Fashion from four continents - these brands will show at Berlin Fashion Week

"Purpose and creativity": expert jurys select winners of the BERLIN CONTEMPORARY and STUDIO2RETAIL concept competitions

150 applications, 18 experts-and a unanimous decision. This season, the expert juries of the two concept competitions BERLIN CONTEMPORARY and STUDIO2RETAIL have once again jointly selected a diverse lineup: a total of 19 labels from four continents will present runway shows during upcoming Berlin Fashion Week from July 2 to 5, 2026, supported by the Berlin Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises. In addition, six outstanding concepts for studio events have been awarded, designed to engage not only international industry professionals but also the wider public.

"I've been a jury member for a while now, and it's good to see how much the quality and diversity of submitted concepts have grown steadily", says Herbert Hofmann (Highsnobiety), who once again served on the BERLIN CONTEMPORARY jury this season. Fellow juror Susanna Lau (Susie Bubbles) adds: "The final selection reflects Berlin Fashion Week's ability to nurture emerging talent with innovative presentations as well as its reputation as a showcase hub for designers from the global South."

Accordingly, this season's selected brands include besides the Germany-based labels Andrej Gronau, DAGGER, Gerrit Jacob, GmbH, Haderlump Atelier Berlin, Kasia Kucharska, Laura Gerte, LUEDER, Marke, Milk of Lime, SF1OG, Selva, UNVAIN and William Fan, as well as BARRAGÁN from New York City and John Lawrence Sullivan from Tokyo, three brands headquartered in African countries: Fruché and Orange Culture from Nigeria, and BUZIGAHILL from Uganda.

In the STUDIO2RETAIL event category, the jury selected concepts by Dennis Chuene, Esther Perbandt, Ioannes, Lou de Bètoly, PLAID-À-PORTER, and Richert Beil. This year's jury member Kirsty Keoghan (eBay) emphasizes: "There was a real sense of purpose and creativity in the work-concepts that not only complement Berlin Fashion Week, but meaningfully build on its momentum around circularity and innovation."

Sustainability truly plays an even more prominent role in both categories this season: following a pilot phase, the Sustainability Requirements will come fully into effect. This binding framework, adapted from Copenhagen Fashion Week, will apply from July 2026 to all labels wishing to be included in the official Berlin Fashion Week calendar with their shows and events. The work of this season's winners therefore represents not only creative excellence-but also responsible and forward-looking fashion production.
 

_{BERLIN CONTEMPORARY is a concept competition that supports 19 labels with €25,000 each to realize a runway show during Berlin Fashion Week. The prize money is provided by the Berlin Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises/Projekt Zukunft. In addition to labels headquartered in Germany, up to five international brands may also be selected. The highest-rated brand from an African country-in this season, BUZIGAHILL-receives additional support in production, guest management, and press relations. The winners are selected by an independent expert jury comprising Christiane Arp (Fashion Council Germany), Johanna Dramé (Berlin Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises), Herbert Hofmann (Highsnobiety), Stavros Karelis (Onassis Foundation), Susanna Lau (Susie Bubbles), Sara Sozzani Maino (Fondazione Sozzani), Eniafe Momodu (Prism Creative Limited), Irene Ojo-Felix (Models.com), and Patrick Pendiuk (Vogue Germany) this season.}
 

_{STUDIO2RETAIL is a competition awarding six concepts for showroom, pop-up, or exhibition formats during Berlin Fashion Week that engage both international industry professionals and end consumers. Five prizes of €5,000 each are provided by the Berlin Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises/Projekt Zukunft; a sixth prize-awarded this year to Dennis Chuene-is sponsored by Berliner Sparkasse. The winners are selected by an independent jury comprising Johanna Dramé (Berlin Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises), Kerstin Geffert (Silk Relations), Sonja Hodzode (Stylist & Creative Consultant), Elliot Hoste (Dazed), Jasmina & David (JasminaTV), Kirsty Keoghan (eBay), Scott Lipinski (Fashion Council Germany), Ann-Kathrin Riedl (Fräulein Magazine), and Nina Trippel (Cee Cee Creative) this season.}