Estethica x Berlin Fashion Week 2022
In partnership with Fashion Revolution Germany, the event goes on from 3 to 7 September
Estethica, the highly acclaimed ethical fashion showcase, is relaunching at Berlin Fashion Week. After a hiatus of eight years, the reinvigorated programme boasts a must-see exhibition of 10 designers challenging the status quo, a mentoring and business support programme, and a much-needed spring board for Ukraine’s most innovative emerging talent.
A follow up to the successful Fashion Open Studio initiative in Berlin, Estethica presents ‘What Lies Ahead’ featuring a group exhibition at 202030 – The Berlin Fashion Summit, alongside challenging talks and discussions, and the launch of an exclusive collaboration with The POOL rental hub.
‘In Solidarity’ is part of the continued support for Ukraine’s fashion industry which began with Jean Gritsfeldt’s extraordinary show which closed Berlin Fashion Week in March 2022.
Gritsfeldt’s collection was amongst others produced and made possible through the solidarity and voluntary support of Fashion Revolution Germany and Berlin’s sustainable fashion community. For September 2022, four Ukrainian designers have been selected for a programme which provides business and financial support.
The support for Ukrainian fashion designers is a joint effort of the Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Labor, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Der Berliner Salon, Estethica, Fashion Council Germany, Neo.Fashion and 202030 – The Berlin Fashion Summit and is an expression of the ongoing sympathy and solidarity with Ukraine.
The Estethica program for Berlin Fashion Week September 22 also includes a live upcycling lab with the Berliner Stadtmission and Haus der Materialisierung to celebrate the craft, commitment and uncompromising ethos of the new generation of designers for whom sustainability is fundamental.
The cohort of 10 designers from Berlin and Ukraine will present their work in a highly stylised group exhibition, ‘What Lies Ahead’. The designers are all participating in Estethica’s dynamic mentoring and business support with a focus on sustainable practice delivered by The Right Project to accelerate their ideas around circularity and innovation. The two-day exhibition and talks will highlight the importance of cooperation and shared responsibility during difficult times, showing how the fashion community can use its power to make positive change.
Orsola de Castro says:
“I couldn’t be more excited to relaunch the mythical Estethica in Berlin in the context of Berlin Fashion Week. Estethica has my whole heart, always has, and Berlin contains what I believe can be the future of the sustainable fashion industry. Combining the two will be a purposeful riot of substance and style, the birth of a program dedicated to vision and kindness. I wish to thank the Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises and all our local partners, especially Fashion Revolution Germany, for this opportunity, and for this incredible spirit of collaboration.”
While mainstream fashion, whether high street or high end, is impacting people and nature in so many negative ways, designers and practitioners showing a new way forward need to be highlighted and nurtured. Innovation and inclusion, vision and kindness: Estethica shows what lies ahead.
Estethica is delighted to present:
Dennis Chuene One man, two sewing machines. Cheune celebrates the timeless design and craftsmanship of one-off pieces.
Don Aretino Indonesian-born, Berlin-based Aretino’s work explores the interconnection between same sex desire, religion and social analysis with custom-made pieces made to last a lifetime.
Fade Out Label A zero waste brand focused on “degrowth” by drastically reducing consumption and the exploitation of raw materials. Designer Andrea Bonfini says “you are what you wear” respecting quality and not quantity.
Melisa Minca MM is for eccentric individuals who want to have fun with self-expression, but at the same time not contribute to the environmental pollution and human exploitation.Upcycled, reworked items and custom tailoring.
Tanja Bombach Bombach is a director and designer based in Berlin, founder of the project series CATALOGUE OF DISGUISE, using fashion, performance and music. The series adopts an intersectional approach to shape a cultural perception of fashion.
Vladimir Karaleev Bulgarian born, Berlin based designer producing and sourcing locally in a small range made-to-order series, working with stock or end of roll fabric usage and no overproduction.
In solidatiry
Focusing on four Ukrainian designers, this programme is tailored to support their business, communication, logistical and design practices. The designers receive assistance both in cash (of up 3000 euro each) and access to specific one-on-one professional mentoring.
Gunia project A brand that rethinks and integrates recognizable elements of traditional culture into modern design objects for everyday use. Each product is handmade and hand-painted, keeping alive the culture of Ukrainian craft heritage and protecting the livelihood of rural artisans.
Hempful Specialising in easy clothes made from organically grown hemp.
Ksenia Schnaider Founded by a designer duo from Ukraine, KS is a synthesis of fashion design reasoning from Ksenia Schnaider and engineering logic and a sense of humour from Anton Schnaider. Mainly using upcycling and recycled materials.
Xomehko A conceptual art and fashion project using textile experiments for social communication, ironical reflection of overconsumption and a dialogue between the past and the future.
About Estethica
Estethica originally launched in 2006 at London Fashion Week, creates a vibrant space for innovative, responsible fashion. It is considered to be the OG in sustainable showcasing and thinking. Since inception it has supported brands such as Katharine Hamnett, People Tree, Carla Fernandez, Veja and Dr Noki and launched the careers of designers like Christopher Raeburn, and Clare Farrell, who went on to co-found Extinction Rebellion as well as game-changing platforms like Bruno Pieters’ pioneering business Honest by, Estethica has partnered on initiatives with Central Saint Martins, Greenpeace, Yoox and DEFRA, Environmental Justice Foundation, Tesco Clothing and many others.
It counts Diane Pernet, Erin O’Connor, Lily Cole, Sara Sozzani Maino, Susie Lau and Suzy Menkes amongst its loyal supporters.
The Estethica Press Day panel conversations introduced new ideas into the mainstream and the Estethica Review became an indispensable tool in the early days of the fashion sustainability movement, which Estethica pivotally helped to grow to what it is today.
After a hiatus of eight years – during which time one of its founders, Orsola de Castro co-founded Fashion Revolution, the world’s largest fashion activism movement – Estethica is reforming, reinvigorated by new knowledge, new talents and new propositions to keep challenging the industry to do better.
About Fashion Revolution Germany
Fashion Revolution Germany e.V. is the German representation of the global Fashion Revolution campaign. We see it as our responsibility to bring the importance of transparency (along the value and supply chains of the fashion and textile industry) as a basis for sustainable development and for the inclusion of consumers into the discourse. We promote the advantages of transparent supply chains to a critical mass of consumers through visually appealing and critical campaign work and thus support the industrial transformation process by accelerating a change in social awareness.
About Berlin Senate
The Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Enterprises (SenWiEnBe) is one of ten departments of the Berlin Senate and the supreme state authority responsible for economic and energy policy in the German capital – it is the state’s economy and energy ministry. Since 2007, the Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Operations has contributed well over 15 million euros in additional support to the development of the fashion industry at the location. To mitigate the effects of the pandemic in the fashion sector, around 5 million euros have been made available since 2020 alone, including 3.5 million euros in 2021 for the realignment of Berlin Fashion Week. In addition to start-up funding for platforms, the focus is on presentation opportunities for the fashion weeks in Berlin and Paris, as well as support for fashion labels through workshops and coaching services to further digitise business processes.
Estethica X BFW – PROGRAMME
In partnership with Fashion Revolution Germany
In collaboration with: 202030 Summit, MBFW, POOL, Berliner Stadtmission and Haus der Materialisierung
3 to 4 September 2022
2 – 5 PM Estethica Upcycling Lab
Location: Haus der Materialisierung, Berolinastraße, 10178 Berlin, Germany
Exploring the innovative upcycling potential of the city of Berlin. In cooperation with the Berliner Stadtmission and Haus der Materialisierung we offer the Estethica designers an unique space, where they can come together, exchange their knowledge or discover new working techniques, celebrating the virtues of upcycling in a world where waste is endemic.
The road to circularity demands longevity, and for this reason we invite you to be curious about this often overlooked sustainable solution, by joining us in a conversation where we will show you what an ideal upscaled upcycling system could look like, from factory floor to cooperation and community involvement.
Because understanding the fashion supply chain is an important tool to make changes.
Please RSVP: carina.bischof@future.fashion
5 September 2022
4 – 6 PM Official Opening of 202030 Summit
Location: Colosseum Cinema, Gleimstraße 31, 10437 Berlin, Germany Welcome Panel 202030 Summit with Dutch Embassy, Estethica, Berliner Senat Please Register: https://202030summit.com/tickets
6 September 2022
10 AM – 6PM Estethica Exhibition ´What Lies Ahead´
Location: Colosseum Cinema, Gleimstraße 31, 10437 Berlin, Germany
The Group Exhibition ‘What Lies Ahead´ is art-directed by Matthew Needham, and is hosted in partnership with 202030 – The Berlin Fashion Summit. Featuring the work of Dennis Chuene | Don Aretino | Fade Out Label | Melisa Minca |Tanja Bombach | Vladimir Karaleev | Gunia project | Hempful | Ksenia Schnaider | Xomehko
Please Register: https://202030summit.com/tickets (free entrance)
5.30 – 6 PM Estethica TALK ´What Lies Ahead´ @202030 Summit
Where is fashion going? In an industry of influencers and followers, trends and tendencies, we look at inclusivity and kindness as the only way to determine what lies ahead.
Location: Colosseum Cinema, Gleimstraße 31, 10437 Berlin, Germany Moderated by Fatima Njoya (GLAMOUR)
Speakers: Matthew Needham, (artist, curator) Orsola de Castro (Estethica), Meriem Lebdiri (Council of Modest Fashion)
Please RSVP: https://202030summit.com/tickets
6 – 7 PM Estethica Exhibition ´What lies ahead´: Guided Tour and Aperitivo
Meet the designers on site for a guided tour of the exhibition with Orsola de Castro, Art Director Matthew Needham and Fashion Revolution Germany CEO Carina Bischof.
Looking at fashion and its intersection with art is the aim of this showcase, where the everyday is elevated and trash becomes treasure.
Location: Colosseum Cinema, Colosseum Cinema, Gleimstraße 31, 10437 Berlin, Germany
Please RSVP: https://202030summit.com/tickets
7 September 2022
10 AM – 6 PM Estethica Exhibition ´What lies ahead´
Location: Colosseum Cinema, Colosseum Cinema, Gleimstraße 31, 10437 Berlin, Germany
The Group Exhibition ‘What Lies Ahead´ is art-directed by Matthew Needham, and is hosted in partnership with 202030 – The Berlin Fashion Summit.
Please Register: https://202030summit.com/tickets (free entrance)
1 – 2 PM Estethica TALK ´Innovation, New luxury and sustainability´ @MBFW
Is tradition the new innovation? Or is technology the only way forward? How can we find balance in a world full of excess and create products with purpose.
Location: MBFW, TELEGRAPHENAMT, Monbijoustraße 11, 10117 Berlin, Germany Moderated by Manuel Almeida Vergara
Speakers: Orsola de Castro (Estethica), Waridi Schrobsdorff (Founder Fashion Africa 254), Sascha Huth (founder and executive director, Acte TM), Dennis Chuene (Designer)
Please RSVP: info@muellerpr.de (MÜLLER PR & CONSULTING)
7PM Estethica TALK ´In Solidarity´ @POOL
Fashion as catalyst for support and encouragement: there is no future unless we look at quality of product and quality of life.
Location: POOL, Besselstraße 13-14, 10969 Berlin
Presented by Orsola de Castro and POOL: Andrea Cheong in conversation with Anton Schnaider (Ksenia Schnaider), Maria Gavryluk (Gunia Project), Yasia Khomenko (Xomehko), Inna Postnikova- founder and designer and Yeva Sybyrka- assistant (Hempful)
Please RSVP: https://link.p-o-o-l.xyz/rsvp
6-10 PM Collection launch: Estethica Ukrainian Designers x POOL
Location: POOL, Besselstraße 13-14, 10969 Berlin
A capsule collection specifically created for the retail partnership with POOL will be launched, presented by POOL founder Rune Orloff and Orsola de Castro. A drinks reception will follow.
