NEWS: Official opening of Berlin Fashion Week: That was the fireside dinner at Grill Royal
Fashion Council Germany
Berlin, February 5, 2024: At the invitation of Franziska Giffey, Berlin Senator for Economics, Energy and Enterprises, and the Fashion Council Germany, the Berlin Fashion Week Fall-Winter 2025 was officially opened at a fireside dinner on Monday evening. Over 280 guests came together at the sit-down dinner in the renowned Grill Royal on the Spree, including the most important actors and decision-makers from politics, fashion, media and the broader cultural and creative industries. The evening was particularly intended to promote exchange within the industry and honor the exceptional designers who are presenting their new collections this season as part of Berlin Fashion Week.
Berlin Fashion Week will take place for the first time this season from February 5th to 8th, 2024 and will therefore fit into the international fashion week calendar. The Fall-Winter 2025 Edition will once again be characterized by innovative presentation formats at iconic locations in the capital, offering a platform for international design talent in the German capital. As a “powerhouse of talent” and with a freedom to which there are no limits, Berlin as a fashion city is moving further into the focus of the international trade audience.
At the beginning of the dinner, Christiane Arp and Michael Biel, Berlin State Secretary for Economic Affairs, welcomed the guests. In a stimulating atmosphere, both praised the diversity and zeitgeist of the designers of the past day and looked forward to the upcoming highlights of Berlin Fashion Week. The city is a pioneer in creativity, sustainability and tolerance and is therefore the ideal backdrop for a multifaceted Fashion Week that is constantly increasing in relevance. This is also made clear by the self-proclaimed slogan of Berlin Fashion Week: “The responsible movement of freedom, inclusion and creativity”.
Christiane Arp opened the evening: “We have the feeling that the path we have taken over the last few seasons is the right one and that Berlin Fashion Week is becoming more and more popular. The efforts of the last few years are paying off and we can continue to build on the positive feedback. Together we are achieving something that hasn’t been possible for a long time: making Berlin Fashion Week more relevant nationally and internationally.”
“Fashion is at home in Berlin. And when it's Fashion Week in Berlin, the city gets more and more attention in the international fashion world, becomes more visible and shows that there is still a lot of potential here. Berlin's fashion stands out for its individuality, the pursuit of freedom and the courage to be creative. Fashion creators and designers work here who can keep up with international competition and inspire people. With our successful Fashion Week, we are proving once again: Berlin can do fashion and is cosmopolitan, diverse and unique,” said Franziska Giffey, Senator for Economics, Energy and Enterprises.
The presence of important industry representatives as well as the designers represented in Berlin illustrated the core of Berlin Fashion Week: to honor outstanding design talent and the craft behind it and to offer a platform for bold ideas. Among the numerous guests were Cecilie Thorsmark (Copenhagen Fashion Week), Chidozie Obasi (Office Magazine), Désiré Feuerle (The Feuerle Collection), Esther Perbandt, Hanan Besovic (ideservecouture), Jale Richert und Michele Beil (beide Richert Beil), Julian Daynov, Kerstin Schneider (Harper’s Bazaar), Luis Dobbelgarten (No/Faith Studios), Maliha Shoaib (Vogue Business), Manuela Kampp-Wirtz (Burda Style Group), Mumi Haiati (Reference Studios), Rianna Kounou und Nina Knaudt (Rianna + Nina), Tim Kälberer (Wormland), Valentin von Arnim (Iris von Arnim) and William Fan.
In the third “Berlin Contemporary” season, 14 German and four Ukrainian brands are once again presenting their collections. The labels and their show concepts were awarded prize money as part of the BFW concept competition. The three award-winning labels Olivia Ballard, William Fan and MARKE opened the first day of Berlin Fashion Week. As part of the newly developed “Intervention” format by the international communications agency Reference Studios, led by founder Mumi Haiati, shows by the brands Gerrit Jacob, back2back (Yolanda Zobel & Marcelo Alcaide) and Anonymous Club also took place in Berlin for the first time.
The calendar for the next few days is filled with shows from already established designers such as NAMILIA, RIANNA + NINA, Richert Beil or newcomer brands such as GLÜCK and Kitschy Couture. All collection images from the shows and impressions from the many other events will be published in the Berlin Fashion Week Media Hub.
An overview of all shows and events can be found on the Berlin Fashion Week website in the official calendar. Events for end consumers during Berlin Fashion Week can be viewed in the event calendar as part of STUDIO2RETAIL. The dinner was also supported by HECH and Don Julio.