Fashion focus: London Heathrow launches runway for aspiring models

UK. London Heathrow Airport is giving aspiring models an opportunity to be spotted and land a career in the fashion industry through a new runway initiative this month.

The airport has joined forces with inclusive model agency The MiLK Collective to scout fresh faces passing through its doors. Successful candidates could gain an exclusive contract with the agency to be on their books for at least a year, joining models who have been on the cover of Vogue and worked for high-end fashion brands.

The first models were scouted yesterday (4 September) when the new fashion runway opened in Terminal 5 Arrivals.

Scouts from the MiLK Collective, recognised throughout the industry for championing diversity and challenging conventions, were on the lookout for people of any age with an individual personality and unique sense of style.

People waiting for arriving passengers found themselves on the front row of a surprise show as four of the agency’s models kicked off the initiative. Marking its launch, they wore high-fashion apparel coupled with airport essentials such as eye masks and suitcases.

An array of airport fashion was spotted on the catwalk as passengers also strutted their stuff in classic travel apparel, including leggings and neck pillows, as well as linen suits, vintage dresses and casualwear.

The scouting took place after what has been Heathrow’s busiest summer yet, with over 30 million passengers since June. The airport is ready for a bumper September, with up to 1.75 million people expected to arrive and depart over the Fashion Week period, many of them fashion industry executives, designers and brand representatives.

According to Heathrow Airport, there is an uptick in the run up to the events every year, with thousands more passengers flying in from destinations such as Milan, Paris, New York, Shanghai and Dubai.

Passengers will have another chance to be spotted next week, with the scouts returning to T5 on 13 September, the first day of London Fashion Week which takes place twice a year in February and September.

The initiative comes following a long history of models starting their careers after being scouted at an airport. In 1988 a 14-year-old Kate Moss was spotted at New York’s JFK Airport, waiting for a flight back to London after a holiday in the Bahamas.

Heathrow Airport Retail Director Fraser Brown said: “London Fashion Week is one of the UK’s most iconic cultural events, and industry leaders, designers and models will soon be passing through our doors to attend. But the impact of the UK fashion industry goes far beyond just one week or one city. It’s a powerhouse for the British economy, driving billions in value and sharing the work of creatives from all over Britain with the world – and we’re proud that Heathrow plays a unique role within this sector.

“We’re excited to partner with The MiLK Collective to give aspiring models a chance to ‘take off’ right here at the airport. And for passengers looking to get into the Fashion Week spirit, there’s no better place to shop. From Burberry to Reiss, we’ve got the brands that make Heathrow the ultimate pre-runway shopping destination.”

The MiLK Collective Founder and Managing Director Anna Shillinglaw added: “You can find a huge mix of people at airports, and so many who would be brilliant models. I’ve personally scouted passengers waiting for a flight or checking in a bag on recent trips abroad.

“Airport fashion is also a very unique thing. Every time I’m at the airport I’ll see a mix of wonderful outfits that people choose to travel in, and it’s those individual looks and personalities that we will be looking out for as passengers take to the Heathrow runway. We’re expecting to see thousands of people in total and I can’t wait to see who eventually makes it onto our books.” ✈