Following the successful launch in February, the Fashion Council Germany and VOGUE Germany have now announced the jury for the first FCG/VOGUE Fashion Fund in Germany. The format has already been successfully implemented by VOGUE in countries such as Spain, the UK, China and the USA. The initiation in Germany sends a strong signal of support for the German fashion industry and is intended to promote young design talent in particular. The jury will select the seven finalists, who will be announced at a celebratory cocktail event at Berlin Fashion Week in early July. Selected designs will then be presented at the Berlin Salon.

A top-class jury

The expert jury is made up of a total of eight top-class industry experts whose different areas of expertise provide a holistic picture of the fashion industry. In addition to Kerstin Weng, Head of Editorial Content VOGUE Germany, CEO Scott Lipinski and Chairwoman Christiane Arp from the Fashion Council Germany will contribute their extensive industry knowledge. The jury of the FCG/VOGUE Fashion Fund also includes Edward Enninful OBE, Global Creative and Cultural Advisor of VOGUE, the internationally successful singer Kim Petras, Mumi Haiati, CEO and founder of Reference Studios, the film producer and editor-in-chief of VOGUE China, Margaret Zhang, and model Paloma Elsesser.

"For the launch of the FCG/VOGUE Fashion Fund, we were able to attract a jury of internationally renowned industry experts. This sends an important signal for the initiative - and for German fashion. They all bring different professional perspectives and, through their knowledge and experience, offer the young designers relevant starting points for holistically expanding their own brand and making it competitive. We look forward to exchanging ideas with the designers in this second phase of the initiative," says Kerstin Weng, Head of Editorial Content VOGUE Germany.

Scott Lipinski, CEO of Fashion Council Germany, emphasizes: "The carefully selected jury reflects our efforts to promote the next generation of talented designers. With their expertise and specialist knowledge, the jury members make a significant contribution to shaping the future of the German fashion industry."

Designers and companies based in Germany who have been on the market for two to a maximum of 15 years and who pursue a particularly creative and innovative approach were able to apply for the first edition of the FCG/VOGUE Fashion Fund. The application phase has been closed since April 15, 2024. For the second phase, the expert jury will select seven finalists from all submissions, who will be announced in a ceremonial setting at Berlin Fashion Week in July 2024. Selected designs by the finalists will then be shown in the Berlin Salon.

The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony in Berlin in autumn 2024. The prize includes prize money of 25,000 euros, various communication services, the production of a fashion show for Berlin Fashion Week in February 2025 and a business mentoring program with a total value of 100,000 euros.

The FCG/VOGUE Fashion Fund was awarded in the competition for innovative event formats. Co-financed by the European Union and the Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Enterprises.

Further details on the first edition of the FCG/VOGUE Fashion Fund can be found on VOGUE.de and on the Fashion Council Germany website.