A conversation full of confidence and excitement between our Chairwoman Christiane Arp and our CEO Scott Lipinski.

Christiane Arp: Although it sometimes felt otherwise, Fashion Council Germany didn’t just appear out of nowhere. It was founded on the understanding that there was already so much in Germany worth supporting, preserving, and showcasing. From the beginning, our goal was to create a new, effective ecosystem for all the incredible talent working here — something that had not existed before.

Scott Lipinski: For that, it remains crucial to frame fashion both as a cultural and an economic asset in order to shift perceptions of fashion in and from Germany.

Christiane Arp: Yes, and I keep realising how important it is not only to reach the right recipients at political and economic levels, but also to stay in dialogue with these young talents, to listen, exchange ideas, and learn from them. And even though we’ve achieved a lot in that regard, one of my ongoing wishes is for Fashion Council Germany to continue deepening and expanding these conversations.

Scott Lipinski: Building on that, continuing to strengthen our role as a connecting link between players in the fashion industry, politics, business, and media remains a key goal for me as well.

Christiane Arp: Right, you often describe Fashion Council Germany as a sort of interpreter: translating political language for the fashion industry, and vice versa, translating the language of fashion for politics.

Scott Lipinski: Though this role has proven effective in many ways, strengthening these relationships and continuing to act as a mediator remains one of our core missions — one we plan to pursue even more intensively in the coming years.

Christiane Arp: In light of these political discussions, it is very important to me that although we operate somewhat opportunistically — recognising and seizing opportunities — we also clearly define and respect the boundaries of that opportunism. From the very beginning, we have stated that any collaboration, whether with politicians or large corporations, must always align with our association’s values.

Scott Lipinski: I agree – we’ve kept that promise for the past ten years and we will continue to hold on to that.

Christiane Arp: For me, it comes down to this: Every conversation we initiate and every partnership we build should ultimately contribute to our overarching goal – providing fashion in and from Germany with a solid foundation. The next step is to go beyond making young designers visible and increasingly support them in becoming commercially successful while remaining creatively independent as well.

Scott Lipinski: We aim to do this not only to retain talent already working in Germany, but also to create opportunities that encourage more designers to settle here, help secure jobs, and expand the industry in Germany.

Christiane Arp: Equally important is demonstrating that, with Fashion Council Germany, these talents have a true partner by their side, someone who supports them and helps them stay focused. This is especially crucial now, as both the world in general and the fashion industry in particular are undergoing major transformation and facing significant challenges. We aim to help actors in Germany’s fashion industry recognise opportunities within these challenges — and seize them.

Scott Lipinski: This applies not only to emerging talent, whose support will remain both a heartfelt mission and a key responsibility of Fashion Council Germany, but also to educational initiatives. I would love to see us expand projects that raise awareness among students about sustainability and fairness, much like a number of our programmes already do.

Christiane Arp: At the same time, we aim to work closely with established industry stakeholders to develop solutions collaboratively. For this, it is essential to sustain a healthy balance within our network of members between small labels and large companies — bringing both sides together and encouraging exchanges that respect individual needs while pursuing shared objectives.

Scott Lipinski: We want everyone in Germany’s fashion industry to pull together, and we see Fashion Council Germany as a connecting platform where they can meet and exchange experiences. We will continue fostering that spirit, shifting the question from “What’s in it for me?” to “What’s in it for us?”

Christiane Arp: This, by the way, also applies to me, the other members of the Board of Directors, and our internal team structures, which we aim to strengthen and professionalize at every level. Ten years ago, we started as a young council with equally young team members, and we have seen them grow with us and beyond themselves. What helped us then was being a young and agile organisation, able to respond swiftly. My hope is that even as we continue to formalise our work, we retain that flexibility — to recognise mistakes, own them, and rectify them dynamically.

Christiane Arp: Above all, this requires self-confidence, a quality I see as fundamental and continue to nurture, both within ourselves and throughout the community we represent. When we pursue our mission with confidence and communicate our work confidently, we inspire others in the industry to view and present their work with the same healthy sense of self-assurance.

Scott Lipinski: For me, this also involves courage, the courage to stand by oneself, to face change calmly and optimistically, and to do things differently when necessary. Over the past ten years, Fashion Council Germany has repeatedly demonstrated that kind of courage — and that is exactly what we intend to carry forward into the next decade.

Scott Lipinski: They are deeply enthusiastic about our mission and give Fashion Council Germany its face. We want to continue supporting them and, at the same time, aim to attract more people who bring impressive expertise, further enhancing the Council’s credibility. And, just as importantly, who can carry out their work here with passion and joy.

Scott Lipinski: A respectful, solution-oriented approach to mistakes is also crucial to achieving this. Reflecting on the past, there have been moments when things didn’t go as planned or when we made decisions we‘d handle differently now.

This conversation is an excerpt from our 10-year Fashion Council Germany booklet, in which we reflect on a decade of shaping and advancing German fashion. Discover the full booklet and explore all the stories and highlights HERE.