When I was at the Berliner Mode Salon during the Fashion Week, I was speechless, how many young German designers work sustainable without shouting it from the rooftops. In discussions with Tim Labenda, Malaika Raiss and some other Berlin designers, I learned that fair production methods and respect for the environment are self-evident to them. Just as obvious, they do not have the eco-label attached to their fantastic high-fashion collections. For whatever reason: “Eco” and “sustainable” are positively occupied in the minds of the broad masses. But when it comes to fashion, many consumers still have the much described – yawn, I can barely hear and not believe – jute looks in mind…
Sustainable High Fashion needs a lot of spotlight
Accordingly, great I find the mentoring program for sustainable Berlin designers, which the Fashion Council Germany, together with the Berlin Senate Administration and Messe Frankfurt, has created. The kick-off took place in April 2017. A total of 21 Berlin designers have applied to the 6-month mentoring program, which includes targeted coachings and workshops as well as participation at the Greenshowroom in July 2017.
Fashion Council Germany Mentoring Program – the finalists in the portrait
Benu Berlin x Fashion Council Germany Mentoring Program
Karen Jessen studied Fashion at the Esmod Berlin. In 2012, she founded her label Benu Berlin and since then has created portable artworks from upcycling products and overproductions thanks to her very special processing techniques and special fabric processing. Her Credo: Make love not fashion. The production location of her unmistakable high-end collections: the Benu Ranch in Berlin. You can find more information about Benu Berlin here
Farrah Floyd x Fashion Council Germany Mentoring Program
Designer Bojana Draca has founded her label Farrah Floyd 2014 during her Sustainability Master studies at the Esmod Berlin. Her approach: instead of failing at the difficulties that the work with sustainable fashion entails, she wants to grow precisely. Bojana Draca does not create her designs in seasons, works with innovative and certified materials and produces in Europe. She follows the zero-waste approach. And who is actually Farrah Floyd? The designer has devised – but with certain character traits. Because Farrah Floyd stands for strong women who are not afraid of change. Find out more about Farrah Floyd here
Maqu x Fashion Council Germany Mentoring Program
Inspired by her grandmother in Lima, the designer Marisa Fuentes Prado, who was born in Peru, studied fashion design and became part of the design team of her fashion idol Henrik Vibskov in Copenhagen. In 2015, Berlin she launched her first collection of innovative materials and sustainable manufacturing methods. In 2016, she founded the Maqu Green Project (Maqu is her family’s nickname) and has worked for her timeless avantgarde fashion exclusively with companies and suppliers who are known to her to ensure her high standards of quality and sustainability. You can find more information about Maqu here
Philomena Zanetti x Fashion Council Germany Mentoring Program
The high-fashion label Philomena Zanetti, or designer Julia Leifert, will be known by regular fashion week visitors, but the Berlin-based woman has been showing her wonderfully clean high-fashion collections during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week for several seasons at the stage in the me Collector’s Room. The devoted vegan is working exclusively with natural fibers and produces in Europe. Directly to Philomena Zanetti click here. All information is available (yes, I’ve been a fan for a long time!) In my detailed label portrait
Schmidttakahashi x Fashion Council Germany Mentoring Program
Since 2010, the Berlin label has produced new favorite pieces with backround from discarded clothing. Thus Eugenie Schmidt and Mariko Takahashi not only reduce the enormous old clothes mountains a bit. The two Weißensee graduates also make sure that clothes are valued more highly, that old clothes can polish up their bad image. For this, Schmidttakahashi even designed their own clothing containers, which are used for collecting. The collected / donated clothes are registered, thoroughly cleaned, disassembled, reassembled into an great unique pieces, and are provided with an ID or a QR code, which ensures that the cloth is no longer lost of sight. Online, the former owner can tell the story of the garment. The new owner can comment. The big goal is reached when the Schmidttakahashi creations are released at the end of their life cycle with the two again and can be breathed new life again … More infos here
