Berlin Fashion Week
January 19, 2015
British designer Charlotte Ronson inaugurated the Berlin Fashion Week on Monday (January 19). Her models were wearing dresses imprinted with daisies, tiny tops and comfortable sandals – obviously a summer collection. All other pieces which will be presented during the Fashion Week will be part of winter collections.
Renowned designers such as Guido Maria Kretschmer, Lena Hoschek, Kilian Kerner, Kaviar Gauche, Anja Gockel and Dorothee Schumacher are expected to make their appearance during the Fashion Week, running until January 22. According to official figures, more than 12 trade fairs and 100 shows presenting 3,000 brands will be held throughout the city, which expects up to 200,000 visitors.
And of course the celebrities are expected - among them model Bar Refaeli, Hollywood star Katie Holmes and British actress Liz Hurley. Model Eva Padberg was sitting in the first row during the opening show.
Fashion Week, considered the top event of Germany's fashion scene, has taken place twice a year since 2007. Last summer, it was forced to move into a skating rink in the Berlin district of Wedding in order to make space for events surrounding the soccer world cup. But now the catwalk has moved back to Berlin's most prestigious site once again: the Brandenburg Gate.
Bread & Butter canceled
The fashion fair Bread & Butter, which took place at the same time as the Berlin Fashion Week for years, has filed for bankruptcy. This time, it will only take place on a much limited scope as a "guerrilla trade show." The Berlin-based designer Michael Michalsky has also canceled his famous "StyleNite Show." Last year he donated the money that he would have needed to invest into the show to Doctors Without Borders, offering assistance during the Ebola crisis in West Africa. Also the Lala Berlin label will be noticeably absent this time.
The Berlin Fashion Salon
A new presentation platform entitled "The Berlin Fashion Salon" will be established during Fashion Week with 18 designers presenting their latest looks in a group exhibition on January 20. The objective of the new salon is to present the creative potential of German fashion designs to a wider audience and to strengthen the role of Berlin as a German fashion center.
Berlin's Economic minister Cornelia Yzer has stressed that Fashion Week plays an important role in the economy of Berlin, which is now home to Europe's largest fashion trade fair center. Visitors to Fashion Week will bring in an estimated 120 million euros ($140 million). Most of the events are catered to experts and professionals, but there will also be parties (of course) and workshops for all.
az/ag/ad (dpa/Fashion Week Berlin)