For the next edition of Berlin Fashion Week in February 2025, the Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises and the Fashion Council Germany are once again announcing the BFW concept competition. Innovative concepts for presentations and events will be awarded prize money of up to 25,000 euros.

After a successful edition in July, the Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises, together with the Fashion Council Germany, are once again announcing the BFW concept competition for Berlin Fashion Week from January 31 to February 3, 2025, thus building on the talent promotion of the past four seasons. The competition is intended in particular to strengthen the innovation and growth potential of the German fashion industry, stationary retail and local designers in and from Berlin and Germany. Ukrainian fashion labels are also open to applications in the Berlin Contemporary category. For the first time, African fashion labels are also being invited to submit their concepts in order to apply for a Berlin Contemporary prize money.

Michael Biel, State Secretary for Economic Affairs, 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 of Berlin. The Senate Department of 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 heart of the BFW calendar. Now we are going one step further for 2025 and, in addition to supporting Ukrainian brands, will also be awarding prize money to an African fashion label. Because we want to use the most creative minds and talents to further promote Berlin's claim as an international fashion stage."

Concepts can be submitted in two categories as part of the competition from September 13 to 29, 2024:

BERLIN CONTEMPORARY

The Berlin Contemporary category will honor 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, the evaluation criteria also include past collections, which are examined for their design standards, craftsmanship and commercial potential. Both more established labels and up-and-coming designers are addressed.

The 19 most convincing concepts will be honored and will each receive prize money of 25,000 euros. In addition to fashion brands based in Germany, Ukrainian labels can also apply. In this way, Berlin Fashion Week is building on the solidarity support of Ukraine and Ukrainian Fashion Week in previous seasons. In addition, for the first time, a concept from an African fashion label will be selected, which will also be awarded prize money of 25,000 euros and presented as part of Berlin Fashion Week.

STUDIO2RETAIL

In the STUDIO2RETAIL category, a variety of event concepts will be honored 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. The criteria for evaluation are sustainability, innovation and diversity, as well as potentially above-average media impact. A sixth prize money will also be provided this season by Berliner Sparkasse.

This is intended to enrich the STUDIO2RETAIL initiative, which makes Berlin Fashion Week accessible to fashion enthusiasts beyond the trade audience through an exciting store overview and an "open to public event calendar", with further events. The 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 has ended, a jury of industry experts will select the winners, who are expected to be announced in October 2024.

Details on the conditions of participation can be found at: https://fashionweek.berlin/talent-support/concept-competition-aw25.html