Order fairs, end-user formats, fabric fairs – the German fashion fair landscape is much better positioned than the eternally negative portrayal that haunts the German media and is multiplied by disappointed fashion brands. Because current events are repeatedly compared with “pre-pandemic” editions. Even if the number of fashion fairs in Berlin has been minimized to the maximum over the last few years (only Seek remains), Germany has a lot of correspondingly appealing formats to offer. My comment refers to selected events – for current reasons including a content-related excursion to Denmark. Sorted by the time of the event.
Fashion fairs in summer 2024
VIEW Premium Selection // 26 and 27 June 2024, Stachus Munich
The VIEW Premium Selection is the exclusive preview concept of the textile trade fair Munich Fabric Start. Over two days of the trade fair, it offers the industry a concentrated framework to view the latest color and material trends as well as innovations at an early stage and to exchange ideas with the key suppliers. Due to the European Championships, the upcoming third edition has a new date and with it a new (exciting!) location. On June 26 and 27, the Preview Textile Show will be a pop-up with international fabric trends in the middle of the city. In the former Galeria Kaufhof at Stachus.
All information >>>
202030 The Berlin Fashion Summit // 2 and 3 July 2024, Bikini Berlin
After the pop-up is before the conference. The Berlin talk and community format hosted the pop-up edition Culture & Communication in January at Berlin’s Kronprinzenpalais, which included discussions about cultural change and inclusivity, the influence of fashion storytelling and Berlin’s local fashion scene. The eighth edition will again feature a two-day program in July as part of Berlin Fashion Week. Under the motto RE/GENERATE IMPACT, the Berlin conference brings together thought leaders and players from the fields of fashion and sustainability.
The complete program, all speakers and the registration link can be found here >>>
With the 202030 Summit we cover a wide range of topics (…). Only if we change our culture of consumption, work and life, we can bring sustainability from theory into practice and thus into life. – Magdalena Schaffrin, studio MM04
GREENSTYLE is proud media partner of the 202030 The Berlin Fashion Summit.
Seek // 2 and 3 July 2024, Station Berlin
In January, the order fair Seek celebrated its premiere without its big sister Premium. And without the parallel Fashion Week. The interest on day 1 was enormous – including a promising queue at the entrance. After the initial curiosity, the buyers and press representatives, who are not so easy to motivate anyway, stayed away on day 2. Despite a great setting, relaxed atmosphere, cool party evening, exciting talk formats as part of the 202030 Summit (see above) and an attractive exhibitor portfolio in the Conscious Club. The summer edition of the fashion fair is again timed to coincide with Berlin Fashion Week. Fingers crossed that the summer Seek with its urban and sustainable themes will attract more people again at the earlier date.
All information is available here >>>
Innatex // 20 to 22 July 2024, Hofheim-Wallau
Innatex is not only the largest trade and order fair for sustainable textiles (historically with a focus on natural textiles), which also includes home textiles, fabrics and toys in its range alongside fashion and accessories. The summer edition will be fully booked (motto “BLOOM”), just like in January. One of the highlights of the 54th (!) edition in Hofheim-Wallau: the Design Discoveries. In July, five to six selected newcomers and first-time exhibitors will once again be showing their collections in the sponsored special area. Rating: always exciting. Just like the associated lounge talks – organized by Fashion Changers (Saturday) and GREENSTYLE (Sunday).
All information and application options can be found here >>>
GREENSTYLE ist proud Partner of the Innatex.
Neonyt Düsseldorf // 27 and 28 July 2024
After three Neonyt editions at the Area Böhler in Düsseldorf-Lörrick, the fourth edition of the sustainable order fair will take place in the middle of the city’s creative quarter to make the topic of sustainable fashion accessible to a wider audience. For the first time, Neonyt is also opening its doors to the public: from 3 p.m., fashion fans and interested parties can discover exciting sustainable brands in the Bilker Bunker, get to know the makers, attend talk formats or purchase selected collection pieces in the fashion fair’s B2C boutique and at the stands. Congratulations, Neonyt, for this bold and innovative approach. We (as B2C experts) are enthusiastic and excited!
All information and exhibitor registration >>>
GREENSTYLE ist proud Partner of the Neonyt Düsseldorf.
And because the trade fair landscape in Germany has become somewhat out of control after the pandemic,
- because exhibitors are no longer exhibiting at fashion fairs in such large numbers as before
- because buyers are no longer buying as they did before the pandemic, in line with the declining consumer barometer
- because fewer international buyers come to German trade fairs and prefer to buy at home
- because the current situation, which is influenced by crises, wars and all other disasters and has led to an unprecedented situation, is still measured and compared with the pre-pandemic situation, which for whatever reason is the benchmark, which leads to events being talked about as worse than they are
I am always asked by brands whether they should go to the CIFF in Copenhagen, for example. The motto is: If international buyers don’t come to Germany, then I’ll just take my collection abroad. My answer is still: No. Not necessarily. Because just because the fashion fair in Denmark’s capital works for Scandinavian brands, that doesn’t mean that German brands will be successful in Scandinavian countries. Exceptions excluded. LANIUS tried out the CIFF and there too, with its minimalist, timeless collection, appeals to Scandinavian aesthetics and thus to buyers.
Nevertheless, I would like to mention a new format in the Danish capital, which will take place for the first time in June 2024:
Mandatory CPH // 26 to 28 June 2024, Øksnehallen Copenhagen
With the June date, the new fashion fair with the confident name Mandatory CPH is, according to its own statement, meeting the industry’s desire for an early order date. Who is behind it? Trade fair professional Mads Petersen, who has worked as co-director of the Copenhagen fashion fair CIFF, among other things, and his partner Clara Leone, who brings XL expertise as the former director of the Revolver Trade Show, among other things. What is different here: Mandatory CPH is not a classic order fair, but a multi-brand showroom. Appointments are intended to create a more intimate atmosphere. Around 100 Scandinavian and international brands (men and women) will be found here. The first names: Hope, Voile Blanche, Missoni show the positioning.
Further information is available here >>>
GREENSTYLE @ Heim+Handwerk // 27 November to 1 December 2024
Last but definitely not least: our own event. At the end of November we will be holding GREENSTYLE at Heim+Handwerk for the third time. In the 500 square meter GREENSTYLE area we will be with over 20 GREENSTYLE brands for networking, exchanging ideas, using synergies and of course, reaching out to new customers with our fantastic sustainable collections. For five days we will show visitors how diverse sustainable fashion and lifestyle is and how great it can look. We are also working on new event formats together with GHM, the organizer of Heim+Handwerk. Stay tuned.
All information and registration link >>>
CONCLUSION: The organizers of the various formats have done their homework. They listened, reorganized, adapted to new needs. Now it’s time to book stands, reserve train tickets, talk about it, advertise to like-minded people. Come. Because the best events only work when the aisles and stands fill up again, the networks grow and we can spread these topics more widely. #bettertogether.
I’ll see you there!
