Nihilism Runway Show

Date: October 18, 1993 • Location: London, United Kingdom

Nihilism, the first professional runway show from the British designer Alexander McQueen, was staged in London.

Nihilism is the third collection by British designer Alexander McQueen, released for the Spring/Summer 1994 season of his eponymous fashion house. McQueen developed the collection following the launch of his own label with Taxi Driver, which was exhibited in March 1993 at the Ritz Hotel in London in lieu of a fashion show. An eclectic collection with no straightforward theme, Nihilism pushed back against dominant womenswear trends with its hard tailoring, and aggressive, sexualised styling. It was created in collaboration with McQueen's associates Simon Ungless and Fleet Bigwood. Like Taxi Driver, Nihilism included experimental techniques, silhouettes, and materials, such as dresses made from cellophane, stained with clay, or adorned with dead locusts.