The Berlin fashion week has experienced a clear upswing. In addition to international toning labels such as GmbH or Ottolinger, there were also aspiring talents such as the brand or Milk of Lime last week. The Berlin Fashion Week owes its image change not least to promote the German capital in recent years. It is all the more interesting to find out how it could go on.
In the interview, Michael Biel, State Secretary in the Berlin Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Companies, talks about the previous funding and its future.
What is the current promotion of the Berlin fashion week per year and season?
Michael Biel: The Berlin Fashion Week is a central part of our economic and location strategy. We currently provide around 2 million euros per season, i.e. 4 million euros a year.
This funding has existed since the season of autumn/winter 2023. How long will it continue at this height and what will a continuation, reduction or increase in funding depend on?
Fashion Week has established itself as a success model – economically relevant, internationally respected, culturally effective. In our view, the continuation at this level is absolutely useful. We are clearly committed to stimulating the funding, because the response to the new profile of the Fashion Week speaks a clear language and pays strongly in Berlin as an innovation and creative location.
Is it foreseeable that the current funding amount will be maintained at the upcoming Berlin budget?
Our goal is clear: promote what works. The realignment of the BFW has had an effect – for trade visitors: inside, in the international press and among the designers: Inside ourselves. We are therefore emphasized to secure this funding in the next household. Fashion is an innovation engine for Berlin – and that must remain financially noticeable.
It would also be interesting to learn more about how the funding is awarded and distributed.
We do not promote the watering can, but consciously rely on clear criteria and targeted effects. The focus is on the talents that implement their collections in Germany and especially in Berlin – for example in the concept competition Berlin Contemporary, which we organize together with the Fashion Council Germany.
How are the prices at Berlin Contemporary awarded? What else is being encouraged?
An international jury selects young, forward-looking labels, each with 25,000 euros- financed from state and EU funds. This season, too, 18 talents can realize their collections as part of the BFW. In addition, there is the targeted promotion of curated formats such as the Berlin Salon or the Intervention by Reference Studios. This creates a reliable, professional funding ecosystem that makes talent visible – and further strengthens Berlin’s position as a fashion location.
Does the Senate rely on the fact that private companies, sponsor: inside like Ebay or the labels, support the financing of the fashion week?
We expressly welcome it when economic dynamics develop around the Berlin Fashion Week – that is also part of our approach: to strengthen the fashion industry not only as a cultural form of expression, but as a real economic engine for Berlin. In many international fashion cities, it goes without saying that large brands, platforms or media houses also support the Fashion Weeks financially – we observe this in Berlin with openness and look forward to appropriate partnerships.
How do you see in view of the increased interest of private sponsor: inside the future development of the fashion week?
It is important to us that the Berlin Fashion Week continues to develop organically – with a clear content of the content: creativity, quality, attitude and relevance are the focus. If strong private partners: want to go this way inside, this is a profit. Because it is also clear: In the long term, joint commitment – from public actors: inside, the fashion industry itself and private investor: inside – to continue positioning Berlin as an internationally visible, future -oriented fashion metropolis.
This interview was conducted in writing.