BERLIN FASHION WEEK: Spring Summer 2023 Bold and Bright Tidings From Hip and Happening Berlin!
Berlin’s Gritty and Eclectic Urban Landscape was Mirrored in the Innovative and Forward-Looking Genius of their Designer Collections.
Image Credit Berlin Fashion Week on Instagram
©Theresa Kaindl
Image Credit Berlin Fashion Week, Berlin Fashion Week on Facebook and Instagram, featured Designers & their Respective Facebook Pages, Kaltblut Magazine, Pause Magazine, Fashion Street Berlin and Kraftwerk Berlin.
Bi-annually the city of Berlin, an urban sprawl as known for its eclectic assortment of architecture, inspired street food and out-of-this-world clubbing scene as it is for its extraordinary set of creatives – played host to its own fashion week. For a week in September the city reverberated with shows, exhibitions, talks, trade fairs and award ceremonies. It’s a week that highlights everything Berlin’s world famous for, it’s a fabulous showcase for all things aesthetically inspired and this time around it has yet again exceeded all expectations.
The event draws local stalwarts as well as international designers, buyers, trade visitors, media and other fashion experts who flog to the city to be part of this anticipated frenzy of fashion in all its guises. And of course Berlin Fashion Week comes with its own iconic bevy of uber fashion conscious, dressed-to-impress fashionistas strutting their stuff on the gritty pavements – which was much more than a side(walk) show!
Legendary designers – from Danny Reinke, Marcel Ostertag, Rebekka Ruetz and Marc Cain to Killian Kerner, Marcell von Berlin and Laura Gerte – rubbed shoulders with the next generation of design graduate students from umpteen German fashion schools and academies. In parallel Der Berliner Modesalon presented a whopping 30 designers, various manufacturers and 24 alumni in a group exhibition.
There was also a platform for Ukrainian designers to participate as well as a few brands from Ethiopia were showcased as part of the NEO Fashion initiative. All-in-all the collections were as wonderfully eclectic and diverse as the stunning setting of the urban fabric of the city of Berlin.
As for trends, what started in Scandinavia with bold and bright colours, a sprinkling of pastels, plenty shimmer & sparkle and a thrust for non-gender design, certainly continued on the continent. Sky blue, tangerine, shocking pink and lavender were omnipresent hues, joyfully heralding in Spring 2023.
But let’s turn our attention to the real McCoy … fast forward a couple of seasons and this is what you may be wearing come Spring Summer 2023 if Berlin has any say in the matter! Here’s a hand-picked sneak peek as to what was on offer from the Berlin stables.
Image Credit Killian Kerner’s official website
Image Credit Berlin Fashion Week on Facebook
Image Credit Berlin Fashion Week
Image Credit Facebook ©Shauna Summers and ©Sebastian Reuter/Getty for Nowadays | ©Fashion Revolution for Estethica
BACKSTAGE and HAIR & BEAUTY
Mac was the official make-up partner and as ever, plenty backstage magicians worked their magic to complement the collections to perfection.
Image Credit Berlin Fashion Week on Instagram, Staged by @nowadaysberlin, Photos by @shaunasummers_
Image Credit Berlin Fashion Week on Instagram, Staged by @nowadaysberlin, Photos by @shaunasummers_
Backstage at Rebekka Ruetz
Image Credit Berlin Fashion Week on Instagram, Staged by @nowadaysberlin, Photos by @shaunasummers_
Backstage at Killian Kerner
Image Credit Berlin Fashion Week on Instagram
@bobkova_official ✨Staged by @nowadaysberlin, Photos by @shaunasummers_
DANNY REINKE
Stalwart local designer Danny Reinke presented a timeless collection featuring the colours of the season – a symphony of sky blue with pops of tangerine, white and the odd black accent. Gothic-like corseted dresses, ruffled tulle skirts, the obligatory sprinkling of sequin and sparkle, pastel pinstriped jackets, Spring-like hats complete with flowers, and other romantic details on many of the ensembles made for a collection that wowed with zingy Spring inspiration. Feminine, botanical and soft at the edges, this was definitely a standout collection at Berlin Fashion Week.
For more on Danny Reinke, see https://www.dannyreinke.com/
Image Credit Fashion Street Berlin
Blower-bouquet hats – at Danny Reinke
Image Credit Fashion Street Berlin
Ruffled skirts and corseted jackets – at Danny Reinke
Image Credit Fashion Street Berlin
Pinstriped sky-blue pieces with ruffled sleeves – at Danny Reinke
Image Credit Fashion Street Berlin
A tangerine floor-sweeping gown – at Danny Reinke
Image Credit Fashion Street Berlin
Lacy and romantic – at Danny Reinke
Image Credit Fashion Street Berlin
Gothic-inspired and gritty – at Danny Reinke
KILLIAN KERNER
In a tribute to all style icons – contemporary and historic, the wonderfully talented Killian Kerner paid homage to those who personally inspire him, those who adore fashion and overtly display their own style – the likes of iconic style goddesses and models Kate Moss and Heidi Klum, musicians Harry Styles and Justin Bieber, and tennis stalwart Serena Williams.
For more on Killian Kerner, see https://www.kilian-kerner.de/
Watch Killian Kerner’s Show here:
Image Credit Kaltblut Magazine
Fishnet lace for a contemporary 50s look – at Killian Kerner
Image Credit Kaltblut Magazine
A bold and unapologetic fashion statement – at Killian Kerner
Image Credit Kaltblut Magazine
Romantic lavender for a diva – at Killian Kerner
Image Credit Kaltblut Magazine
Combat wear in strawberry milkshake pink – at Killian Kerner
Image Credit Kraftwerk Berlin on Instagram
A trench with benefits! – At Killian Kerner
Image Credit Kaltblut Magazine
Distressed double denim – at Killian Kerner
Image Credit Kaltblut Magazine
A distressed corduroy jacket shows plenty midriff – at Killian Kerner
Image Credit Kaltblut Magazine
A bold silhouette – at Killian Kerner
Image Credit Berlin Fashion Week on Instagram, Staged by @nowadaysberlin, Photos by @gettyimages
A transparent silver gauzy gown – at Kilian Kerner
Image Credit Kaltblut Magazin
Be bold and flaunt your assets with confidence! At Killian Kerner
Image Credit Berlin Fashion Week on Instagram, Staged by @nowadaysberlin
A standout collection by Killian Kerner
MARCELL VON BERLIN
A brand known and adored for their sharp tailoring, stunning leather bags & shoes and unmistakably distinctive silhouettes, Marcell von Berlin wowed with a tangerine suit complete with marabou feathers at Berlin Fashion Week. We love this collection for its tongue-in-cheek take on classic cowboy-style! For more of their exceptional pieces, see https://marcellvonberlin.com/en/.
Image Credit Pause Magazine, Photo credit @Marcell Von Berlin
Gaucho-inspired trousers – at Marcel von Berlin
Image Credit Pause Magazine, Photo credit @Marcell Von Berlin
Cowboy-style boots Marcel von Berlin
Image Credit Pause Magazine, Photo credit @Marcell Von Berlin
Cowboy-style meets biker-style in this ensemble – at Marcell von Berlin
REBEKKA RUETZ
A proponent of slow fashion, Rebekka Ruetz’s characteristically graphic pieces, like the fabulous rose printed gown in this SS 2023 collection and the strikingly tactile lace surface designs in some of the other pieces, are printed and manufactured within Europe, to keep their carbon footprint as low as possible. This brand is celebrated for using high quality fabric and believes in timeless design to create pieces with longevity.
For more of Rebekka Ruetz’ collection, see https://www.rebekkaruetz.com/
See Rebekka Ruetz’ show here:
Image Credit Rebekka Ruetz on Facebook
A transparent lacy dress with rainbow belt detail – at Rebekka Ruetz
Image Credit Rebekka Ruetz on Facebook
A stunning rose-printed gown – at Rebekka Ruetz
Image Credit Berlin Fashion Week on Facebook, ©Sebastian Reuter/Getty for Nowaday
Regal lace, ribbons and gold – at Rebekka Ruetz
Image Credit Berlin Fashion Week on Instagram, ©Annika Yanura , ©Sebastian Reuter, ©Michael Wittig, ©1000 Staffords
Sky blue and black – at Rebekka Ruetz
LML STUDIO
A celebration of the ‘beauty of togetherness and diversity as well as the happiness of free love and life’! LML Studio artful pieces do just that, it’s a non-binary brand that focuses on the beauty of inclusive fashion. We adore the painterly techniques on many of the pieces!
Image Credit Berlin Fashion Week on Instagram, Staged by @nowadaysberlin, Photos by @gettyimages
Pastel shades – at LML Studio
Image Credit Berlin Fashion Week on Instagram, Staged by @nowadaysberlin, Photos by @gettyimages
Gritty and painterly – at LML Studio
Image Credit Berlin Fashion Week on Instagram, Staged by @nowadaysberlin, Picture by @Shaunasummers_
Clothes that are also works of art! At LML Studio
LAURA GERTE
Laura Gerte is a freelance fashion designer based in Berlin who creates – in the designer’s own words – ‘transformative’ garments.
Image Credit Berln Fashion Week on Instagram, Staged by @nowadaysberlin, Photos by @gettyimages
Fun and contemporary – at Laura Gerte
Image Credit Laura Gerte on Instagram, @chynilora999 shot by @frederikruegger
Cutouts and contemporary details – at Laura Gerte
Image Credit Berlin Fashion Week on Instagram, Staged by @nowadaysberlin, Photos by @gettyimages
Colourful patchwork – backstage at Laura Gerte
SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE
Many nations have reached out to Ukraine and various fashion weeks have extended a helping hand to their counterparts in war-torn Ukraine, an Berlin Fashion Week has been no exception. Last season they featured Ukrainian designer Jean Gritsfeldt, and this season the fabulous minimalist brand Bobkova was given the opportunity to showcase their collection.
Image Credit Berlin Fashion Week on Facebook ©Sebastian Reuter/Getty Images for Nowadays
Ukranian brand Bobkova was featured at Berlin Fashion Week in a show of support
YOUNG FASHION INITIATIVES
In their NEO FASHION initiative, Berlin Fashion Week featured students and graduate students’ work from a number of participating German design schools: AMD, Burg Giebichenstein Kunsthochschule Halle, Lette Verein Berlin, Hochschule Niederrhein, HAW Hamburg & Fachhochschule Bielefeld, Hochschule Pforzheim, Hochschule Reutlingen, HTW Berlin, Hochschule Hannover. As ever, the work was innovative, avant-garde, experimental, thought-provoking and forward-thinking.
Image Credit Berlin Fashion Week on Facebook
Textured and tactile, with thought-provoking overtones – at NEO Fashion
Image Credit Berlin Fashion Week on Facebook
Textured and organic – at NEO Fashion
Image Credit Berlin Fashion Week on Facebook
New-Romantic and contemporary – at NEO Fashion
Image Credit Berlin Fashion Week on Facebook
The colour of the season! At NEO Fashion
Image Credit Berlin Fashion Week on Facebook
Marbled and crocheted – at NEO Fashion
ETHIOPIAN DESIGNERS
Ethiopian designers Betselot Zwege, Bakalu Sindew, Meti Gaye, Gebayil Assegid, Mahider Belay were also given a platform as part of the NEO Fashion initiative. The unmistakable earthy colours of the African continent dominated in these collections!
Image Credit Berlin Fashion Week on Facebook
Cotton and cheesecloth in orange ochre – at NEO Fashion
Image Credit Berlin Fashion Week on Facebook
Fire-y accents – at NEO Fashion
Image Credit Berlin Fashion Week on Facebook
As blue as the African sky! At NEO Fashion
Image Credit Berlin Fashion Week on Facebook
A stunning lace dress – at NEO Fashion
Image Credit Berlin Fashion Week on Instagram
©Shauna Summers and ©Sebastian Reuter/Getty for Nowadays | ©Fashion Revolution for Estethica
Shocking pink – backstage at Killian Kerner
Bis zum nächsten Mal, Tschüss von Berlin!
