to work collaboratively in a professional setting.” 

The evening was made possible thanks to the support of event sponsors, models, volunteers, and the many retailers who took part.

As the lights went down and the final applause filled the room, one thing was clear, the Big City Fashion Show was a huge highlight in Lincoln’s retail and events calendar, showcasing not only what’s in fashion, but the power of collaboration across business and education in the city.