Berlin's Fashion Draw

The ESMOD International Fashion School in Berlin felt hectic as students put the final touches on their clothes. The theme of the student show was "Rubble Women," and each student had created an outfit in two weeks.

The show conjures up the era of Trümmerfrauen, the so-called rubble women who cleaned away the debris from the streets of bombed German cities at the end of World War II.

Every detail of the long, blue overcoat was important to 21-year-old Noa. It would be modeled by her classmate Eva.

"Eva is perfect for my outfit. It is exactly her style and goes well with her blue eyes--they're the same color as my jacket," Noa said.

The jacket felt cool, retro and tough, said Eva, enthusiastic about her modeling responsibilities.

"I love clothes that you can put on and really feel like you have superpowers," Noa said.

An international flair

Noa left Tel Aviv and her native Israel five months ago to study at ESMOD in Berlin. The fashion school was founded 165 years ago in Paris. Now, there are schools in various countries and a worldwide network where students experience the international field of fashion design.

Fashion has always been one of Noa's most important hobbies. In Israel, most people didn't understand her personal style. Black is her favorite color and she has nose and mouth piercings.

"I came to Berlin just to study fashion design, because fashion is so free here. You can wear what you want. There are so many different styles, it is truly eclectic;" she said. "And I believe there is a lot of inspiration in this environment."

Noa is one of 30 first-year fashion students at ESMOD in Berlin. Many of her classmates have also come from other countries to complete the three year program.

Fashion students need to have a very international focus, said Carla Steinborn, a teacher at the Berlin school. To be innovative, designers must understand what cutting techniques and material treatments are being used so that they can truly innovate, Steinborn said.

"When one wants to be successful today, one should think globally and also know what's in demand in Japan," she said.

Dreaming big

Yong, from China, hopes to use the international contacts he makes at ESMOD to launch his own design career. Yong skillfully pushed the fabric under the needle of the sewing machine, while discussing his future plans.

"My big dream would be to make couture. I would love to start my own label in China. There, I have more opportunities," he said. "We were poor, but now there are people who are actually very wealthy and could really afford such things."

Asade, an Iranian, wants to be trained in fashion, but does not want to return to her home country. In Iran, it's less likely that her fashion work will bring her attention.

"We have fewer opportunities because fashion is not an issue on television or on the street. Everything is secret and takes place in private circles," Asade said.

She's enjoying the new fashion freedom, and likes to combine things that at first glance seem odd: frayed jeans with glittery tops and head scarves. But on the Berlin streets, her eclectic style fits right in.