BERLIN CONTEMPORARY
TARGET GROUP
Brands, designers at Berlin Fashion Week
APPLICATION PHASE
01/2026: Completed
07/2026: Completed
CATEGORIES
Promotion
ABOUT THE INITIATIVE
Berlin Contemporary is a format in which exceptional designers and brands are supported during Berlin Fashion Week to present themselves and their collections. The concept competition for Berlin Fashion Week in July 2024 is live!
Since January 2023, we have been jointly initiating the BERLIN CONTEMPORARY funding program with the Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises . Within the framework of the BFW concept competition, prize money is awarded in the categories BERLIN CONTEMPORARY and STUDIO2RETAIL to particularly creative and innovative brands. The concept competition was launched for the eighth time in July 2026.
The " BERLIN CONTEMPORARY " category is aimed at participants whose (predominantly) German-based brands present exceptional design achievements and pursue strong, innovative, and sustainable approaches in their products, corporate philosophy, and event concepts. Submitted show and presentation concepts should be suitable for attracting numerous national and international trade visitors and achieving significant media impact. A total of 19 winners will each receive €25,000 – for the first time since the SS26 season, this includes international labels. In the SS27 season, up to five international labels will be recognized, including at least one brand from an African country.*
In the category “ STUDIO2RETAIL ”, the 6 best ideas for extraordinary store and studio event concepts will be awarded up to 5,000 euros each - prize money is provided by Berliner Sparkasse.
This season, in addition to the German-based brands Andrej Gronau , DAGGER , Gerrit Jacob , GmbH , Haderlump Atelier Berlin , Kasia Kucharska , Laura Gerte , LUEDER , Marke , Milk of Lime , SF1OG , Selva , UNVAIN and William Fan , as well as the label BARRAGÁN from New York City and John Lawrence Sullivan from Tokyo, three brands headquartered in an African country were awarded: Fruché and Orange Culture from Lagos/Nigeria and BUZIGAHILL from Kampala/Uganda.
An expert jury selected the concepts that will be awarded prize money by the Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises. This year's jury consisted of Christiane Arp (Fashion Council Germany), Johanna Dramé (Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises), Herbert Hofmann (Highsnobiety), Stavros Karelis (Onassis Foundation), Susanna Lau (Susie Bubbles), Sara Sozzani Maino (Fondazione Sozzani), Eniafe Momodu (Prism Creative Limited), Irene Ojo-Felix ( Models.com ) and Patrick Pendiuk (Vogue Germany).
More information about Berlin Contemporary and STUDIO2RETAIL as well as the BFW can be found HERE .
* In addition to the prize money, this fashion label will receive support with show production and PR, including guest management through a local production agency. The winning brand is responsible for organizing the trip, including travel and accommodation costs, as well as shipping the collection and handling customs clearance.