Official Opening of Berlin Fashion Week: Fireside Dinner at Grill Royal

The German capital once again welcomes national and international guests to Berlin Fashion Week and brings together over 280 pioneers from fashion, politics, creative industries and media for the official Fireside Dinner at Grill Royal. The focus was on the design achievements of the upcoming days and the talents behind them. Berlin Fashion Week thus kicks off a creative autumn-winter 2025 edition.

At the invitation of Franziska Giffey, Berlin's Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises, and Fashion Council Germany, Berlin Fashion Week Autumn-Winter 2025 was officially opened at the Fireside Dinner on Monday evening. Over 280 guests attended the seated dinner at the renowned Grill Royal next to the river Spree, including key players and decision-makers from politics, fashion, media and the wider cultural and creative industries. The evening was particularly intended to promote exchange within the industry and honor the exceptional designers who are presenting their new collections this season as part of Berlin Fashion Week.

This season, Berlin Fashion Week will take place for the first time from February 5th to 8th, 2024 and therefore will fit into the international Fashion Week schedule. The autumn-winter 2025 edition will once again be characterized by innovative presentation formats at iconic locations, offering international design talents a platform in the German capital. As a "Powerhouse of Talents" and with a freedom that knows no boundaries, Berlin as a fashion city is thus moving further into the focus of international industry experts.

At the beginning of the dinner, Christiane Arp and Michael Biel, State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises Berlin, welcomed the guests. In a stimulating atmosphere, both praised the diversity and zeitgeist of the designers of the first Fashion Week day and looked forward to the upcoming highlights of Berlin Fashion Week. The city is a pioneer in creativity, sustainability and tolerance, making it the ideal backdrop for a multifaceted Fashion Week that is constantly growing in relevance. This is also illustrated by the self-proclaimed slogan of Berlin Fashion Week: „The responsible movement of freedom, inclusion and creativity“. 

Christiane Arp opened the evening: „We have the feeling that the path we have taken in the past few seasons is the right one and that Berlin Fashion Week is becoming more and more popular. The efforts of the recent years are paying off and we can continue to build on the positive feedback. Together we are achieving something that hasn't occurred for a long time: making Berlin Fashion Week more relevant both nationally and internationally."

"Fashion is at home in Berlin. And when Fashion Week is happening in Berlin, the city attracts more and more attention in the international fashion world, becomes more visible and shows that there is a lot of potential here. Berlin's fashion stands out for its unconventionality, the pursuit of freedom and the courage to be creative. Fashion creators and designers work here who can keep up with the international competition and inspire people. With our successful Fashion Week, we prove once again: Berlin can do fashion and is cosmopolitan, diverse and unique.”, says Franziska Giffey, Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises.

The presence of important industry representatives and designers presented in Berlin illustrated the core of Berlin Fashion Week: recognizing outstanding design talents and the craftsmanship behind them and offering a platform for bold ideas. Among the numerous guests were: Cecilie Thorsmark (Copenhagen Fashion Week), Chidozie Obasi (Office Magazine), Désiré Feuerle (The Feuerle Collection), Esther Perbandt, Hanan Besovic (ideservecouture), Jale Richert und Michele Beil (beide Richert Beil), Julian Daynov, Kerstin Schneider (Harper’s Bazaar), Luis Dobbelgarten (No/Faith Studios), Maliha Shoaib (Vogue Business), Manuela Kampp-Wirtz (Burda Style Group), Mumi Haiati (Reference Studios), Rianna Kounou und Nina Knaudt (Rianna + Nina), Tim Kälberer (Wormland), Valentin von Arnim (Iris von Arnim) and William Fan.

In the third "Berlin Contemporary" season, 14 German and four Ukrainian brands will once again be presenting their collections. The labels and their show concepts were awarded prize money as part of the BFW concept competition. The three labels Olivia Ballard, William Fan and MARKE opened the first day. As part of the newly developed "Intervention" format by international communications agency Reference Studios, headed by founder Mumi Haiati, shows of the brands Gerrit Jacob, back2back (Yolanda Zobel & Marcelo Alcaide) and Anonymous Club also took place in Berlin for the first time.

The schedule for the next few days is filled with shows of established designers such as NAMILIA, RIANNA + NINA, Richert Beil as well as newcomer brands such as GLÜCK and Kitschy Couture. All collection images from the shows and impressions of the many other events will be published in the Berlin Fashion Week Media Hub 

An overview of all shows and events can be found on the Berlin Fashion Week in the official schedule. Events for end consumers during Berlin Fashion Week can be viewed in the STUDIO2RETAIL event schedule. 

The Dinner was also supported by HECH and Don Julio. 

Click here for the downloads: Press Release & Images

If you are interested in interviews or further information, please contact:

Press contact:

Fenja Niechoj 

Communications Manager, Fashion Council Germany

press@fashion-council-germany.org

t +49 30 994 0489 – 53