DOES BERLIN ASPIRE TO PLAYAMAJORROLE IN THE INDUSTRY?

Berlin is not London, Milan or Paris. It has none of the big traditional maisons that manage countless shops and stage myriad shows around the world. Rather, this city located at the centre of Europe is a creative melting pot for designers and artists with different ideas and techniques. They act locally and establish a name for themselves internationally, because fashion-industry decision makers come to Berlin from all over the world to discover something new and to be surprised. At a time when the existing fashion system is continuously being called into question, a place with these qualities is more important than ever.

The Berlin mindset is not just about having the latest bag or shoe, but engaging in a far more profound experience of fashion. Indeed, the city stands out thanks to its increasingly sustainable approaches to apparel. Where was a garment made? How and with what was it produced, and by whom? Younger customers in particular are seeking answers to these questions with ever-greater insistence, and needless to say our designers have been coming up with answers for some time.

For example, Rianna + Nina make fresh, colourful creations out of recycled fabrics and clothes, successfully collaborating with stores like Bergdorf Goodman in New York and Joyce in Hong Kong. Working Title, meanwhile, is a label that conceives fashion without using plastics and according to high ecological and social standards, resulting in designs that are long-lasting rather than short-lived. In 2015 we launched Fashion Council Germany to help such talents develop their labels within a system that would allow them to work effectively in and from Germany.We want to be their mouthpiece and change the mood of fashion in our country. And of course, everyone is welcome.