THEto geography of fashion system it is built on four essential pillars: the capital from the fashion. In recent years, however, another European city is aiming for a leading role on the world fashion stage. With the edition 2026in fact, the Copenhagen Fashion Week officially inaugurates the celebrations for his twentieth birthday.
In two decades, the so-called style Scandi (but not only) has therefore gone beyond the borders of small Denmark, establishing itself as a global phenomenon. The ambitious project to give the city of Copenhagen an event on a par with Milan and Paris was not immediately welcomed with support and enthusiasm, but instead with reticence and even some internal fighting. In 2026, in any case, Copenhagen Fashion Week can boast a history and character with few equals.
Global growth
«What started as a very local, almost isolated fashion week, has become an international platform. The fashion shows were often held in the same locations (for ten years at the city hall, ed.), in a very intimate, almost artisanal atmosphere. There were no influencers, no casting directors and very few international guests. Most of the people in attendance were part of the local fashion community, or were friends and family who helped with everything from sewing the clothes to building the sets. That sense of proximity And collaboration it’s something that CPHFW has managed to preserve, despite its evolution. There is still a strong sense of commonality And generosity. Copenhagen remains more human, relaxed and playful”, say Rikke Baumgarten and Helle Hestehave of Baum und Pferdgartenone of the symbolic brands of the Danish event.
The final moment of the Baum und Pferdgarten Autumn-Winter 2026/27 fashion show (Photo: Spotlight Launchmetrics)
Copenhagen Fashion Week 2026, green poster
If on the one hand the success of brands such as GANNI, OpéraSPORT, Saks Potts And Holzweiler gave shape to the aesthetic dimension of the appointment, the CPHFW it was modeled according to a precise will. The support of brands young And independentin fact, went hand in hand with theenvironmental commitmentculminating in the introduction in 2023 of precise standard And requirements to be able to participate in the event. «Introduce i Sustainability Requirements it seemed like a necessary decision, given our role in the sector. Although it was not a difficult decision in itself, we embarked on this journey with great ambitions, without knowing how the brands would receive it, nor whether they would be willing to do the work necessary to comply with the required standards”, he explains Cecilie ThorsmarkCEO of CPHFW since 2018.
“We hope that other fashion weeks will also develop their own strategies in line with the idea that they can play an important role in ensuring more ethical and responsible practices within our industry,” continues Thorsmark. “There sustainability it is often perceived as a limit, while for us it is a motor. It forces you to think differently, to question habits, to make more conscious choices. This type of reflection can actually open up new creative avenues”, say the two designers from Baum und Pferdgarten.
Independent spirit
Since its inception, Copenhagen Fashion Week has had among its objectives the support and the promotion Of brands local. By remaining outside the logic of the large luxury groups and always placing the emphasis on creativity and originality, the Danish Fashion Week has played a concrete role in the success and evolution of brands that have since become very well known.
«One of the biggest challenges for brands independent today is finding the right balance between integrity creative And reality commercial. Costs are rising everywhere, from materials to manufacturing to logistics. At the same time, consumers are becoming more price conscious, which puts pressure on small businesses. The fashion landscape is more crowded than ever. New brands are constantly emerging, and standing out from the noise requires not only a strong point of view, but also visibility, storytelling and long-term consistency. For an independent brand to do all this with limited resources is challenging, but it’s also what makes independence inspiring and meaningful,” conclude Baumgarten and Hestehave.
The Holzweiler Autumn-Winter 2026/27 show, returned for the occasion to show in Copenhagen (Photo: James Cochrane/Courtesy of Press Office)
Scandinavian courage
Gestuz Autumn-Winter 2026/27 (Photo: James Cochrane/Courtesy of Press Office)
In short, in recent years, Copenhagen Fashion Week has stood out for its courage and the iron one will to do it your own way. From attention to environmental sustainability to commitment to casting inclusive and voted for diversity (now a rarity on other catwalks), the Danish event travels at great speed on a road laid out with a clear and identifying vision. Called to imagine the next twenty years of CPHFW, CEO Cecilie Thorsmark does not hesitate to highlight the issue that is closest to her heart. «We hope to create more alliances in industry through ours partnerships on the requirements of sustainability. Our method, in fact, can help educate and push brands to accelerate their efforts towards a lower environmental impact. This way, you can have a greater effect on international markets,” says Thorsmark.
The next twenty years have just begun.
