Pilot project: The Fashion Council Germany will open its first branch “localONE” in Mannheim in June 2023. An expansion with the aim of more intensive regional networking, stronger member support and industry promotion. Further locations are planned.
As part of an FCGFIRESIDECHATS in Mannheim, the Fashion Council Germany announces the opening of its first branch office in Mannheim in June 2023. Among the guests were Christiane Arp (FCG), Christian Heinrici (textile industry), Andreas Hilgenstock (Engelhorn), Hubertus Junge (Alpha Industries), David Lehr (Breuninger), Jürgen Leute (Luisa Cerano), Dr. Peter Kurz (Mayor of Mannheim), Robert Rivera (Different Fashion), Magdalena Schaffrin (Studio MM04), Christian Sommer (Next Mannheim) and Nicoline Wöhrle (Dr. Hauschka). The “localONE” aims to enable increased activation of the federal states of Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and Hesse from Mannheim. In future, “localONE” will look after regional members, conduct political lobbying work and determine new funding opportunities Scott Lipinski, Managing Director of the FCG explains: “The Fashion Council Germany was never exclusively focused on Berlin.
We started in Berlin and that’s where our office is, but we’re going nationwide. The limited number of regional activities has encouraged us to expand a national network in order to be able to offer as many members as possible a direct contact point and also to have a stronger presence outside of Berlin. localONE is a pilot project that we want to expand to other locations if successful. localTWO, THREE, FOUR and FIVE are our goal.”
The Fashion Council Germany has found a strong local partner in NEXT Mannheim and in particular TEXTILEREI in Mannheim. A possible pop-up area in the TEXTILEREI as well as contact options to Mannheim stores and actors create additional benefits for existing and potential members. Nico Hoffmeister, head of TEXTILEREI and future localONE manager, emphasizes: “We are delighted that the Fashion Council Germany in Mannheim is opening its first regional office with our support. The FCG has achieved a great deal since it was founded in 2015 and has established itself as the leading interest group for fashion in and from Germany. They unite young start-ups with established companies like no other organization in Germany. With localONE, both our local designers and the creative minds of the entire German fashion industry are given the opportunity to be represented at a new location.”
The Lord Mayor of Mannheim, Dr. Peter Kurz is pleased about this development: “For the city of Mannheim, the cooperation with the Fashion Council Germany offers the possibility of supra-regional networking and enables us to establish a strong bond with the German fashion industry with the help of TEXTILEREI and NEXT Mannheim. Mannheim is an exceptional location where the cultural and creative industries have had a real home with cultural and economic importance for a long time. With the Fashion Council Germany, we have now gained a strong new partner who will increase our visibility.”
Further FCG local offices are being planned and should be accessible to all regional members throughout Germany in the future. For the time being, the FCG would like to define the structure, offers and initiatives with the Mannheim pilot project. The Berlin office continues to function as the head office and remains the central point of contact for the FCG.