Dundee has just been dubbed as ‘fashion’s latest capital’ in major Wonderland magazine feature

The V&A Dundee's Catwalk exhibition is at the centre of the piece

Dundee has been hailed as “fashion’s latest capital” in a glowing new feature by Wonderland magazine writer Brian James, shining an international spotlight on the city’s growing influence in the world of design and culture.

The article centres around the V&A Dundee’s major exhibition Catwalk: The Art of the Fashion Show, which opened on 3 April and explores more than a century of runway history, from intimate Parisian salon shows to today’s livestreamed fashion spectacles.

The exhibition runs until January 2027 and features iconic names including Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Maison Margiela, Prada and Yohji Yamamoto, alongside Scottish designers Christopher Kane, Nicholas Daley and Charles Jeffrey.

Writing for Wonderland, Brian James described Dundee as an “unexpected” destination stepping in to fill the void left behind after Fashion Month, with the city increasingly becoming a cultural destination in its own right.

He wrote: “Dundee may not instinctively register as one of fashion’s global capitals. Yet as summer approaches, and the urge to escape London’s concrete churn intensifies, the prospect of consuming fashion and culture somewhere less obvious suddenly feels far more alluring.”

The feature highlights Dundee’s wider cultural renaissance, much of it centred around the V&A Dundee since it opened in 2018 as the museum’s only branch outside London. It also praised the immersive nature of the Catwalk exhibition, which not only showcases garments but also shines a light on the hairstylists, make-up artists, photographers and backstage creatives who help shape the fashion industry behind the scenes.

The exhibition’s opening evening on 1 April attracted a host of major names from the fashion and creative industries, including designers Charles Jeffrey and Nicholas Daley, legendary hairstylist Sam McKnight, make-up artist Val Garland and renowned backstage photographer Robert Fairer.

Speaking to Wonderland, Sam McKnight reflected on Scotland’s impact on the fashion world, saying: “While the exhibition is a celebration of global fashion, as someone born in Scotland, it feels important to recognise the country’s contribution to fashion. Not just through the designers whose work we see on the runway, but through the vast network of creatives working behind the scenes.”

Designer Nicholas Daley also praised Dundee’s growing cultural momentum, while Charles Jeffrey spoke of his admiration for the exhibition’s section dedicated to 1920s fashion and the work of designers such as Paul Poiret and Dior.

The article also touched on the importance of physical fashion imagery in an increasingly digital age, with photographer Robert Fairer reflecting on the lasting impact of iconic runway moments, including Alexander McQueen’s legendary 1999 collection No.13, pieces from which are included in the exhibition.

Brian James concluded that the exhibition offers “a fashion pilgrimage” for those still captivated by the world of runway fashion long after Fashion Month has ended.

The feature adds to Dundee’s growing international recognition as a cultural destination, with the city increasingly attracting attention for its museums, creative industries and design scene.