JOANNE Watkinson
COPENHAGEN IS STREETS AHEAD ON FASHION FRONT
Copenhagen Fashion Week was always the underdog, in the shadow of the big four: London, Milan, New York and Paris.
Despite that, it’s got something very special about it. People want to be seen to be a part of their scene, so much so that this season they hosted not just Nordic but international designers such as UK-based Christopher Raeburn.
Each fashion week has its own tribe, and although many of the same fashion editors attend all of the cities, it’s the street style looks that define it.
Paris, Milan and New York are glossy and refined, London has always been known for being more avant garde, so where does the Danish capital fit in?
Describing Copenhagen Fashion Week as cool doesn’t quite cut it. It’s also a massively overused word (guilty as charged) and its definition is subjective, so I’m going to try and paint a picture that better describes it.
It’s innovative – modern streetwear trends seen here soon become mainstream.
Copenhagen is futurefacing, the event organisers’ approach to sustainability is way ahead of the rest. In 2021, organisers issued a memorandum detailing their intent to reduce waste, and brands showing at the event were expected to comply.
They lead by example. For their spring 2023 event, Copenhagen Fashion Week banned the use of fur, and teamed up with Ukraine to shine a light on its designers “to uplift a fellow fashion organisation in times of war” .
Scandi fashion has been having “a moment” for the past decade, with many trends spawned from both the runway and the street style in Copenhagen.
In 2019, the term #GanniGirls was coined by Danish brand Ganni and every influencer worth her salt made sure to be a part of it. There are currently 91,000 posts containing the hashtag.
The Ganni Girl is playful, fun and unpredictable.
This season, while the Ganni Girl hasn’t gone, the street style aesthetic looks new and fresh.
Cutesy is being phased out, tailoring is a big deal, two pieces with waistcoats or jackets, and parachute pants (aka light weight, wide cargo pants) are back. I can see it all becoming a massive trend.
Copenhagen might be the underdog, but of course, everybody loves the underdog.