Mark your calendars for a sartorial spectacle in Berlin as Fashion Week gears up for its summer edition from July 1-4, 2024. The thrust of this year’s event will be the BFW Concept Competition, envisioned by Berlin’s Senate Department for Economics, Energy, and Public Enterprises in collaboration with Fashion Council Germany. They’re on the hunt for fresh presentation formats and event concepts with a major tilt towards nurturing German design innovators who are pushing boundaries with sustainable, inclusive, and creative propositions. Rewarding excellence, the competition offers up to €25,000 in prize money.
Esteeming the quality craftsmanship, creativity, and talent, Berlin Fashion Week’s February 2024 edition solidified its global calendar slot while emphasizing its transformational journey and the international cachet of its fashion showcases. Building on this success, July’s entrants are encouraged to contribute to the growth of Berlin’s and Germany’s fashion scenes, retail, and local designers through the BFW Concept Competition.
Open for submissions the competition unfolds across two main categories:
STUDIO2RETAIL
Aiming to bridge the gap between designers and the end consumer, this segment seeks variety and accessibility. It encourages out-of-the-box B2C concepts from Berlin’s fashion labels and retail to centre German fashion while integrating themes like eco-consciousness, innovation, and diversity into the heart of consumer-facing events. The most innovative entries stand to win €5,000. Moreover, thanks to the Berliner Sparkasse’s continued support, a sixth award of €5,000 ensures even more creative ventures get spotlighted this summer.
BERLIN CONTEMPORARY
The pivot of Berlin Fashion Week is its distinguished collections and designer showcases. In this category, captivating, sustainable, and novel show concepts are celebrated, with the jury evaluating past designs, future collections, and their global commercial viability. Both established and emerging talents are welcome to vie for the laurels. Plus, in an act of solidarity, two Ukrainian labels will receive special recognition, continuing the support shown in previous seasons.
The application phase wraps up on April 1, 2024, and those keen on entering can find further particulars at: fashionweek.berlin/en/berlin-contemporary.html
An expert jury will deliberate and unveil the winners by early May 2024, setting the stage for a dazzling showcase of German and Ukrainian design prowess.
