The best interviews from 2021

The year 2021 was marked by many ups and downs. The pandemic continued to be an influential element. But apart from Corona, a lot has happened in the fashion industry. FashionUnited has compiled the best interviews from this year for you.

For several months now, companies around the world have been struggling with problems in their supply chains. The reason for this was failures in China and in the other production markets at the beginning of last year. FashionUnited spoke to supply chain expert Peter Rinnebach. He explains where the bottlenecks are and what fashion companies can do to optimize their supply chains.

Designers: inside and the corona crisis

This year, too, the labels clearly felt the effects of the corona pandemic. Here you can read about the challenges the designers had to contend with and the wishes they had for the future.

After the fashion shows were still held digitally last winter, the Fashion Weeks for SS22 returned as usual. The young label Fassbender showed for the first time at the fashion week in the German capital. In an interview with FashionUnited, the founder spoke about the show, the pandemic and Berlin as a fashion location.

The lingerie label Fishbelly also returned to the capital after a long absence. Designer Jutta Teschner explains what made her return and why sensual lingerie has not had its day, even in times of lockdowns.

Work in fashion – behind the scenes

Sebastian Dahlmans, Head of Design at Viktor & Rolf, told FashionUnited what young fashion designers who want to be successful in the industry need to bring with them. Monica Titton, Senior Scientist at the Fashion Institute of Applied Arts, reported in an interview about studying fashion design at the Vienna University of Applied Arts.

Developments in the sports market

The company Diadora, which belongs to Geox, has developed into an international player in sports, lifestyle and safety shoes since it was founded in 1948. In an interview, company chairman Enrico Moretti Polegato spoke about competition in the highly competitive sports market.

FashionUnited also spoke to Michael Staib, Creative Director of Fila Europe, about the realignment of the sportswear label and met the founding couple of the Dutch brand PAL Sporting Goods.

Women in management

In August, the Second Management Positions Act came into force, which aims to ensure more gender equality in German companies. FashionUnited continued the series of interviews “Women in Management Positions” this year and spoke to women who had already worked on the boards of leading companies before the legal basis.

So this year buyers went into the order seasons

The order seasons are also still marked by the consequences of the pandemic. The buyers move between uncertainty and confidence. In an interview, they explain which fashion trends and must-haves are hip at the moment and what new brands need to be successful.

Streetwear on the rise

The Berlin print and online magazine Highsnobiety has outgrown itself despite the pandemic. The latest success: a pop-up store at Zurich Airport. FashionUnited attended the opening event of the new location and spoke to Highsnobiety founder David Fischer and Max Berger, Chief Commercial Officer at Highsnobiety, about the future plans of the streetwear magazine.

The Berlin streetwear online retailer Defshop also had a strong year despite Corona and even achieved a plus compared to the time before the pandemic. In the interview, Managing Director Franco Lucà spoke about trends, newcomers and plans for the future.