Berlin Fashion Week has always been a melting pot of innovation and inspiration, and this season, Vanessa Baernthol has truly outdone herself with her Spring/Summer 2026 collection, aptly titled ‘VENEER’. Known for her architectural finesse and unwavering commitment to sustainable fashion, Baernthol’s latest offering dissects and reinterprets the art of layering, marrying functionality with bold artistic expression.
Set against the striking backdrop of Schlachter 151, an art venue steeped in creative energy, the presentation felt like a moment suspended in time. Here, architecture met fluid motion, silence mingled with sound, and the themes of permanence and transformation resonated in every corner of the space.
@berlinfashionwe
@fashioncouncilgermany
Words by Marcel Schlutt and Nico Sutor
Photos by Marcus Hartelt for #BFW
Building on the conceptual framework laid out in her astonishing FW25 runway debut collection, ‘REBUILT’, Baernthol’s ‘VENEER’ transcends mere fashion display. This collection moves away from the traditional runway, embracing a performative, site-specific immersive presentation that envelops the audience in a sensory experience. As guests entered Schlachter 151, they were greeted by models poised in elegantly choreographed stillness, their presence a silent yet powerful testament to Baernthol’s vision.
As the soundscape unfurled, it directed the models into a dance of subtle yet instinctive movements, enveloping the audience in an atmosphere of shifting presence. Each poised figure became a character in a larger narrative where movement, pose, and expression hinged on a commanding voice, a powerful reminder of how language shapes our perception of form. Here, failure, function, and pace were redefined, echoing through the unity of the models’ synchronised walks.
In a stunning duality, the performance unfolded not only in real-time but was also projected onto a screen through a film piece chronicling the descent of figures on the grand staircase of the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin Unter den Linden. The architectural splendour of the Staatsbibliothek, with its neoclassical façade and rich ornamentation, played a pivotal role as a symbol of power, education, and cultural heritage. As the models descended the staircase, they mirrored the very principles of symmetry and clarity that define neoclassicism, creating an experience that was as immersive as it was introspective.
With ‘VENEER’, Vanessa Baernthol has not only showcased a collection but has also invited us into a dialogue about the essence of fashion as an evolving art form. In a world hungry for meaningful design, this collection stands as a beacon of innovation and sustainability, reflecting Baernthol’s innate ability to blend the profound with the poetic.
CREATIVE DIRECTION @VANESSABAERNTHOL
CREATIVE PRODUCTION @STELLA.RASCHKE
MOVEMENT DIRECTION, SCREEN FILM DIRECTION AND SOUND @GLORIAREGOTZ
SCREEN FILM @EDGARS_SCHER
RUNWAY PHOTOGRAPHER @MARCUSHARTELT @TOBIAS_KRUSE
HEAD OF MAKEUP @LIV_GATE
HEAD OF HAIR @ALINE.JAKOBY
METAL ARTIFACTS, SCENT DESIGN @MEAN_GODDESS
SET DESIGN @M4LICNA
CASTING @JOYLIVIA
GUEST MANAGEMENT, PRODUCTION ASSISTANCE @VICTORIADEPTA
GRAPHICS @PHILIPPBULK
MODELS
@VAGABOND.JAZZ @WIRSINDUNS
@FINJALOECHTERMANN
@A.RP_ @MAJIN_MGMT
@IVY.VEGAS @MAJIN_MGMT
@RUILIN_D @MAJIN_MGMT
PHOTO TEAM
@LAURINIETTA @JONAS.L.MERTENS
MAKEUP TEAM
@KRISTIN_HAIRANDMAKEUP_ @BIGOUDI_AGENCY @NOMORETAUPE @NATSUMUA
HAIR TEAM
@LAURASOPHIELANGER @BIGOUDI_AGENCY
@ROCKYVILLA.HAIR
CASTING ASSISTANT
@BOBKOTOSHA
DRESSERS AND BACKSTAGE ASSISTANTS
@SOPHIABOGNER @TIM.RM_
ENDLESS GRATITUDE TO EVERYONE INVOLVED IN BRINGING THIS VISION TO LIFE.
HUGE THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS
@FABRICHOUSE_COM
@CHARLOTTETILBURY VIA @STYLEHEADS_DE
@ORIBE @ORIBEPRO @CHRISTIAN_EBNER_ORIBE
SPECIAL THANKS
@SCHLACHTER_151 & ANNA
@STABIBERLIN
@AMANOEASTSIDE
@NIKIPAULS
