Fashion Industry

Berlin has developed into an important fashion location in the last 15 years. Fashion stands for zeitgeist and inspiration. Fashion marks belonging and identity, but also individuality. Fashion from Berlin is as diverse, authentic and cosmopolitan as the Berliners themselves. Fashion thrives on the exchange of creative disciplines and is a good barometer for current issues. The fashion industry is an important economic factor at the location.

Figures on the fashion industry in Berlin (Status 2021) 

• 4,800 companies are active in the fashion sector in the capital.
• The fashion industry in Berlin generated around 5 billion euros in sales.
• 25,500 employees working in the fashion industry in Berlin.

How is fashion promoted in Berlin?

The senate administration has a future project through its state initiative
has made a significant contribution to the development of the fashion industry and the fashion week at the location with grants and orders well over 20 million euros since 2007. In addition to the funding for the Berlin Fashion Week, joint presentations for the Paris Fashion Week as well as workshops and coaching services are supported in cooperation with the Fashion Council Germany.

Fashion related funding programs

• Concept competition for Berlin Fashion Week: fashion show slots for Berlin and German labels (Berlin Contemporary) and store/studio events (Studio2Retail)

• Poster campaigns (Berlin) and advertisements (national/international) as part of Berlin Fashion Week

• Berlin Showroom - joint presentations of Berlin fashion labels for Paris Fashion Week

• A digital map lists over 100 Berlin designers and fashion labels with website as well as ordering and pick-up options. The Berlin Showroom Map can be found here.

• In addition to immediate and bridging support, additional loans for Berlin fashion labels with a total volume of one million euros have been made available

Selection of suitable funding programs

• Within the scope of the Design Transfer Bonus-Programme co-operations with enterprises can be subsidised with up to 15,000 Euros
• Unbureaucratic micro loans from the Investitionsbank Berlin up to 25,000 Euros
• Coaching services of the Coaching Bonus programme
• Loan programmes such as the Berlin Kredit Innovativ programme
• Participations of the VC Fonds Kreativwirtschaft 
• Digitalprämie

Which fashion events take place in Berlin?

At Berlin Fashion Week, twice a year, creative professionals, buyers as well as media representatives meet to be inspired by current trends and to develop business contacts. The next Berlin Fashion Week will take place from July 1st to 4th, 2024. The program includes fashion shows, fashion fairs, exhibitions, fashion installations, panels and talks as well as numerous side events for trade visitors and fashion enthusiasts by hip national and international designers, new design talents, established premium fashion brands and relevant key players. During Berlin Fashion Week, the formats focus on Berlin's key themes of sustainability, cross-culture, digitalization and diversity.

Events took place at Berlin Fashion Week in February 2024 were:

Formats/platforms

• Der Berliner Salon
• newEst 
• Intervention
• W.E4Fashion day (Kilian Kerner, Rebecca Ruetz, Marcel Ostertag, Danny Reinke)

Shows/ presentations for Berlin Contemporary

• Avenir
• Bobkova 
• Dennis Chuene
• Dzhus
• GLÜCK CLOTHES
• Kitschy Couture
• Lou de Bètoly
• Lueder
• Malaika Raiss
• Marke
• Namilia
• Olivia Ballard
• PLNGNS
• RIANNA + NINA
• Richert Beil
• Sia Arnika
• SF1OG
• William Fan

Store and Pop-Up Events for Studio2retail

• Natascha von Hirschhausen x LoopLook
•  HUMAN TOUCH
• KATHARINA DUBBICK
• PLATTE
• rebirth studios 
• SBLMTN studio

You will find all fashion events in Berlin as well as news on the Berlin Fashion Week website. 

Networks and initiatives

• Fashion Hub
• Fashion Week Berlin Website
• Berlin Showroom
• Berlin Poland
• Gesamtverband der deutschen Textil- und Modeindustrie e. V.
• Fashion Council Germany
• Verein Berliner Designer
• Greenlab