NEWS: The concept competition for Berlin Fashion Week
in February 2025 enters the next round
Fashion Council Germany
Berlin, September 10, 2024: Following a successful edition in July, the Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises, together with the Fashion Council Germany, is once again launching the BFW concept competition for Berlin Fashion Week from February 3 to 6, 2025, building on the talent promotion of the past four seasons. The competition aims to strengthen the innovation and growth potential of the German fashion industry, the stationary retail trade and local designers in and from Berlin and Germany. Ukrainian fashion labels can also apply in the Berlin Contemporary category. For the first time, African fashion labels are also invited to submit their concepts in order to apply for a Berlin Contemporary prize.
Michael Biel, State Secretary for Economics, emphasizes: “With the reorientation of Berlin Fashion Week and the successful implementation of the concept competition, there is increasing international attention for the fashion metropolis Berlin.The Senate Department for Economics is providing prize money totaling 500,000 euros for the competition for the most innovative concepts for presentations and events.The winners form the centerpiece of the BFW calendar.We are now going one step further for 2025 and, in addition to supporting Ukrainian brands, we will also be awarding prize money to an African fashion label. Because we want to further promote Berlin's claim as an international fashion stage with the most creative minds and talents.”
Concepts can be submitted in two categories as part of the competition from September 13 to 29, 2024:
BERLIN CONTEMPORARY
In the Berlin Contemporary category, prizes are awarded to the most innovative show and presentation concepts that pursue a sustainable and inclusive approach and focus on particularly creative collections with international relevance. In addition to the concepts submitted, past collections will also serve as evaluation criteria, which will be examined for their design standards, craftsmanship and commercial potential. Both established labels and up-and-coming designers are addressed.
The 19 most convincing concepts will be awarded prize money of 25,000 euros each. In addition to fashion brands based in Germany, Ukrainian labels are also eligible to apply. Berlin Fashion Week is thus continuing its solidarity-based support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian Fashion Week of previous seasons. In addition, for the first time, a concept by an African fashion label will be selected, which will also be awarded prize money of 25,000 euros and presented during Berlin Fashion Week.
STUDIO2RETAIL
The STUDIO2RETAIL category recognizes a variety of event concepts that are freely accessible to end consumers and thus enable them to experience Berlin Fashion Week. The five most innovative B2C event concepts from Berlin fashion labels, stationary retailers and fashion-focused events will each be awarded 5,000 euros. They will be judged according to the criteria of sustainability, innovation and diversity as well as potential above-average media impact. A sixth prize will also be provided by Berliner Sparkasse this season.
This is intended to enrich the STUDIO2RETAIL initiative, which makes Berlin Fashion Week an exciting store overview and an “open to public event calendar” for fashion enthusiasts outside of the specialist audience, with additional events. Past winners have shown how diverse Berlin's fashion industry is and how enriching the exchange between different communities can be through these events.
After the application phase, a jury of industry experts will select the winners, who are expected to be announced in October 2024.
Details on the conditions of participation at https://fashionweek.berlin/talent-support/concept-competition-aw25.html
