A ‘streetwise’ and ‘eco-friendly’ fashion show with a twist has garnered praise for its unique designs. It was organized by a London businesswoman whose husband’s football career ended after he survived a cardiac arrest.

Nadia Perrier, director of the Central London Alliance group, orchestrated ‘Fashion Frenzee’ at the culmination of London Fashion Week. The event spotlighted ‘sustainable’ attire, featuring garments crafted from rugby balls or items sourced from railway lost property offices.

Models, including Mrs. Universe 2022, graced a specially constructed runway at the Guildhall Art Gallery. They displayed distinctive clothing designed to minimize waste and repurpose ‘pre-loved’ or potentially discarded materials.

A silent auction was also held, with proceeds going towards two charities – Integrity International Trust and Dress For Success.

London-born Mrs. Perrier, 35, shared hopes of attracting more visitors and investment to the city, addressing challenges faced during the Covid-19 lockdowns.

In addition to fashion initiatives, the CLA supports sporting festivals across London, where her husband contributes as well.

Michael Perrier, a former youth international from Switzerland, played for clubs like Sion, Aarau, and Stade Lausanne Ouchy. He retired at 32 after a cardiac arrest forced him to end his playing career.

Sports events organised by the CLA have gone from the City’s first pop-up padel court attracting 6,380 players three years ago to its London Sports Festival welcoming more than 23,000 since launching this May.

Mrs Perrier said of the CLA, which formed five years ago following the pandemic: ‘More people are being attracted back into the centre of the capital – and it’s still very much needed.

‘We’ve migrated into habits of hybrid working which has had such an impact on central London – the recent train strikes don’t help at all. But we’re constantly looking at giving workers incentives to come back.’

Reflecting on the recent Fashion Frenzee event, she told of wanting it to ‘shine a light on the creativity and diversity that make London such a global capital of style, while championing responsibility in how we create and consume fashion’. 

She added: ‘I’m proud that together with our brands and partners, we’ve made fashion not just stylish, but purposeful.’

Among the designs featured at the Guildhall Art Gallery showcase were those by Le Ballon Responsable, founded by French rugby legend Serge Betsen, 51, and which turns rugby balls into ‘artisanal fashion pieces’.

Also featured were Atelier de Nalin Thakral, reviving traditional Zardosi embroidery with ethical couture, CQ (Cheongsam Quotidien) London which blends Eastern heritage with Western design and GOFF COURTNEY, said to be ‘redefining fashion as age-, size- and gender-free’.

Other contributors included The Collective by London 3×3, merging sport and sustainability through streetwear, eyewear brand Pop Specs and vegan-fashion promoting Sanya Dutta. 

Mrs Perrier told the Daily Mail: ‘It’s so important to be focusing on lots of different people from different walks of life – and showcase all these designers’ work.

‘There were about 150 people there – I was so glad to hear the positive comments. We had so many items on display, from Victoria Beckham clothing to pieces that had been retrieved from lost property.

‘It’s good to have people thinking about garments in a different way – maybe turning T-shirt sleeves into jeans, or working with saris, or rescuing clothes left on the Tube.’

Her husband Michael’s footballing career came to a premature halt four years ago, following his sudden fainting and collapse following a cardiorespiratory arrest at the age of 32 – in front of horrified friends and colleagues during a trip to a karting track in May 2021.

He was airlifted to hospital and spent 72 hours in an induced coma after desperate attempts to revive him – and though his recovery is ongoing, his football career could not go on. 

He has previously said, looking back: ‘I’m a miracle. That’s what all the doctors kept telling me.

‘They tried to resuscitate me five times. They say that if nothing happens after two attempts, it’s usually over – or that the after-effects quickly become irreversible.

‘In my case, it wasn’t until the fifth attempt that they managed to revive me and my heart started beating again.’

He has since retrained as a physiotherapist, though his wife says he still struggles even to play a mini kickabout or games of padel – the tennis-style sport increasingly popular on spreading courts across the UK especially London.

But she told the Daily Mail: ‘He helps advise me with our sports events.

‘He can’t play football again and he doesn’t have the same life at all since his cardiac arrest – he can’t do physical activity like he did before. He can’t even do padel.

‘But he’s embraced the London lifestyle and is working as a physiotherapist. And the important thing is, he’s healthy – he’s here.’ 

They now live in Surrey with their four-year-old daughter, described by Mrs Perrier as ‘the light and joy of our lives.’

She told of the fashion and textiles industry contributing 250,000 jobs in London and £62billion to Britain’s economy.

But she also highlighted the importance of cutting back on waste and supporting ‘sustainable production’ and ‘pre-loved purchases’.

Meanwhile, CLA chairman Tony Matharu said following the recent catwalk show at the Guildhall Art Gallery: ‘This conclusion of London Fashion Week was about more than fashion or the historic setting – it was about the story of London itself.

‘Fashion Frenzee highlighted the city’s unique ability to host experiences and events that resonate across the broadest spectrum of people.

‘This reflects the diversity of London and the complex network of connections that bind our city together.’

The charities boosted by proceeds from the auction of items including those donated included Dress For Success, aimed at ’empowering’ women into the workplace through clothing, coaching, and confidence.

Also supported was Integrity International Trust, a UK organisation working to help vulnerable people with healthcare, education, skills training, and disaster recovery.

IIT also tackles sex trafficking, providing support and rehabilitation for survivors.

Florence King, the Lady Mayoress of the City of London, said of the event: ‘It was thrilling to watch the City of London Corporation’s beautiful Guildhall Art Gallery transform itself into a backdrop and stage to enable emerging and established designers to show off their incredible work, as well as promote “pre-loved” clothing. 

‘This wonderful and very well-attended event provided a dynamic finale to the fashion calendar.’