Berlin Fashion Week kicks off: international flair and local heroes
Berlin Fashion Week kicks off this Friday (30 January) against a backdrop of sub-zero temperatures. Over the next four days_ the city will host a vibrant blend of established German mainstays_ emerging local talent_ and international names—including London_s own Lueder and Uganda-based Buzigahill.
The schedule starts strong on Friday with heavyweights such as Marc Cain_ Ester Perbandt_ and Danny Reinke. They share the opening-day spotlight with high-potential labels like Colors and Clara Colette Miramon. Meanwhile_ Peruvian designer Marisa Fuentes Prado will debut the latest collection from her sustainable label_ Maqu Lab_ for an audience of local insiders and international delegates.
The guest list_ curated by the Fashion Council Germany_ features several notable figures from the UK and US retail scenes like Stavros Karelis_ founder of London_s influential concept store Machine-A_ David Smedley_ head of buying at Chicago-based menswear specialist Svrn and Marcus Söderlind_ CEO of Stockholm_s Nitty Gritty.
Alongside these retail leaders_ the front rows will be packed with content creators and editors from global titles including Vogue_ Pause Magazine_ and Perfect Magazine.
Beyond the local buzz_ Berlin's appeal this season is bolstered by a curated lineup of international heavyweights. A major highlight is John Lawrence Sullivan; the Japanese label_ revered for its sharp_ subversive take on traditional tailoring_ will showcase as part of "Intervention." This guest showcase is orchestrated by Berlin-based PR powerhouse Reference Studios—the same agency that previously imported names like David Koma and Mowalola to the German capital. This year_s "Intervention" roster is equally ambitious_ featuring Kenneth Ize and Dagger alongside the highly anticipated return of Berlin_s own GmbH.
The schedule further blurs the lines between runway and culture with a TED Talk lecture series and the tongue-in-cheek "Doofer Street Market Berlin." This pop-up_ a playful nod to the iconic Dover Street Market_ offers a curated fusion of high fashion and underground music culture. Meanwhile_ the city_s homegrown "new guard" – including SF1OG_ Richert Beil_ and Haderlump –continues to prove that Berlin is more than just a creative hub; it_s a commercial contender. These brands have already caught the eye of top-tier international buyers_ with Machine-A_s Stavros Karelis previously noting their rising global potential.
“The Berlin Fashion Week has become one of the most promising platforms worldwide for emerging design_ fashion_ and cultural experiences_ and I am very excited to see how the Berlin-based designers have developed since the last season_ which new concepts they are presenting_ the context of their work_ and what matters most to them_” Karelis said on his way to Berlin for the current edition of Fashion Week. “It_s mainly about discovery_ dialogue_ and the emotions they evoke in each of us_ to create a connection with their work. There are many designers from Berlin on my favorites list_ and I am very much looking forward to seeing their collections in the coming days.”
In total_ Berlin Fashion Week will host approximately 40 presentations_ concluding its winter run on February 2_ 2027.