From July 1st to 4th, Berlin Fashion Week once again presented itself as a powerhouse of talent. Nearly 28,500 guests experienced a rich program of 35 shows and numerous large and small events, creating euphoric fashion moments throughout the city. Under the motto "The responsible movement of freedom, inclusion, and creativity," BFW proved once again over four days that, with its exceptionally creative protagonists and collections, it has secured a firm place on the map of global fashion capitals.

Amidst the antique columns of stately buildings, pools with plastic palm trees, neon lights in abandoned department stores, and brutalist subway tunnels, Berlin once again revealed its most diverse side. The collections, too, defied stylistic categorization and, despite the rain, captivated international fashion professionals, content creators, buyers, and journalists.

" Berlin Fashion Week was once again a magnificent event for the fashion world, which we could feel and see in many places throughout the city. The fantastic presentations in 35 shows and numerous accompanying events demonstrated what Berlin Fashion Week stands for: incredibly creative talents who bring freedom, diversity, and sustainability to life by creating inspiring and iconic fashion designs. More than 28,000 guests and the growing international attention confirm our course. We will continue to focus on courageous emerging fashion talent and maintain our efforts to closely intertwine creativity and sustainability. Fashion is a craft – bringing this aspect even more into focus is very important to me for the further development of Berlin as a fashion metropolis. We want the most creative minds and the most talented hands to showcase their skills at Berlin Fashion Week in the future ." – Franziska Giffey, Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises

THE SHOWS

The heart of Berlin Fashion Week was formed by the shows and presentations of the Berlin Contemporary winners, as well as the staging of the Intervention format, which, after a successful premiere in February, was presented for the second time by the communications agency

Reference Studios, under the direction of Mumi Haiati, initiated the program. Funded by the Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises, the formats have developed into internationally renowned platforms for new and established talent, taking place at various locations throughout Berlin.

The Berlin Fashion Week and the Intervention Showcase at the Tempodrom kicked off with a show by knitwear icon Claudia Skoda . The Berlin underground designer, who has been successful since the seventies and also dressed David Bowie, presented impressive wool ensembles, layered dresses, and glittering lurex sweaters in front of a projected retrospective collage of images.

Back in February, Berlin Contemporary winner Marie LUEDER presented her collection as part of the Intervention Showcase, exploring the boundaries between form and material in her fashion. This season, she showcased layered looks consisting of boxy shirts, mesh dresses, metal shirts, and gradient trousers paired with knee-high socks and Puma Speedcats.

After Benjamin Alexander Huseby and Serhat Işık had previously showcased the fashion of their label GmbH in Paris, they celebrated their Berlin Fashion Week debut with "Resistance Through Rituals" and presented a strong collection of tailored hooded jackets, ultra-short shorts, polos and asymmetrical dresses with an Olympic touch.

Shayne Oliver closed the Intervention program with his Anonymous Club Runway show at the packed Tempodrom. The internationally acclaimed artist performed in Berlin for the second time, captivating an ultra-fashionable, young, international, and influential audience – both offline and online. UGG presented the official Intervention after-party.

Also on Monday, Mitya Hontarenko showcased his PLNGNS collection on the terrace of the brutalist Lobe Block. The Ukrainian designer impressed with consistently sustainable streetwear looks made from recycled sneakers and used his platform to draw attention to serious issues such as climate change and war.

Julia Ballardt and Nico Verhaegen of Milk of Lime presented the elaborately handcrafted pieces of their collection “Current” at Silent Green, a former crematorium in Wedding. In cooperation with NEWEST, Mario Keine chose the Kulturforum as an impressive location for his brand MARKE , showcasing looks inspired by rural shooting festivals. True to the label's DNA , RIANNA + NINA flew in dancers from Athens who performed their meticulously detailed folkloric creations at the Greek Embassy.

For her label Avenir 's "Commute" collection, Sophie Claussen designed urban-inspired upcycled looks, which she authentically presented on cobblestones in front of the public at Potsdamer Platz. Another highlight was the Haderlump show, which presented "AERO" in the historic Hangar 6 of Tempelhof Airport – a tribute to the innovative spirit of the aviation pioneers of the early 20th century. Jale Richert and Michele Beil staged a "swimwear show" for Richert Beil , featuring tailored swimwear for all body types, remaining true to their mission of bringing more inclusivity to the fashion world.

Sia Arnika chose a vacant storefront in Wedding for the presentation of her progressive fashion, playing with stylistic contrasts and deconstruction. The grand finale of the second day took place in the stately colonnade of the Altes Museum, where Otto Drögsler and Jörg Ehrlich, the duo behind ODEEH , presented their latest collection. The Berlin Contemporary winners showcased highly eclectic designs again this season, all united by one thing: exceptional craftsmanship.

The show kicked off on Wednesday with the Ukrainian label DZHUS at the atmospheric Kabbalah Centre, followed by Berlin Contemporary newcomer Anna Heinrichs, who, typical of her label Horror Vacui , presented extremely elaborate creations, all of which were a touching homage to traditional craftsmanship. After her spectacular BFW premiere in February, Abarna Kugathasan of Kitschy Couture celebrated a bride, newly married to herself, enjoying her honeymoon at the Stadtbad Neukölln, showcasing lingerie-inspired creations adorned with silk flowers and dolphin accessories. Rosa Marga Dahl and Jacob Langemeyer of SF1OG drew inspiration from the vibrancy of marketplaces, presenting handcrafted designs to live rock music, referencing items such as aprons, kitchen linens, and shopping bags.

Alan Balletshofer showcased his craftsmanship at the Martin Gropius Bau with classic bespoke fashion incorporating sportswear influences. Young designer Clara Colette Miramon made her runway debut with “Nesting,” a collection exploring the dynamic between feminine strength and vulnerability. To conclude the third day, Emilia Pfohl and Nan Li celebrated their Namilia collection, “Good Girl Gone Bad,” together with the cult label Ed Hardy and nearly 600 guests in their signature large, wild, and vibrant party of pop culture and provocation.

As in previous seasons, the NEWEST showcase format, supported by the Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises, ensured a smooth running of many shows in the various locations and, through the collaboration with Museum&Location, gave visitors an exciting journey through Berlin's impressive architecture, history and cultural diversity.

Other highlights of the show program included brands like Marc Cain , who invited their guests to the New Palace in Potsdam, and the Collective Four designers: Kilian Kerner, Marcel Ostertag, Danny Reinke, and Rebekka Ruétz, who generated media attention and an enthusiastic audience around the Uber Eats Music Hall, as well as established names in the industry such as Dawid Tomaszewski, Anja Gockel , and Ewa Herzog . On Thursday, the ABOUT YOU Fashion Circus covered the streetwear portion of Fashion Week with shows from brands like adidas, HUGO, LSCN by LASCANA, Levi's®, Nike, PUMA, and Reebok, attracting around 1,300 guests to the city, including musicians and content creators. The final show day of the official calendar was designed by Maximilian Gedra (The Ballery), Maria Chany (Manifesto am Potsdamer Platz), Faam Studio (Haubentaucher) and Marlon Ferry (NEST3), who rounded off the program with their creative collections.

The emerging talent showcase Neo.Fashion. took place in the Atrium Tower at Potsdamer Platz. In addition to graduate shows from 11 universities, the program included a panel discussion on digital fashion followed by an exhibition of virtual works by approximately 50 digital artists, as well as collective shows by young German designers and talents from Ukrainian Fashion Week. The highlight was the 'Best Graduates Show,' during which the Neo.Fashion. Awards were presented. Best Design: Marvin Mülleck, Weißensee Academy of Art Berlin; Best Craftsmanship: Marie-Louise Müller, Macromedia Berlin; Best Sustainability Concept: Nadine Aurin-Liew, HTW Berlin; Best Innovation: Christian Nemnich, Pforzheim University.

THE EVENTS

The Berlin Salon was held for the first time in the impressive halls of the Bode Museum. Amidst art history and marble statues, visitors could discover the creations of the 44 participants from the fields of fashion, interior design, and beauty. This summer also saw the inclusion, for the first time, of the looks by the seven finalists of the FCG/VOGUE Fashion Fund , who were presented at a reception in the James Simon Gallery on Monday. Kasia Kucharska, Lou de Bètoly, LUEDER, Namilia, Richert Beil, SF1OG, and Sia Arnika are all in the running for the prize, which is endowed with a total of €100,000 in financial and in-kind contributions. It will be awarded on September 23, 2024, in Berlin. The global initiative, announced during the last BFW in February and held in Germany for the first time, aims to support young, emerging talents and help them achieve visibility and economic success.

Sustainability was given ample space and visibility during Berlin Fashion Week. The eighth edition of 202030 – The Berlin Fashion Summit took place on July 2nd and 3rd at BIKINI Berlin. Under the motto RE/GENERATE IMPACT, the event offered lectures, panel discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities that explored relevant aspects of sustainability in fashion. METAMORPHOSIS – Dialogues about Change premiered at the summit. This format, initiated by the Fashion Council Germany in partnership with Vogue Business and supported by eBay, brought together a total of 30 experts at the CUPRA City Garage from July 2nd to 4th. The discussions focused on the topic of circularity and examined necessary changes in the industry from the perspectives of design, technology and innovation, as well as community.

Two days of SEEK and four days of THE JUNCTION : At the Station Berlin venue, brands from the streetwear, sportswear, heritagewear, denim, sneakers, and footwear segments showcased their products to connect as a community, conduct business with international buyers, and shape the industry of tomorrow. 41% of the exhibiting brands joined the CONSCIOUS CLUB this season, demonstrating their commitment to positive change in the fashion industry.

Various showrooms such as Berlin Contemporary at Château Royal, REFERENCE FORUM: NEW WAVE and the Melangence Showroom showed a strong development towards spaces that focus on the economic dimension of fashion.

The events organized by the STUDIO2RETAIL initiative brought Fashion Week to the streets, stores, and galleries of Berlin. Highlights included the events that received awards in the competition funded by the Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises. For example, under the title "The Lissome Presents: Slow Style Chronicle," The Lissome founder Dörte de Jesus and her team brought their own sustainable brand guide to life and organized a panel discussion on "Conscious Making." Lou de Bètoly transformed a Neukölln gallery into a pop-up shop, where, in addition to looks and accessories from her own collection, visitors could also purchase drawings and artworks curated by her. The multidisciplinary and social design project PEOPLE invited visitors to discover the collective's zero-waste designs. Black in Fashion presented five German brands with African roots and their founders at a store event. Under the motto "NextGen," Platte.Berlin focused on supporting emerging talent: Berlin fashion design graduates were invited to apply beforehand, and their designs were sold during the BFW (Berlin Fashion Week) alongside music, an open bar, a tattoo studio, and a Tooth Gem Bar. Effenberger Couture won the special prize from Berliner Sparkasse and opened a pop-up store with a club atmosphere during the BFW. W1P Studios, MAJÈRE, Luise Zücker , and OBS & Maximilian Semlinger also organized creative events. Reference Studios, in collaboration with the Italian brand CP Company, hosted an installation including a workshop, as well as a week-long pop-up shop for the label GmbH, and UGG presented the official Intervention After-Party. Overall, a young, fashion-conscious, and diverse audience gathered at the BFW activities, making the unique vibe visible and palpable throughout Berlin.

The organizers of Berlin Fashion Week would like to thank the partner brands for their support!

CUPRA: For providing shuttles that comfortably transported our hospitality guests through the city.

1664 Blanc: For the unique beer that enriched the atmosphere of numerous events during Berlin Fashion Week.

Don Julio: For the exquisite Paloma cocktails and the fun!

The next Berlin Fashion Weeks will take place from January 31st to February 3rd, 2025 and from July 14th to July 17th, 2025.

All images from Berlin Fashion Week are available for download in the official Media Hub .