Marke

ABOUT THE COLLECTION

Titled “The Summer I Never Had”, MARKE’s new collection explores the experience of queer coming-of-age, connection, and dating in past eras. The collection is inspired by a range of books that designer Mario Keine has recently engaged with, including Maurice by E.M. Forster, Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski, and Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart. All of these works deal with queer coming-of-age stories set in different times and places — Edwardian England (Maurice), 1980s Poland under an authoritarian regime (Swimming in the Dark), and the working-class environment of 1990s Glasgow (Young Mungo) — all time periods in which queerness was rejected by society and had to exist in secrecy. The collection centers around these hidden moments of first love, concealed and pushed to the margins of society: secret notes and tokens of affection, clandestine meetings in nature, or even just the imagined version of those moments that were never allowed to happen. MARKE presents a subdued color palette, accentuated by floral and checkered jacquard patterns. The garments are crafted from lightweight wools and virgin wools with silk blends, soft cottons, and cotton-viscose mixes. The silhouettes are summery and play extensively with volume. The ongoing play with historical references remains a strong element in the collection, contrasted by sporty elements and materials such as jersey.

All images are available at the official Berlin Fashion Week MEDIA HUB.

ABOUT THE BRAND

MARKE, founded by designer Mario Keine, delves into the human spirit as a dynamic and evolving construct. The collections create space for exploring diverse aesthetics, embracing hybridity, fluidity, and eclecticism. Drawing inspiration from art, culture, historical eras, folklore, and future possibilities, MARKE’s designs weave together past and present, celebrating the multiplicity of human expression and the interplay of different worlds and times.