The winners of the fourth edition of the FASHION X CRAFT funding program have been selected. Organized by the Fashion Council Germany in cooperation with eBay Germany and The King's Foundation, the project offers young graduates in fashion and textile design a unique platform for further development and creative expression beyond conventional production methods. The most innovative concepts, focusing on sustainability and craftsmanship, have now been chosen from numerous applications, and the five project participants have been announced.

The future of fashion is sustainable, handcrafted, and innovative – as demonstrated by the winning concepts: Aleksander Kudrischow (HAW HAMBURG), Jon Liesenfeld (AMD), Laura De Sousa (UNIVERSITY OF LISBON), Lennart Bohle (PFORZHEIM UNIVERSITY DESIGN), and Melanie Parzenczewski (HTW BERLIN). With their work, these selected talents are setting strong trends for the industry: They are developing plant-based material alternatives, rethinking modularity and durability in their collections, and combining cultural heritage with forward-looking design strategies.

Over the next eight months, the emerging designers will participate in an extensive workshop and mentoring program. During a multi-week stay in Germany and a trip to England to the Highgrove Education Centre of The King's Foundation, they will learn traditional crafts such as basket weaving and weaving. At Berlin Fashion Week in February 2026, the five winners will present their designs at the culmination of the project. Unlike previous editions, they will not only create a single piece, but develop an entire collection comprising several looks. They will go through each step of collection development to delve even deeper into the world of design. They will be supported by FCG Chairwoman Christiane Arp and through individual styling workshops.

FASHION X CRAFT was launched in 2022 by the Fashion Council Germany in collaboration with the Swarovski Foundation and The King's Foundation. Its overarching goal is to discover young talent early on and teach them traditional craft techniques and methods to support them on their path into the industry. The fourth edition continues in partnership with eBay and The King's Foundation – with an even stronger focus on sustainable design approaches.

The winners of previous editions have since founded their own labels, including Milk of Lime, IMPARI, and SVEASØN. Thanks to the experience gained, they have already successfully implemented their own presentations, shows, and concepts during Berlin Fashion Week and established themselves in the German fashion scene. The success of these alumni underscores the importance of programs like FASHION X CRAFT for the creative and sustainable transformation of the fashion industry.