The trade fair season offers inspiration in many ways. What’s hot right now, how is the industry doing and which brands want to expand in Europe? As always, there was plenty of inspiration at the Danish fashion fairs CIFF and Revolver and a few brands particularly stood out.
Maria Elena Villamil
One of the designs by Colombian brand Maria Elena Villamil can already be seen at the opening of CIFF on Wednesday morning. The green strapless dress stands out with its architecture-inspired shape. This source of inspiration reflects the design language of the luxury brand. The label has existed for 35 years and is active in Latin America and the United States – but is not yet represented in Europe. Maria Elena Villamil has several lines, from ready-to-wear to evening dresses, all characterized by the architectural style and asymmetry that are her trademark.
Participation in CIFF is a first foray into the European market by the Colombian brand. The brand’s webshop already ships worldwide, with prices ranging from $267 for a blouse to $1027 for a bustier evening dress.
Nu-In
Nu-In is a relatively new brand compared to Maria Elena Villamil. The Irish label was founded in 2019 by a group of friends who discovered shortcomings in their own wardrobes. The brand focuses on fashionable and wearable basics at an affordable price. Nu-In says it’s a mix of Scandinavian minimalism and Berlin street style. The brand has both a women’s and men’s collection and also offers production for other companies.
Nu-In also focuses on reusing unsold inventory and reducing waste. Customers can return used items to the brand, which will then be recycled. The entire SS24 collection is also made from recycled materials. Retail prices range from 34 euros for a crop top to 84 euros for a zip-up sweatshirt and 179 euros for a long quilted jacket.
toron
Men’s fashion is increasingly moving in the direction of soft and flowing shapes. The Toron brand is perfect for this. “Toron is a men’s label that celebrates the joy of being fabulous to dress,” reads the brand’s description. Behind Toron is the Dane Jasper Toron, who has worked for major fashion houses such as Burberry, Givenchy, Tom Ford and Brioni, among others. He has been working full-time on his own label for a year. His penchant for prints is clearly evident in this collection.
The brand is in the luxury price segment.
La Femme Rousse
La Femme Rousse is also new on the market. The brand was founded just before the pandemic but didn’t launch on a larger scale until 2021. She recycles old textiles into new clothes. We also work with leftovers from the factory in Portugal where the collection is produced.
At the CIFF, the brand is presenting a women’s collection with an exciting twist. Among other things, she shows a long black coat with a checked pattern. The fabric can be found in the various details of the jacket. The retail price for this item is 660 euros with a retail margin of 2.5. Other items, like trousers, cost around 335 euros.
Global Funk
The Danish brand Global Funk is not quite so new. Since 2003, she has made it her mission to take a fresh approach to denim classics. While the brand’s love of denim is still strong, Global Funk is now focusing more on functional outerwear and on-trend everyday wear. With a strong focus on workwear and coolness, the brand fits perfectly into different European markets it wants to conquer.
The brand’s margin is 2.7 and prices range from 80 euros for a pair of trousers, 140 euros for a jumpsuit and 160 euros for a jacket.
This article was similarly published on FashionUnited.nl. Translation and editing: Barbara Russ