Fashion Council Germany announces fourth edition of the FASHION X CRAFT funding project in cooperation with eBay Germany

The FCG Fireside Dinner in Hamburg brought the industry together for networking.

On Monday evening, at the invitation of the Fashion Council Germany (FCG) and eBay Germany, around 50 selected guests attended an exclusive fireside dinner at clouds - Heaven's Bar & Kitchen in Hamburg. Together, they included local fashion brands, designers, editors, and industry representatives. The occasion for the evening was the announcement of the collaboration between the Fashion Council Germany and eBay Germany for the fourth edition of the FASHION X CRAFT funding project. Furthermore, the event served as a platform for cross-industry exchange on current developments in the fashion industry, including topics such as circularity, innovation, and technology.

The evening was opened by Scott Lipinski, CEO of FCG, Chairwoman of the Board Christiane Arp, and Mandy Krüger, Head of Fashion at eBay Germany. In their welcoming remarks, they addressed the ongoing partnership and expressed their delight at the realization of the fourth edition of the FASHION X CRAFT mentoring project. This initiative, implemented in collaboration with The King's Foundation , is specifically aimed at bachelor's graduates in fashion and textile design. Its overarching goal is to identify young talent early on and teach them traditional craft techniques and methodologies to support them on their path into the industry.

Following numerous promising applications, the final selection phase is currently underway. A distinguished panel of experts will select the five most promising candidates. This edition's jury consists of: Christiane Arp (Chairwoman, Fashion Council Germany), Daniel McAuliffe (Education Director, The King's Foundation), Isabelle Maier (Strategic Partnerships Lead Fashion, eBay Germany), and Johann Ehrhardt (Creative Director, Haderlump). The five winners will be announced in May.

As part of the project, participants will attend various workshops and coaching sessions, as well as a multi-week residency in Highgrove, England, and another in Germany. Circularity will play a central role, and with eBay Germany as a pioneer in this field, the five participants will have a strong partner to advise them. Based on the knowledge gained, the five designers will develop their own collections as the culmination of the program, which will be presented at Berlin Fashion Week in January 2026.

Christiane Arp, Chairwoman of the Fashion Council Germany, looks positively on the collaboration: “ With the fourth edition of FASHION X CRAFT, we are strengthening our commitment to young talent and traditional craftsmanship in fashion. The Fireside Dinner in Hamburg was a great opportunity to acknowledge the further development of this initiative within the industry and to provide new impetus.”

Mandy Krüger, Head of Fashion at eBay Germany, added: “ eBay is a pioneer of the circular economy and has been driving the pre-loved fashion market for over 30 years. Through our collaboration with the Fashion Council Germany and our support of FASHION X CRAFT, we want to promote up-and-coming designers and stimulate new ideas that will lead the fashion industry into a more sustainable future.”

In the cozy atmosphere of clouds , with a breathtaking view over Hamburg's HafenCity, guests enjoyed culinary delights and engaged in stimulating conversations. Among the distinguished guests were Gernot Lenz (Tom Tailor), Jan Möller and Tobias Gruber (Otto), Laura Suesser (Unger Fashion), Lisa Deurer (LD-13), Loic Bréard (Bigoudi), Matthias Schweizer (OBS), Paul Schrader (artist), Simon Riepe and Wiebke Bredehorst (Tush), and Thorsten Mindermann (Iris von Arnim).

Since 2018, the FCG networking format “Firesidechat” has been taking place in various major cities throughout Germany, regularly bringing together the most important industry representatives for an exchange of ideas.

More information about FASHION X CRAFT can be found HERE

Credit: Saskia Allers