The Fashion Council Germany announced the opening of its first branch office in Mannheim in June 2023 during an FCG FIRESIDECHAT in Mannheim. Guests included Christiane Arp (FCG), Christian Heinrici (Textilwirtschaft), Andreas Hilgenstock (Engelhorn), Hubertus Junge (Alpha Industries), David Lehr (Breuninger), Jürgen Leute (Luisa Cerano), Dr. Peter Kurz (Mayor of Mannheim), Robert Rivera (Different Fashion), Magdalena Schaffrin (Studio MM04), Christian Sommer (Next Mannheim), and Nicoline Wöhrle (Dr. Hauschka). "localONE" aims to facilitate increased engagement from Mannheim in the German states of Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, and Hesse. In the future, "localONE" will support regional members, conduct political lobbying, and explore new funding opportunities. Scott Lipinski, Managing Director of the FCG, explains: “The Fashion Council Germany was never exclusively focused on Berlin. We started in Berlin and our headquarters are located there, but we pursue a nationwide strategy. The limited number of regional activities has reinforced our commitment to developing a supra-regional network, enabling us to offer as many members as possible a direct point of contact and to have a stronger presence beyond Berlin. localONE is a pilot project that, if successful, we intend to expand to other locations. Our goal is to reach localTWO, THREE, FOUR, and FIVE.”

The Fashion Council Germany has found a strong local partner in NEXT Mannheim, and specifically in the TEXTILEREI shopping center in Mannheim. A potential pop-up space within the TEXTILEREI, along with networking opportunities with Mannheim stores and industry professionals, will create additional benefits for existing and potential members. Nico Hoffmeister, manager of the TEXTILEREI and future localONE coordinator, emphasizes: “We are delighted that the Fashion Council Germany is opening its first regional office in Mannheim with our support. Since its founding in 2015, the FCG has achieved a great deal and established itself as a leading advocate for fashion in and from Germany. They unite young startups with established companies like no other organization in Germany. With localONE, both our local designers and the creative professionals across the entire German fashion industry will have the opportunity to be represented at a new location.”

Mannheim 's Mayor, Dr. Peter Kurz, is delighted with this development: " For the city of Mannheim, the collaboration with the Fashion Council Germany offers the opportunity for supra-regional networking and allows us, with the help of TEXTILEREI and NEXT Mannheim, to forge a strong link with the German fashion industry. Mannheim is an exceptional location where the cultural and creative industries have long had a true home with cultural and economic significance. Now, with the Fashion Council Germany, we have gained a strong new partner that increases our visibility."

Further FCG local offices are planned and will eventually be accessible to all regional members throughout Germany. For now, the FCG intends to use the Mannheim pilot project to define its structure, services, and initiatives. The Berlin office will continue to serve as the head office and remain the FCG's central point of contact.

Further information about localONE can be found at the following link: https://www.fashion-council-germany.org/standorte