From September 5th to 10th, the Berlin Fashion Week is drawing the fashion circus to the German capital for the 23rd time.

The fashion week focuses on topics such as sustainability, innovation and the influence of subcultures.

Anna Wender

Editor in the department "Society & Style"

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The Berlin fashion week no longer consists only of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (MBFW), which has been strengthening Germany as a fashion location since 2007.

This year, more than 120 shows, numerous panel talks and new formats invite you to discover the future of the fashion industry - and to get an overview in advance.

The biggest catwalk in town

As a constant, the MBFW opens the fashion week in the "Telegraphenamt".

Until Wednesday, the hotel will house the city's largest catwalk and, in addition to the collections of six designers, will also host two panel talks on the stage in the heart of Berlin.

The "Creators Night" on Monday will be accompanied by the presentation of the sustainable Mercedes-Benz Capsule Collection "ACC01".

In keeping with the organiser, it was created - in cooperation with the Berlin artist and creative studio Acte TM - from recycled materials from the automotive industry.

On Tuesday, the Ukrainian designer Kristina Bobkova will open the catwalk and – as in March – recall how present the war is in Europe.

It will then be seen whether Kilian Kerner's models will again wear a sign for peace.

The Berlin-based designer presents his new spring-summer 2023 collection under the title "Icons".

The German newcomer designer Laura Gerte will conclude the show, before Wednesday will most likely continue in its usual opulent manner with the Berliner Frida Weyer and her label Malūne.

The guest appearance of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week ends with the Austrian ready-to-wear label Rebekka Ruétz and the Berlin label LML Studio.

The Berlin Salon as the centerpiece

Like the MBFW, the Berlin Salon has been one of the most popular formats of the fashion week for years.

The group exhibition curated by Christiane Arp has been the heart of the platform since 2014.

This year, 30 local and national designers will present their designs.

They will be supplemented for the first time by an alumni installation: 24 fashion designers who have already taken part in the Berlin Salon in the past are also part of the exhibition.

Also new this year: The Fashion Open Studio makes its debut as “Estethica” after an eight-year break, thereby challenging the status quo.

With a support program for Ukrainian designers, the format also shows the ongoing sympathy and solidarity with the country.

Estethica focuses on sustainability, diversity and inclusion in the fashion industry - a perfect complement to the fourth edition of "202030 - The Berlin Fashion Summit".

The sustainability conference invites you to the Colosseum Theater from September 5th to 7th and explores the question of how people and planet depend on each other and how fashion can build bridges between the individual spheres.

Also present: Orsola de Castro, co-founder of "Fashion Revolution".

Young designers present drafts

Neo.Fashion proves for the sixth time that young people play a role that should not be underestimated for the future of the fashion industry.

As the largest platform for young designers, around 80 graduates from German universities will present their designs in the Reinbeckhallen.

In addition to the shows, there will also be a showroom for young talents and labels for the first time.

The latter brands and designers, especially those based in Berlin, will once again be supported with the "Studio2Retail" concept, organized by the Fashion Council Germany.

They lure end consumers into their shops with studio visits, pop-up stores and special offers.

Here, too, the focus is on fashion, innovation and sustainability.

A few weeks ago, people in Frankfurt complained that there were simply too many involved, but in the capital, people believe that the large number of different formats is a clear advantage.

Instead of squeezing the creative industry into one format, an attempt is being made to give both designers and organizers their own space – the coming days will show how this will succeed and whether one will not also lose track of everything on offer in Berlin.