NEWS: Berlin Fashion Week Opening:

Exclusive Fireside Dinner unites the fashion industry

Berlin, January 31, 2025: The opening of Berlin Fashion Week (BFW) The event took place on Friday evening at the invitation of Franziska Giffey, Mayor and Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises, and the Fashion Council Germany (FCG). On the opening night of the four-day Berlin Fashion Week, over 200 invited guests gathered at the iconic Borchardt restaurant for the traditional "Fireside Dinner." Among those present were key players and decision-makers from politics, media, fashion, and the cultural and creative industries. The focus was particularly on industry networking and the designers' new collections.

This season, Berlin Fashion Week will take place over a single weekend. From Friday, January 31st to Monday, February 3rd, innovative approaches and creative designs will be presented on the runways and as part of installations. The Autumn/Winter 2025 edition features a lineup of established designers as well as emerging fashion labels and newcomer brands. This season's highlights include the shows and presentations by the winners of the "Berlin Contemporary" concept competition, initiated by the Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises in cooperation with the Fashion Council Germany. These will once again take place at iconic and historically significant locations throughout Berlin, including the Berghain venue, Kraftwerk Berlin, the KINDL Brewery, Clärchens Ballhaus, St. Elisabeth Church, and the KANTGARAGEN. The capital, with its "powerhouse of talent," is once again committed to a diverse and inclusive approach. Berlin Fashion Week continues the success of previous seasons and strengthens its position as an internationally relevant fashion event.

Christiane Arp, Chairwoman of the Board of the FCG, and Franziska Giffey, Mayor and Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises, opened the evening and highlighted the increasing international visibility and the steadily growing community of Berlin Fashion Week. This, they said, was particularly due to the designers' courage in pursuing innovative ideas and their artistic approaches. The focus on sustainability, which was further intensified this season as part of the pilot phase of the Sustainability Requirements, was also an important and necessary development.

Christiane Arp emphasized: “We need Fashion Weeks, like the one here in Berlin. They are the stages where designers tell their stories and give young talents the chance to find their voice and be discovered. They are platforms for creativity, places for encounters and exchange. Fashion has the power to bring people together. It is visual language and nonverbal communication. How we dress always says something about who we are and what we're like. Fashion is an expression of our convictions and values and can drive necessary social change.”

Franziska Giffey added: “ Berlin offers a unique environment for creativity and innovation. This has given rise to a fashion industry that has established its own distinctive style and is internationally recognized for it. This is also reflected in the economic figures. With nearly 4,800 companies generating a turnover of 5 billion euros, the fashion industry is a key driver for Berlin's economy. However, we cannot ignore the fact that the fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters. We are now tackling this issue in Berlin through a joint effort. With the introduction of the Sustainability Requirements in cooperation with Copenhagen Fashion Week, we are underscoring our commitment to a sustainable transformation of fashion. We see that established and emerging designers alike are taking on this challenge together, setting new standards with creative and innovative ideas. The growing international appeal of Fashion Week demonstrates that Berlin is not only a center for artistic visions, but also for sustainable progress in the fashion industry.”

Among the guests were Bettina Billerbeck (TextilWirtschaft), Bliss Foster (Content Creator), Carlo Capasa (Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana), Cosima Gadient (Ottolinger), Edward Buchanan (Perfect Magazine), Emilia Pfohl and Nan Li (both NAMILIA), Gerrit Jacob, Grace Palmer (Hypebeast), Jacob Langemeyer (SF1OG), Jörg Ehrlich (ODEEH), Julian Daynov, Kerstin Schneider (Harper's Bazaar) , Kerstin Weng (VOGUE Germany), Klaus Ritzenhöfel (Apropos), Loic Prigent (Content Creator), Mumi Haiati (Reference Studios) , Michael Biel (Berlin State Secretary for Economic Affairs), Pascal Morand (Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode), Roy Mukuva (SSENSE), Sia Arnika, Stavros Karelis (Machine-A), Timo Weber (KaDeWe) and William Fan.