Fashion-political statement: Berlin Fashion Week shows strong cohesion, convinces with quality and sets a sign of solidarity with Ukraine

Berlin Fashion Week looks back on a moving week (March 14th to 20th 2022). As a stage for young national and international talents, the seven-day event sent not only a fashion message but also a political one, proving that no other German city captures the zeitgeist as authentically as Berlin.
                                       
"Berlin is the city of freedom, Berlin is the city of solidarity and we say very clearly, loud and clear: No to war "ni viyni" and the world needs to hear that, also from Berlin Fashion Week." With these forceful words, State Secretary Michael Biel, Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Industry, got straight to the point at the opening of the Fashion Week.
The focus lied on togetherness. In cooperation with the state of Berlin, the organizers developed a multifaceted program that once again enabled the German fashion metropolis to position and prove itself as the European Capital of Creative Industries. The formats were characterized by the themes of sustainability, craftsmanship, innovation, diversity and solidarity.
 
The Berlin Fashion Week program included staged physical runway shows at Kraftwerk, complemented with hybrid and digital panel talks focusing on the topics of a more sustainable future of fashion and the new understanding of luxury, but also discussing the current situation in Ukraine. There were also numerous retail installations and events across the city, which also gave consumers access to Fashion Week.
 
165 German as well as international, partly emerging, partly established designers and labels were part of Berlin Fashion Week this season and presented their collections.
"Our actions at the Fashion Council Germany are based on the code of cooperation. All projects and measures are aligned to that. Fashion knows no borders - especially not in an industry that is so internationally interlinked through its value chain. Solidarity is part of our culture and our DNA. Therefore, when we heard about the war on Ukraine, it was immediately clear that we had a bigger message to send than just fashion from Berlin. United with all event organizers and the Berlin Senate, we organized donation appeals and collection points and sent a message of compassion and stance to our Ukrainian neighbors," says Scott Lipinski, CEO Fashion Council Germany.

Many retailers donated 10% of their profits from sales to charities during the week and acted as collection points for in-kind donations.

With the end of a successful and moving Berlin Fashion Week, the Senate Department for Economy, Energy and Enterprises officially announces the date for the fall edition: September 5th to 10th 2022.

Berlin policy sets an important sign at the inauguration

The Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey inaugurated together with the Berlin State Secretary Michael Biel the Berlin Fashion Week in the Kraftwerk on the morning of March 14 and also made reference to the current events in Ukraine:  "We are today on day 18 of Putin's war on Ukraine. We are all shocked and horrified: We are in Berlin trying to help as much as we can. And we also asked ourselves whether we can let an event like this take place. And I say to them: Yes, we can – especially during these times: Because we are all here together, setting a sign of solidarity, compassion, cooperation, help and freedom."

State Secretary Michael Biel underlined the great importance of the fashion industry in Berlin: "The topic of creative industries has found a very special place. Both of us are aware of that, this Senate is very aware of that and they also always show here quite impressively how important it is that we support this industry in Berlin. You are important for this city and 4.800 companies engage with the fashion industry or are the fashion industry in Berlin. 25.500 jobs are located in this economy and 5 billion euros in sales is no small amount, you are an important part for the backbone of Berlin's economy, for Berlin's companies, and for that we thank you also very much on behalf of politics!"

Formats and additional location marketing measures for Berlin Fashion Week were funded with around 750.000 euros in partnership with the Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Operations.

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Chris Götz
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