NEWS: Berlin Fashion Week introduces the Sustainability Requirements of the Copenhagen Fashion Week

The BFW and the CPHFW announce their partnership to introduce the Sustainability Requirements for Berlin Fashion Week. By establishing the Sustainability Requirements developed by the CPHFW, the Fashion Council Germany, which is responsible for coordinating the BFW calendar, is committed to introducing these minimum standards as a binding criterion for the shows at Berlin Fashion Week. By joining forces, both locations are pursuing the goal of promoting sustainability measures in the fashion industry on the Nordic and German markets. Funded by the Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Enterprises and implemented by the Fashion Council Germany in collaboration with Studio MM04, this is a further step for the BFW on the way to becoming a transparently responsible fashion platform.

Michael Biel, Berlin State Secretary for Economic Affairs: “By introducing the Sustainability Requirements, Berlin will become one of the leading international locations for a responsible and innovative fashion industry. With financial support totaling 180,000 euros until 2025, we are once again investing in Berlin's future as a pioneer in sustainability. Through sustainable practices such as upcycling and the use of recycled materials, social and ecological responsibility go hand in hand in fashion Made in Berlin and Germany. With these standards, Berlin will set an example compared to other global fashion metropolises.”

“We are proud to announce our partnership with Copenhagen Fashion Week, our long-standing partner and pioneer of sustainability in fashion. By introducing the Sustainability Requirements for Berlin Fashion Week, we are not only committing to higher standards, but are also setting a good example of implementing responsible practices. The collaboration offers a significant opportunity to leverage our shared expertise and resources to drive innovation and encourage labels to meet the needs of society and the industry." - Scott Lipinski, CEO of Fashion Council Germany.

“Copenhagen Fashion Week has already introduced the Minimum Standards as a mandatory admission criterion for its labels for three seasons. We are pleased to be able to achieve growing alignment in the industry through our partnership with Berlin Fashion Week. The collaboration not only introduces much-needed common direction, but also highlights the opportunities for fashion weeks and councils to change the industry for the better. It is a significant milestone for us that the Sustainability Requirements are recognized worldwide. We are confident that we will inspire more actors to collaborate.” - Cecilie Thorsmark, CEO of Copenhagen Fashion Week.

The collaboration includes the implementation of the Sustainability Requirements for around 35 labels that are part of the official Berlin Fashion Week calendar and for which the Minimum Standards are introduced as a binding criterion. The implementation will take place in an introductory and pilot phase before it comes into full force in February 2026.

background:

The Sustainability Requirements were introduced by Copenhagen Fashion Week in January 2020 in close collaboration with In Futurum and Dansk Fashion & Textile. In order to respond to industry developments and changes in the EU political landscape, they were updated in March 2024. The framework is an essential part of the CPHFW sustainability strategy and has been reviewed by its Advisory Board and an international panel of experts. The overall goal is to drive holistic change in the fashion industry. 

Since its introduction, Denmark's largest fashion trade fair, the Copenhagen International Fashion Fair, as well as the Norwegian Fashion Hub and Oslo Runway, have adapted the implementation of the Sustainability Requirements. In May 2021, the government-funded program “Fremtidens Tekstiler” selected the Sustainability Requirements as a framework to deliver a gap analysis to 50 SMEs, which will lead to further actions.

Specific adjustments for the BFW In addition to the existing Sustainability Requirements guidelines, the BFW will make specific adjustments and introduce some new elements that are consistent with the BFW values. As stated in its own slogan, the BFW embodies freedom, inclusion and creativity. Therefore, the specific adjustments address the key topics of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) across the fashion industry, which are essential for BFW. In addition, the focus is on transparency and traceability throughout the entire value chain, an important issue in Germany, especially in light of the Supply Chain Act. Further information on the specific adjustments will be published on the BFW website at a later date.

The Sustainability Requirements are a Framework developed by Copenhagen Fashion Week.