BERLIN FASHION FESTIVAL Spring/Summer 2020: MARCEL OSTERTAG, KILIAN KERNER, AVENIR, DANNY REINKE, ODEEH, SIA ARNIKA, HORROR ARNIKA, SF10G, and MILK OF LIME

 

 

Image credit Berlin Fashion Week: Vogue and Womenswear Daily.

 

Berlin Fashion Week will never fit into the Milan or Paris mould; it’s a boundary-pushing groundswell of rad fashion, to put it mildly. It’s edgy, gritty and risqué, it’s young and avant-garde, it reflects the inimitable Berlin bohemian underground arts, music and clubbing scene that it’s born from.

Berlin’s famous streetscapes served as the backdrop to fashion shows. Grungy sportswear inspired street style matched the mood of the collections. Sculptural pieces enhanced the gritty overall look: a camouflage dress, for example looked quite comfortable, while a cheeky cap with baseball hat topped off another dreamy gown.

The fashion school students presented some of the most innovative and exciting fashions. These were displayed alongside classic collections from the German fashion icons, such as Kilian Kerner. Anja Gockel. Danny Reinke. Marcel Ostertag.

Trends included sportwear, mismatched patterns, and upcycling/recycling. We saw crafty and patchwork collections that gave a nod toward Biggie Best You can also find out more about the following: Little House on the Prairie. We saw stripes and denim, washed-out pastels and BLACK – the latter (being Berlin) was omnipresent.

Gender-fluid collection dominated the show. It was also great to learn that the collections all met sustainability and ethical standards.

Relax and enjoy the show!

 

Let’s start with some of the most stunning designs to set the stage.

Watch NAMILIA’s show here:

STREET FASHION mimicked the collections…

 

THE DESIGNERS

AVENIR

Watch AVENIR’s show here:

Potsdamer Platz was rocked by ultra-casual utility clothing in green, camel and khaki. Khaki, mud, and black were also popular.

This collection was aptly named “Must-Haves”. It featured leather coats, polo-shirts, cotton shirts with crisp collars and patchwork cream coats. Commute.

And who wouldn’t want to be seen traversing the sidewalks of this historic city wearing those gems?

 

KILIAN KERNER

Watch KILIAN KERNER’s show here:

Heidi Klum’s designer, based in Berlin, is a fan of Rita Ora and Kylie Minogue. Kilian Kerner, a Berlin-based designer who has created extraordinary collections since 2003, sells them in 14 different countries. His collaborations with the likes of Nike, Villeroy & Boch and Samsonite have put him squarely on the global map.

We adore this season’s sculptural offerings, and particularly love this summer’s infatuation with the colour blue.

 

MARCEL OSTERTAG

Watch MARCEL OSTERTAG’s show here:

Marcel Ostertag, a Central St Martins grad and another heavyweight of German fashion, has been creating beautiful fashion with his modern interpretations on traditional styles since 2006.

His gold and white collection this season was striking for its simplicity and modern elegance. The Midas effect was extended to the boot!

 

DANNY REINKE

Watch DANNY REINKE’s show here:

Danny Reinke’s fashion is slow. In fact, all of their items are handmade in their Berlin studio.

We adore this seasons’ gender-fluid take on suits and co-ords. Sequin tops, hand-made flowers and neutrals are all incredibly ethereal. All in a palette that’s a classic symphony of pastels, neutrals and virginal white.

 

SIA ARNIKA

Grungy, deconstructed sportswear in electric blue – some ensembles body-hugging and others loose and voluminous – were seen at Sia Arnika.

Designer admits that she was inspired by her childhood in Denmark to create the polo-shirts, hoodies, and other sportswear-inspired pieces.

We love the column-like and statuesque royal gown, which beautifully emphasizes each curve without being overtly sexual.

 

SF10G

This gem of a collection is proudly produced from deadstock materials – a design ethos passionately shared by designers Rosa Marga Dahl and Jacob Langemeyer.

We’re infatuated with the crafty feel of these touchy-feely pieces. They’re also beautifully tailored and artistically crafted from a variety fabrics to produce very unique looks. The linen (from a 19th century collection) is a beautiful, artistically crafted fabric that creates incredibly unique looks.^{The th} century!) Looks sturdy and crisp. The plaids, ginghams and jersey knits look adorable. Trouser skirts, leggings, shirts, waistcoats and shirts look very wearable – in fact, all the pieces would no doubt be welcome in most closets!

 

MILK OF LIME

Watch a compilation of MILK OF LIME’s collection here:

Berlin Contemporary’s winners, the Belgian/German duo of Julia Ballardt und Nico Verhaegen, presented their Milk of Lime Collection in an ex-crematorium.

The textured textiles – ruffled chiffon, organza, wool, knits and faux fur – worked wonderfully well to showcase the simplicity of the pieces. The contrast of shapes and fabrics is a great design concept: While a lot of looks seemed to be eaten away by the weather, others were inspired by the wind…

 

HORROR TRAVEL VACUI

In Latin, ‘Horror Vacui’ literally means ‘fear of empty space’. The range is filled with a variety of creative and fun items that will ensure there’s no empty space. Little House on the Prairie looks!

A number of the ensembles were handcrafted, and they looked very romantic. One skirt was created from hundreds scalloped hearts. This was one of most impressive collections at the show.

A particularly quirky piece is the striped polo shirt with its exquisitely scalloped collar – simply inspired!

 

ODEEH

Jörg Ehrlich and Otto Drögsler of Odeeh tend to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

Eclectic fabric choices – sumptuous taffeta and organza, for example, shared the stage with jacquard and stiff cotton; transparent chiffon was used in a frock together with metallic fringing; mismatched retro patterns and stripes graced the same look, various different florals made up an ensemble… And it all worked a treat!