London Department Stores "Smash" Their Windows In The Name Of Women's Suffrage

Harrods, Fortnum & Mason and Harvey Nichols are joining forces to mark the centenary of women’s voting rights in the UK. Each shopping behemoth is making over its window displays, and the latter is rebranding itself as Holly Nichols, in partnership with the British Fashion Council and Mayor of London’s #BehindEveryGreatCity campaign to celebrate the drive towards gender equality in the capital.

“London was at the heart of the fight for women’s suffrage,” Justine Simons, OBE, deputy mayor for culture and creative industries, told Vogue ahead of the unveiling. “From rallies in Trafalgar Square to marches and protests in west London, the streets of our city were the backdrop to a brave and tireless campaign for this fundamental democratic right.”

Accordingly, each department store’s display will feature shattered-glass effects that pay homage to the West End street protests of 1912, when suffragettes smashed a selection of windows to draw attention to their struggle. “We’ve worked with the stores to share their ideas for honouring this legacy,” Simons continued of the posters, footage of female protesters past and present, and quotes that all incorporate the message.

Aside from this visible display of support during London Fashion Week, each store continues to pledge its commitments to empowering women and advancing their careers in the worlds of fashion and retail through management programmes and leadership schemes.

Sixty-five per cent of Fortnum & Mason’s management team are women, and Harvey Nichols’s upper pay quartile is 58.7 per cent female. Harrods, meanwhile, introduced the first staff training department in the country with specific courses for women to learn business skills. “The store even continued to advertise in titles such as The Suffragette after Harrods was targeted by the Suffragette window-smashing campaign of 1912,” Amanda Hill of Harrods, added.

As for the BFC's backing of the project, Caroline Rush, CBE, chief executive, commented: “The British fashion industry is known for its creativity, diversity and inclusivity, so I was thrilled to see our industry get behind this very important campaign.” As the spring/summer 2019 shows are about to commence, the dramatic displays couldn’t be a more fitting way to raise interest in the inspiring women who are at the forefront of the city's fashion.