LUXE Serendipity magazine

By Donna Richardson

Little Italy UK Showcase – Four designers come together for a celebration of Italian fashion

It was a night to remember as Little Italy UK put on an incredible fashion show at The Blue Marlin Ibiza, and I was delighted to be a guest at the event.

Little Italy is a vibrant collective that unites Italian creativity and craftsmanship, particularly in fashion. Through curated events, it showcases Italian talent and connects exceptional design with the London market. During September’s London Fashion Week, Little Italy presented its signature four-designer showcase in Shoreditch, featuring an exclusive after-party to celebrate Italy’s rich fashion legacy.

The event brought four designers to Shoreditch for London Fashion Week, who showcased their Spring/Summer 2026 collections.

The atmosphere was filled with excitement and the red carpet was buzzing as I caught up with UK Garage Queen and fashion icon, Lisa Maffia. She shared details about her year of reinvention, telling me: “this is my year, I have a book coming out and a lot to share.”

We also touched on her journey with faith and juggling motherhood and her career and the launch of her new rum brand.

While I was out on the red carpet, I also spoke with the Mayor of Camden, Eddie Hansen. who told me about London Fashion Week and how the Italian community in Camden with their food and fashion intersect.

The parade of celebrities continued as I clinked glasses with Maria Benkh from “Love Is Blind,” whom I had met at the February event.

Brand Ambassador Luisa Ruocco shone in her verdant Nicola D’Errico ensemble and hosted the event with great finesse, while Naomi Isted also looked amazing on the red carpet.

I went backstage to see how all the models hair and makeup was done and caught up with the Italian master Massimo Verrengia who styled all the models and ambassador’s hair.

I found myself on the front row, which was incredible to be able to see all the beautiful designs close up. The show was exciting and elegant and it was great to see so many famous faces and dignitaries in one room. Rumour has it that Jonny Depp even popped in to have a look at the designs.

Each one was so exciting and different from the next. All the designers were unique and showed their own flair, and it was an incredible experience.

I caught up with designer Nico Di Donna, a Soho based designer who unveiled his new collection, a bold exploration of colour, diverse fabrics, modern tailoring, and sharp styling. Known for unconventional silhouettes and innovative design, Di Donna’s new season combines playful textures with precise cuts, resulting in looks that are singular, dazzling, and deeply individual. His work celebrates self-expression and attracts a loyal, fashion-forward community.

Ricardo Longo’s “Psychedelic Western” desert romance collides with rave energy, featuring art-inspired silks, luminous duchesse, and handcrafted Mexican details – couture that balances heritage with hallucination.

He told me his unique pieces are designed in London and Italy. The collection was inspired by Mexico. We have a western vision in a saloon, we mix florescent colours

But my favourite was Nicola D’Errico, whose poetic journey inspired by the colours and beauty of Japanese nature, resonated with me, The romance of the collection swept me away, The flowers inspire delicate yet expressive creations, enriched with hand-embroidered lace and touches of 1980s fashion reimagined with contemporary sophistication. A celebration of femininity and elegance, the collection transforms the runway into a visual and sensory dream.

Teresa Scognamiglio or TeresaSi Couture also showcased her designs around the event. Her collection Heritage Alta Moda is dreamy. She told me: “My new haute couture collection is a tribute to the craftsmanship of the past, reinterpreted in a modern key.” This haute couture capsule pays homage to historic Italian artistry while reframing it for today. Fabrics are sourced from ancient Italian silk mills, including the storied San Leucio tradition. Some textiles – entirely hand-crocheted, hand- embroidered, and original from the 1920s – make every piece a one-of-a-kind creation.

The event was sponsored by several patrons. One of them was Dripdash, a new start up that delivers expert-led IV drips and aesthetic treatments directly to you – at home, office, or on the move- as in this case at the event by the side of the red carpet. Their science-backed protocols and concierge-level care are designed for busy lives, blending convenience with cutting-edge health optimisation. Dripdash offered complimentary B12 vitamin injections to our guests from their luxury.

Another sponsor was Vivendum, an Italian restaurant on Kings Road using only the best ingredients to bring an authentic Italian experience to their patrons. And finally Bertotti Gelato, brought their luxury venue on the night scooping up some of their most popular flavours with their compliments to our guests as an interlude between the catwalks and our much anticipated afterparty. Rooted in Tuscan heritage, Buttero Luxury Events hosts wine tastings, aperitivo nights, and cocktail collaborations in refined venues where service and storytelling define a quiet kind of luxury. The event afterparty continued at the legendary private members club renowned for its rooftop.

Thanks to the production team leaders of Little Italy UK, Davide Magliuolo, Vincenzo Ferrara, the designers, Teresa Scognamiglio, Nico Didonna, Riccardo Longo, Nicola D’Errico and brand ambassador Luisa Ruocco as well as hair and makeup and model casting by Massimo Verrengia and creative director Giuseppe Laciofano.