Burberry Fall/Winter 2022-23 Runway in London, the UK on March 11, 2022 Photo: IC

Burberry returned to live fashion shows after two years of pandemic-induced absence with Italy's Riccardo Tisci taking over a church in central London outside of fashion week for a celebration of Britishness.

The fashion house behind the famous check pattern took over the imposing edifice of Central Hall Westminster with models showing off the Autumn-Winter 2022 collection to the sounds of the London Contemporary Orchestra and around 100 choristers.

"I think people should be showing when they're ready to show," artistic director Tisci told journalists, explaining why Burberry skipped London Fashion Week in February.

Tisci said that he "got COVID-19 three, four times," and that the company had undergone a lot of changes with the departure of CEO Marco Gobbetti, and his replacement by Jonathan Akeroyd. 

With the audience standing in the dark, the models came down stairs and walked among those attending before climbing onto tables specially laid with crockery and cutlery for the occasion. 

"The collection embodies an intangible essence that is Britishness, a unique fusion of honoring the beauty of the past, whilst also remaining focused on the future with thankfulness, hope and love."

Celebrities including Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell were in attendance to watch the fashion house's iconic trench coat augmented with chains.