Frankfurt am Main, 11 January 2022. Reform the Future – Change is now: under this motto Frankfurt Fashion Week will start next week, to run for five days and to invite to numerous physical and digital events. The full programme, with search function for trade and private visitors, can be found online at frankfurt.fashion/en/schedule. Here is a summary of the highlights:

Let’s make a change
On Monday, the Fashion Council Germany (FCG) will be inviting participants to a webinar from 2.00 p.m. on the subject of transparent supply chains. The event will be transmitted live on the FCG’s website and in the FFW Studio. Dr. Stefan Rennicke, managing director of the sustainable brand Kaya & Kato will explain how the company has completely digitalised its supply chain, thus ensuring greater transparency. There will also be representatives from the US consultancy firm IBM.

The Tuesday will be devoted completely to fashion shows and installations: Neonyt, Messe Frankfurt’s leading business platform for fashion, sustainability and innovation, will be showing a fashion installation at the ‘Danzig am Platz’. Curated sustainable fashion brands will address four key themes: air, water, circularity and social topics along the textile valueadded chain, such as (traditional) handicrafts or fair trade. The partner for the event will be Fashion Council Germany, and further support will come from the natural-cosmetics brand Dr. Hauschka. Invited guests can be there live. And the installation can also be seen online in the FFW Studio. Next will come the Frankfurt Stage Fashion Show – a collective fashion show by Susumu Ai and other members of the Fashion Council Germany.

A particular highlight awaits fashion professionals on Tuesday in the FFW Studio: TW Women’s- & Menswear, the textile industry trend-information provider, will give an insight into the latest trends for both women and men. Which products are coming, which are going? How is the previous season to be summed up? Germany’s leading trade magazine for fashion and textiles will provide insights into the trends of the future.

Let’s talk
Fashionsustain City Edition: Fashionsustain, the international Neonyt conference, kicks off on Wednesday 19 January, featuring a compact programme covering every aspect of sustainability, supply chain and innovation. The conference will host a limited number of guests at the ‘Danzig am Platz’ and will be transmitted in the FFW Studio. Its motto, “The only Constant is Change”, closely reflects contemporary attitudes. From 11 a.m. to 2.00 p.m., in incentive talks, deep dives and panel discussions, insiders from the industry will spotlight the challenges which the world of fashion must overcome and provide valuable insights into prospects and solutions for the future. The opening will be conducted by neuroscientist Professor Maren Urner with a keynote speech entitled Change the Mindset. In a discussion organised by the Green Button, the focus will be wholly on responsible supply chains. “Sneaker Hunt – What happens to our old shoes?” is the title of an insight talk by Christian Salewski, founder the start-up Flip, in which he will provide insights into shoe recycling. Last but not least: how the retail trade can help make consumers aware, and what that can mean for the regeneration of city centres, will be the topic addressed by Tanja Kliewe-Meyer from Like a Bird and Marco Schütte from service group EK, in a panel discussion with further representatives of the industry entitled, “Sustainability at the point of sale. How do I explain it to my customers?”

How will the socio-ecological criteria of the new Supply Chain Act be put into practice? Who is offering really fair and sustainably produced fashion? How can that be guaranteed? On Wednesday evening, at the Haus am Dom, the industry will be invited from 7.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. to exchange ideas on the topic of fair fashion. On the podium, to talk to participants, will be Dr. Bastian Bergerhoff, the Frankfurt City Treasurer, Jochen Ruths, president of the Hessen Chamber of Commerce, Rapha Breyer, consultant on textiles at Fairtrade Germany, and Axel Schröder, sustainability manager at Tchibo. Those who are interested can register to take part in person here. The event will also be streamed online on the Haus am Dom YouTube channel and in the FFW Studio.

On the occasion of FFW, further official side events will also be taking place. On Thursday there will be highlight panel talks, addressing the focal topics of digitisation and sustainability. From 7.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. a panel discussion entitled “Fashion and Design in Transition. An Opportunity for the Future?” will be held at Polestar Frankfurt as part of the AAAREA events. Those present will include Alex Lutz, managing director of Polestar Germany, Bettina Bär, show director of Neonyt and Val:ue, Benjamin Mandos, of Got Bag, and the organiser, Christine Fehrenbach. Those interested can register by e-mail. The discussion will be streamed live in the FFW Studio concurrently.

Let’s stay in touch
Even before the official start – and across all five days of FFW and beyond – there will be accompanying events by the AAAREA. Such as the RUNWAY B(eautiful) Ebene – an installation from 10 January to 10 February, featuring fashion photographs on 35 pillars on Level B of the Hauptwache – free access to all. The exhibition will show 71 works by 25 photographers and has been selected in collaboration with the German Association of Freelance Photographers and Film Designers (BFF Berufsverband Freie Fotografen und Filmgestalter). Likewise as part of the sequence of AAAREA events, during FFW, under the title “Helmut Fricke Fashion” it will be possible to see works by the Frankfurt photographer Helmut Fricke – all over the city centre.

And, as an official side event from 18 to 20 January 2022, the Frankfurt Fashion Lounge invites to runway shows, exhibitions and talks. At the Sofitel Frankfurt Opera hotel, selected Frankfurt brands will be on display and presented close at hand.

Let’s get digital
The FFW Studio completes the program with presentations and content from brands, organisations and companies such as Baldessarini, Studio.fbx, Republique, Broken Planet Market and Fair Wear Foundation, all of which will be providing features covering digital solutions for sustainable innovations.

Let’s stay safe
Due to the world-wide Covid-19 pandemic, FFW will be organised on a smaller scale, in compliance with strict hygiene arrangements and in accordance with current regulations (2G+). Visitors and representatives of the press are asked to familiarise themselves in advance with the conditions of entry governing the individual events. An overview of all events during Frankfurt Fashion Week will be found on the following website: frankfurt.fashion/schedule

Click here to register for the FFW Studio and follow fashion shows, presentations, talks and much more, live and on demand.