As Berlin Fashion Week embraces its innovative new format, RAUM, we find ourselves captivated by one of our favourite moments yet: the ethereal live couture performance by Ritual Unions on February 2, 2026. Curated by Fashion Council Germany, this latest showing in its second season delves deep into contemporary rituals, celebrating freedom, presence, and the powerful essence of community that Berlin embodies.
Follow: @ritualunions
Designer: @karinbrettmeister
Photography: Anissa Calvo / @ani.photographs
@berlinfashionwe
@fashioncouncilgermany
At the heart of this enchanting performance was a lavishly designed dinner table installation, a stunning collaboration with Flores y Amores. A nude male performer perched atop the table, crafting an eye-catching tableau reminiscent of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, yet interpreted through a modern lens. This striking image teetered between decadence and absurdity, inviting reflection on tradition, ritual, and the spectacle of contemporary culture, highlighting who we see and celebrate within our ever-evolving narrative.
Ritual Unions unveiled their latest collection, a testament to their signature language of post-bridal couture. Expect structured silhouettes intertwined with visible corsetry, sculptural draping, and tactile embellishments that blend ceremonial elegance with a touch of subversive modern flair. Each exquisite look strikes a balance between restraint and exposure, echoing the performance’s core theme: clothing as armour, offering both protection and purposeful revelation of the body.
A poignant excerpt from the live audio concept beautifully framed the atmosphere:
“I dress for alignment, not approval.
For truth, not consistency.
For the self I am today.”
Far transcending the mere spectacle of fashion, this performance redefined couture as a living ritual, an act of gathering, witnessing, and collective experience. The backdrop of Berlin, a city where misfits create their own altars and communities thrive outside convention, weaves seamlessly into Ritual Unions’ vision. Their garments inhabit the space between ceremony and rebellion, capturing the very spirit of this vibrant city.
Collaboration was key, with an exceptional set design by Flores y Amores and striking sculptural jewellery by Gina Melosi enhancing the performance’s ceremonial tension. The makeup and hair, executed by a multidisciplinary Berlin team, further underscored the show’s devotion to community and collective authorship.
As Ritual Unions boldly redefines couture beyond traditional bridal expectations, they continue to formulate a visual language rooted in contemporary ritual, the freedom of identity, and trailblazing craftsmanship. This FW26 performance marks another exhilarating chapter in the brand’s evolution, transforming fashion into an experience that resonates beyond mere aesthetics. We can’t wait to see what they’ll conjure next!
Video by @divn.creative and @dohrenkim
Set Design by Flores y Amores
@floresyamores
Jewelry by Gina Melosi @ginamelosi
Make Up & Hair by
Natalie Paulikat @nataliepaulikat
Viktoria Turok @viktoria_turokmua
Sinem Kaya @sinemkaya_brautstyling
Marta Malachinski @marta.mlh
Lucas Oster @lucas_ksn_o
Hanna Scharmann-Klein @hskhairm
Models
Edoardo Maraia @ledoradoo
Hanna Woldt @hanna.woldt @houseofwalk
Thom Karstens @thomkars
Daniel Klare @danielklare.official
Klaudia Zimnol @klaude.z
Jazz Ameinah @vagabond.jazz via UNS @wirsinduns
Melina Geishirt @melina.age via @seedsmanagement
Melika Niyazi @xthemelikax via @schatz.models
Anna Hug @hug_anna
Kana Tsutsui @kana_tiala_pink
Soraya Marzouk @ladysizzle
Argelis Sobil @argelissobil via @schatz.models
Eva Ariane Heise @eva.ariane
Performance Artist
Stefano Martiradonna @8skind
Support
@dianatuhcic @josi.pdm.247 @annashirin03
