2023 has been the year of leadership changes, climate movements and creative revelations, as evidenced by the many remarkable interviews FashionUnited has conducted this year. Here we have collected the most exciting interviews with managers, CEOs and founders, look at the past twelve months and also take a look into the coming year.
January
Christian Wijnants, creative director at Maison Ullens
Months before the untimely death of founder Myriam Ullens de Schooten Whettnall, the fashion house Maison Ullens announced that Belgian designer Christian Wijnants would take over the artistic direction. At the time of his appointment, FashionUnited spoke to Wijnants about working with the brand and his vision for Belgian fashion and the luxury industry.
February
Lisa Collier, former Chief Product Officer of Under Armour
Being a woman in a male-dominated environment is initially challenging. But it can also bring new opportunities, as Lisa Collier, the now former Chief Product Officer of Under Armour, shows. In her interview with FashionUnited, Collier spoke about the US sporting goods retailer’s product strategy, the use of customer data in design and the ‘casualization’ of fashion.
March
Robert Rodriguez, founder and artistic director of Kolston
Amid the ongoing transformation of the New York fashion industry, veteran designer Robert Rodriguez broke ranks this year by launching his own brand. FashionUnited caught up with the designer following his debut Fall/Winter 2023 collection at New York Fashion Week. The interview was about the current development towards smaller productions, the importance of supporting creative industries and the importance of mutual support in difficult times.
André Maeder, former CEO of the KaDeWe Group
The groundbreaking ceremony for the KaDeWe Group’s new Carsch House was held in March. The luxury department store operator’s strategic expansion and construction of the fourth department store was driven forward by the group’s then CEO, André Maeder. FashionUnited spoke to Maeder about his plans for the KaDeWe Group before it was announced in October that he was leaving the company and will become CEO of the UK Selfridges Group will be active.
May
Maximilian Schüssler, Country Sales Manager H&M Germany
First Mugler, then Rabanne – the Swedish clothing group H&M attracted attention this year with major designer collaborations. Maximilian Schüssler, Country Sales Manager for H&M in Germany and the Netherlands, explained why collaborations of this caliber are timely despite the current situation and what customers can soon look forward to in the German H&M stores.
Matthijs van der Meulen, CEO of Sneakerness
The year 2023 made it clear that the sneaker market is a central player in the entire fashion industry. Matthijs van der Meulen, co-CEO of the international sneaker trade fair Sneakerness, showed what opportunities arise for smaller brands when they become serious competition for the big players in the sneaker world.
June
Ecoalf founder Javier Goyeneche
The Spanish brand Ecoalf wants to continue its global expansion while becoming emissions-free – two goals that founder Javier Goyeneche spoke about in the FashionUnited interview.
July
Speaking of trio Klaus Ritzenhöfer, Daniel Riedo and Henning Korb
For the opening of the tenth Apropos store in Germany, FashionUnited met the trio of managing directors in Berlin. In the interview you talked about the new concept store in the historic Alhambra building on Kurfürstendamm and further expansion plans in St. Moritz.
Peter Graschi, CEO of Arena
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Italian swimwear specialist Arena unveiled its latest collaboration with Woolmark at men’s fashion trade show Pitti Uomo this summer. At the trade fair, Peter Graschi, CEO of the brand, spoke about the current state of the swimwear market and his plans for the brand.
Carolin Klar, Managing Director at Bonprix
The fashion report by the womenswear provider Bonprix, which is part of the Hamburg trading group Otto Group, showed a clear trend towards individualization. FashionUnited spoke to Bonprix managing director Carolin Klar about what this means and how this trend is changing customers’ fashion consumption.
Heiko Desens, Global Creative Director at Puma
The sportswear retailer Puma celebrated its 75th anniversary this year with a few surprises. Heiko Desens, Global Creative Director at Puma, explained what customers expected during the anniversary celebrations, what developments are currently affecting the industry and how motorsport is setting new trends.
William Pak, CEO of Esprit
In response to falling profits and declining consumer demand, US brand Esprit has made a 180-degree turn. The strategic realignment is accompanied by a comprehensive relaunch and a return to the brand’s “California Cool” heritage. Esprit managing director William Pak spoke to FashionUnited about the company’s journey so far and what to expect from the ‘new Esprit’.
August
Mathias Eckert, Managing Director at Fynch-Hatton
An anniversary was also celebrated at Fynch-Hatton: 25 years ago the brand started as a local knitter. The product portfolio has now expanded rapidly and the label no longer only offers men’s fashion, but also women’s wear, licensed products and ‘home and living’ items. Managing director Mathias Eckert explained in an interview what goals the brand has set itself and why sustainability is still at the top of the label’s agenda.
Tim Kälberer, managing director at menswear retailer Wormland
Digitalization for the sales area – this is the strategic approach pursued by the Hanoverian menswear retailer Wormland. Tim Kälberer, managing director of the brand, explains in an interview with FashionUnited what role the messenger service WhatsApp and its own marketplace play.
Paul Dillinger, sustainability expert and vice president of global design innovation for Levi’s
The 501 jeans from Levi’s are the epitome of iconic design and brand identity – the US label’s cult jeans have had the same cut for 150 years and are an absolute classic. Following the launch of the Plant-based 501, FashionUnited spoke to Paul Dillinger, the brand’s sustainability expert, about future plans to further implement sustainability in design.
September
Pierre-Arnaud Grenade, CEO of Ba&sh
Sustainability has been on everyone’s lips this year as pressure from the fashion industry to improve its environmental record grows. Although nature has not always been the focus of French fashion brand Ba&sh, CEO Pierre-Arnaud Grenade spoke at length about what is being done within the company to accelerate sustainability efforts.
October
Designer Lucas Meyer-Leclère
In the media coverage, designer Lucas Meyer-Leclère was showered with praise and called, among other things, a “child prodigy” and “Lagerfeld’s favorite”. FashionUnited spoke to the designer about the history of his label, his plans for the future and Berlin Fashion Week.
Marc Maurer, co-CEO of On
The Swiss sporting goods provider On Holding AG is relying on the current strength of the sportswear market and has set itself ambitious growth targets for the next few years: The company plans to expand into various markets such as China and the USA and wants to expand its wholesale strategy in order to attract various retail partners . Marc Maurer, co-CEO of On, emphasized the importance of establishing an efficient and effective circular economy to ensure the sustainable future of fashion.
Markus Brüning, fashion retailer Hasardeur in Münster
Markus Brüning has been running his high fashion store together with his colleague Peter Bavendiek in Münster for 38 years. “Hasardeur” is one of Germany’s leading fashion stores. The fashion retailer explains in the FashionUnited interview what is particularly important to customers these days and what effects current political and social developments have on his company.
November
Uwe Maier, owner of fashion retailer Bungalow in Stuttgart
The wars in Ukraine and Israel also influence the fashion industry. Uwe Maier, the owner of Bungalow in Stuttgart, talks about how the crises are affecting the industry and what current challenges fashion retailers are facing.
Designer Sabrina Dehoff
Jewelry designer Sabrina Dehoff is known for her statement costume jewelry, which has been seen on stars like Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Halle Berry. FashionUnited introduces the woman behind the jewelry label with five questions.
Sabine Falkenberg, owner of Concept Store Falkenberg in Munich
Shopping for fashion and furniture at the same time – that’s possible in the Munich concept store Falkenberg. The store, curated by Sabine Falkenberg and her team, offers fashion, furniture and home accessories at the same time. The owner reveals what lies behind the concept in an interview with FashionUnited.
Markus Finke, Country Manager for Germany, Austria, Switzerland (DACH) and Denmark at New Era
Although US cap supplier New Era is reporting a “record year,” the brand has no plans to slow down next year. Markus Finke, the country manager for the DACH market and Denmark, shared his plans and the brand’s current sales strategy for the German-speaking region, both aimed at continuing sales growth.
December
Sebastian Haufellner, Head of Buying at the traditional Munich retailer Lodenfrey
Sebastian Haufellner, Head of Buying at the traditional Munich retailer Lodenfrey, looked back at the past order season with FashionUnited, shared his assessments for the coming trade fair season and spoke about the balancing act between trend and tradition.
This article was created with the help of Rachel Douglass, Pia Schulz and Ole Spötter and was partially translated from English.