The summer edition of Berlin Fashion Week will take place from July 1st to 4th, 2024. The Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises, together with the Fashion Council Germany, is once again launching the BFW Concept Competition. They are seeking innovative presentation formats and event concepts, which will be awarded prize money of up to €25,000. The competition places particular emphasis on promoting German design talent with their sustainable, inclusive, and creative ideas.

With its February 2024 edition, Berlin Fashion Week solidified its position on the international fashion week calendar. The positive transformation of Berlin Fashion Week and the international relevance of the presented formats, events, and shows were particularly evident. The designers' collections and presentations were characterized by high-quality craftsmanship, creativity, and talent.

To build on the success of previous seasons and further promote design talent, 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 the July edition. This competition aims to strengthen the innovation and growth potential of the Berlin and German fashion industry, brick-and-mortar retailers, and local designers in and from Berlin. Concepts can be submitted from March 6, 2024 , in two categories:

STUDIO2RETAIL

We are seeking diverse platforms and presentations that are freely accessible to end consumers, thus providing them with access to Berlin Fashion Week. The most innovative B2C event concepts from Berlin fashion labels, brick-and-mortar retailers, and events that focus on German fashion, address topics such as sustainability, innovation, or diversity, and achieve above-average media impact will be awarded. The five best concepts will each receive €5,000 in prize money. For the second time, Berliner Sparkasse is providing a sixth prize of €5,000, enabling even more creative ideas to be supported in the July edition.

BERLIN CONTEMPORARY

The heart of Berlin Fashion Week lies in the outstanding collections of the designers and the shows where they are presented to a professional audience. In the Berlin Contemporary category, awards are given to show concepts that impress with a sustainable approach, innovative ideas, and a particularly creative methodology. In addition to the show concepts, past designs as well as planned collections are evaluated based on their design merit, craftsmanship, and commercial potential in an international context. The competition is open to both established designers and emerging talents.

The 16 most compelling concepts from Germany will be awarded prize money of €25,000. As a show of solidarity with Ukraine and Ukrainian Fashion Week, two Ukrainian labels will also be recognized this season.

Competition concepts can be submitted until April 1, 2024. Details regarding the terms and conditions of participation can be found at: https://fashionweek.berlin/competition.html

A panel of industry experts will then select the winners, who are expected to be announced in early May 2024 .

The competition is financed by funds from the State of Berlin and the ERDF fund:

(Photo Credit: Caroline Kynast for Berlin Fashion Week / Bobkova)