NEWS: Berlin goes New York

Berlin/New York, 15 April 2024: Today, Monday 15 April, twelve Berlin fashion labels and tech start-ups will embark on a five-day customised networking programme in the fashion metropolis of New York City. They will be accompanied by the Chairwoman of the Fashion Council Germany, Christiane Arp, and State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Michael Biel. The delegation trip is part of the internationalisation project Fashion Forward Network (FFN), which is carried out by the Fashion Council Germany (FCG) and supported by the Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises.

The aim is to network the Berlin fashion industry with New York as one of the world's most important fashion and technology locations and to support Berlin-based companies in their market entry in the USA. This is the second trip to New York organised by the multi-year Fashion Forward Network project to build a sustainable connection between the two fashion capitals. In October 2023, the first ten Berlin-based companies took part in a networking programme. The return visit will follow next June. Project partner Sqetch will then lead a delegation of US companies to Berlin.

Michael Biel, State Secretary for Economic Affairs, explains: "Berlin is increasingly establishing itself as an international fashion metropolis and the Berlin Senate is specifically supporting this path. Through the Fashion Forward Network, we are supporting Berlin fashion labels and start-ups in their networking in the USA, the largest fashion market in the world. We want to open doors and make people curious about fashion "Made in Berlin", which unmistakably stands for freedom, inclusion and sustainability as well as the combination of technology, craftsmanship and design."

Scott Lipinski, CEO of the Fashion Council Germany, emphasises: "We are delighted that this is already the second FFN delegation trip and that this time we will also be accompanied by the Berlin State Secretary, Michael Biel. We have a full programme on site, which will give us valuable insights into the local structures and the challenges that the participating entrepreneurs have to overcome when entering the US market. We will also certainly take many ideas from the New York fashion ecosystem back to Berlin."

The Berlin delegation this time includes the companies AVENIR, DR. BAUM, IMPARI, HADERLUMP, Kasia Kucharska, Natascha von Hirschhausen, PLATTE Berlin, SANE Standard, SF1OG, SOCIÉTÉ ANGELIQUE, REFRAMD and RICHERT BEIL. They will receive a specially tailored programme that will introduce them to the special features of the US market and include sales and communication workshops as well as strategic market entry recommendations. The programme includes various networking events, discussions with local stakeholders, press representatives and industry experts, meetings with industry leaders such as the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and Highsnobiety, tours of the famous Garment District and sales pitch training followed by a presentation to potential US-American investors.

The Fashion Forward Network is a project of the Fashion Council Germany and the innovation platform Sqetch. It connects Berlin-based fashion brands, agencies and tech start-ups with institutions and multipliers in the USA and supports new business partnerships. In doing so, it not only promotes the growth of the industry, but also the exchange of information on the latest developments in the areas of sustainability and digitalisation on both sides of the Atlantic. Through networking events, delegation trips, workshops and webinars, it offers access to resources tailored to the individual needs of companies: from participation in leading trade fairs and legal advice to information and key contacts for getting started and establishing a long-term presence in the US market.

Berlin programme for internationalisation

The Fashion Forward Network is one of a total of 12 network projects funded by the Programme for Internationalisation (PfI) of the Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises with funds from the State of Berlin and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The aim of the PfI is to expand bilateral regional economic relations with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises, thereby strengthening Berlin as a centre of business and innovation.