Eco-Fashion Getting Noticed during Berlin Fashion Week

Photo courtesy of People Tree.

If you’re in Berlin within the next few days and into eco-fashion, then you have the opportunity for some fun and education. Berlin Fashion Week is underway, and this year there’s a strong presence of eco-designers and brands focusing on high-end styles. THEKEY.TO - an international event for green fashion, sustainable lifestyles, and culture - will be at the Heeresbäckerei on Köpenickerstr in Berlin, with active events from tomorrow until Jan. 23.

“The sustainable philosophy of the event is reflected in the selection of brands, event furniture, fresh organic catering, and the tradeshow architecture,” said a statement by Gereon Pilz van der Grinten, one of the founders of THEKEY.TO.

Among the sustainable brands that will be featured at the event will be: Van Markoviec, Knowledge Cotton Apparel, Studio Jux, Milch, Itsus, Banuq, Komodo, and People Tree. The event will also feature new up-and-coming Berlin-based brands, including: Slowmo, Pamoyo, and Isabell de Hillerin.

The first two days of the event will be solely for industry professionals and the press, with the last day being open to the public as well. Industry forums, workshops, and networking events - held the first two days - will cover issues including technology, labor rights, and the need for a global shift toward a green economy and sustainable living, according to event coordinators.

Four expert moderated-panel workshops scheduled to be highlights are:

Photo courtesy of Komodo.
• Organic Textile Certification and Traceability - a discussion of the certification process and services of Organic Textile Services (a international organic textile consultant, specializing in the Global Organic Textile Standard - GOTS); Organic Exchange (a worldwide active non-governmental organization - NGO, specializing in organic textiles); and Internationaler Verband der Naturtextilwirtschaft - IVN (an international association for natural textiles).

• Sustainable Textiles, Organic Cotton or Fiber Innovations - Frank Eyhorn from Helvetas (a worldwide NGO leader in organic cotton projects) will present facts and figures on the current market developments of organic cotton, highlighting the challenges to move towards more sustainable cotton production.

• Trend Lab - The Future Marketing of Green Fashion - a discussion about new future trends, marketing and communication strategies by Manuela Rehn from Grüne Köpfe (a marketing agency), Christoph Harrach from Karmakonsum (one of the leading online sites for neo-green lifestyle in Germany) and Kate Merkle (representative for “Cradle to Cradle” principle in Berlin).

• The Collaboration and Certification of Designer Brands - a discussion about the sourcing of sustainable fabrics, the problem of certifications, and the need for efficient sustainable supply chains. This workshop will highlight different methods currently being used in the industry, such as by Clean & Unique, which provides its members the chance to be verified on labor practices by the Fair Wear Foundation.

Photo courtesy of Pamoyo.

The last day of the event will also have a workshop on the social impact of the clothing industry, covering issues such as: sweatshops, discrimination, and extremely slow selling prices.

On the lighter side of things, the final day will give the public the opportunity for green fashion shopping, and a ‘Fashion Reloaded’ event, which will give visitors the option of either swapping their clothes, or modifying them.

The Fashion Reloaded event is promoted as inviting visitors to “take the step from user to maker and reinterpret the use of recycled clothing.” Visitors will also be invited to bring their old clothing, swap them for favorites, and join workshops to experiment, sew and screen print unique creations.

This event will also offer tools and practical support for young designers to restyle wardrobes and redefine style. This collection will be made exclusively from recycled garments created live during the event. Fashion Reloaded is a project by designers Cecilia Palmer of Pamoyo and Sophie Beyerlein of Sophie B.

Reader comment and input are always welcomed!