As part of a delegation trip supported by the Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises for the internationalization project Fashion Forward Network (FFN) , the Fashion Council Germany hosted its second international Fireside Dinner in New York City. The event took place at Loft29, the photography studio of Udo Spreitzenbarth and the location of Chef Simon's German speakeasy dinner concept. Selected figures from the fashion and tech scenes, as well as relevant representatives from the press and politics , including Berlin's State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Michael Biel, came together for an inspiring evening.

The Fireside Dinner offered participants the opportunity to network with industry experts and gain valuable insights into the US market. Discussions focused on the challenges and difficulties of entering the US market, as well as the diverse opportunities offered by potential network partners of the FFN Internationalization Project. The positive international development of Berlin Fashion Week was also discussed.

Fashion Council Germany CEO Scott Lipinski and Chairwoman Christiane Arp, together with Berlin's State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Michael Biel, opened the evening. Scott Lipinski explained: " With the Fashion Forward Network, we have launched an initiative to build and strengthen German-American partnerships in the fashion industry. We appreciate the openness and support of our US network partners and are delighted by the great interest in Berlin as a location ." Christiane Arp added: " Berlin is known for techno, its club culture, theater, art, and increasingly for its creative, diverse, and sustainable fashion community. We want to focus the New York and international perspective on what we see: talent and great potential. "

Berlin's State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Michael Biel, emphasized : " The fashion industry is an important and growing part of Berlin's creative economy. We are proud of the young talents who are developing their own unique vision of inclusive, sustainable, and innovative fashion in Berlin. They are ambassadors of a new generation of fashion creators. We want to make this visible internationally and are experiencing great interest here in New York ."

The highlight of the evening was the exclusive menu by renowned German chef Simon . With his "German speakeasy dinner" approach, he has been representing a reinterpretation of German cuisine in New York City for several years. Guests included designer Melitta Baumeister, winner of the 2023 CFDA/VOGUE Fashion Fund; Marcel Ostwald, Senior Vice President of Michael Kors; Teen Vogue Managing Editor Alyssa Hardy; Teneshia Carr, Editor-in-Chief of Blanc Magazine; Lucie Brigham of the United Nations Office for Partnerships; and fashion editor and stylist Jenny Capitain.

Entrepreneurs from AVENIR, DR. BAUM , and IMPARI participated in the delegation trip for the second time . New additions included HADERLUMP, Kasia Kucharska , Natascha von Hirschhausen, PLATTE Berlin, RICHERT BEIL, ReFramed, SANE Standard, SF1OG, and SOCIÉTÉ ANGELIQUE . During the trip, participants also have the opportunity to meet representatives from leading US industry organizations such as Highsnobiety, the CFDA, and the renowned Parsons School of Design. This networking with showrooms, PR agencies, retailers, press contacts, and other key influencers provides a solid foundation for their planned entry into the US market.

Fashion Forward Network is a project of the Fashion Council Germany and the innovation platform Sqetch. The initiative is supported by a state program financed by ERDF funds and funds from the state of Berlin.