On Monday 9th February 2026, North London Collegiate School (NLCS) will once again transform into a catwalk runway as current students present their annual charity fashion show in support of Advance Myanmar.
All proceeds from the fundraising event go to Advance Myanmar, an organisation dedicated to supporting the Karenni people and grassroots organisations across Myanmar to promote change – something deeply important at NLCS.
The Fantasy Fashion Show has a long history and tradition at NLCS and something the school is immensely proud to be involved with. Its origins start with a former pupil and Old North Londoner (ONL) Stephanie Lee, the founder of Fantasy Fashion.
Originating from the efforts of Stephanie Lee, the charity Karenni Student Development Programme (KSDP) was established in 1999. Its aims were to support the Karenni people of Burma, especially their youth. They worked in refugee camps on the Thai/Burma border, funding orphanages and youth projects and in Karenni State, providing educational, humanitarian, and medical aid. Tragically, Stephanie passed away in 2001, prompting her parents, Beryl and Steve Lee, to take charge of the charity. In 2022, they decided to redirect all proceeds to Advance Myanmar, ensuring Stephanie’s legacy lives on.
Find out more about this year’s Fantasy Fashion show here.
For the past 27 years, NLCS students have been showcasing their talents in an evening dedicated to fashion, raising funds for a very worthy cause. Over the years, the show has evolved in style and purpose with a different theme each time.
This year’s theme, ‘Traditions – Transformation’ will showcase a stunning array of creativity. For the first time, the event will be hosted in the IDEAS Hub, a brand-new, state-of-the-art building designed to drive innovation within the school community.
This year’s spectacular event will see students take to the stage, with many others helping out on the night, who have initiated, sourced material and created their catwalk conceptions. The Art Society decided to revisit the sustainable values the original Fantasy Fashion show was founded upon. Students will select an existing piece of clothing and revitalise it to create a new and exciting outfit. This will enable them to draw on their own fashion cultures and traditions and transform them into an innovative and sustainable vision for the future of fashion. The theme is deliberately broad to allow students to create an imaginative range of silhouettes and exciting looks for this year’s show, just like the very first Fantasy Fashion event.
The new format will allow guests and judges to view the outfits up close and engage directly with the teams about their designs. The event will also feature a Q&A session exploring sustainable practices in the fashion industry, along with a silent auction raising funds for the charity.
Beginning with its first ever show and culminating in last year’s vibrant ‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’ themed event, created to celebrate 175 years of inspiration and joy at NLCS, the school has continued to evolve, growing both in its fundraising success and in its meaningful impact on the community.
Parents, teachers, external organisations and ONL’s have shown immense support, donating a host of auction prizes to further boost funds. Thanks to these partnerships and the dedication of students and staff, the event has become an NLCS highlight each year.
All proceeds from the fundraising event go to Advance Myanmar, an organisation dedicated to supporting grassroots organisations across Myanmar in their struggle for freedom and democracy.
Since the military coup on 1st February 2021, Advance Myanmar has provided emergency aid for tens of thousands of people in remote parts of Myanmar who are fleeing attacks by the Burmese military. Advance Myanmar has also supported human rights defenders and civil society organisations across the country.
To support the work of Advance Myanmar and the Fantasy Fashion event, please donate today.