Copenhagen, the Unsung Hero of Fashion Weeks
In an industry dominated by the traditional quartet of New York, London, Milan, and Paris, a new contender has emerged as the "fifth fashion week" - Copenhagen. Once considered a mere curiosity, this Danish showcase has evolved into a catalyst for change, transforming not only its own fashion scene but also inspiring others to follow suit.
Over the past two decades, Copenhagen Fashion Week (CPHFW) has experienced remarkable growth, with Denmark's fashion industry now boasting significant international demand. According to figures, fashion exports have skyrocketed 84%, with Danish brands representing a substantial 5% of the country's total merchandise exports.
So what sets CPHFW apart from its more established counterparts? For starters, it prioritizes sustainability - a theme that has become increasingly important in recent years. The show's sustainability framework, which was introduced in 2020, sets out 18 minimum standards for participating brands, including measures to reduce plastic usage and implement environmentally friendly practices.
This forward-thinking approach has not gone unnoticed. Ganni, one of Denmark's most successful fashion brands, credits CPHFW with its success. "Showing biannually in Copenhagen from 2014 was instrumental to our success," says Ditte Reffstrup, the brand's creative director. "There is no doubt Copenhagen Fashion Week has been our main stage and helped us become an international brand."
CPHFW's influence extends beyond Denmark's borders. Brands such as Baum und Pferdgarten, which co-founded with Rikke Baumgarten and Helle Hestehave, have benefited from the platform. "In the beginning the shows were far more primitive and intimate," says Baumgarten. "It felt much more amateur. Copenhagen Fashion Week has changed enormously and it has been a crucial platform for our growth as a brand."
As CPHFW celebrates its 20th anniversary, it is clear that its impact extends beyond the fashion industry. The show's commitment to sustainability serves as a catalyst for change, inspiring other fashion weeks and brands to follow suit.
But what does this mean for Copenhagen? Will the city remain at the forefront of fashion innovation, or will it eventually lose its grip on the coveted title of "fifth fashion week"? Thorsmark, CPHFW's CEO, acknowledges that this may be the case. "The ambition will never be to keep brands in Copenhagen forever but to support them in whatever feels relevant for the brand itself so that they continue to develop and thrive."
Regardless of what the future holds, one thing is clear: Copenhagen Fashion Week has cemented its place as a major player in the fashion world. As an industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how this unsung hero continues to shape the face of fashion.
In an industry dominated by the traditional quartet of New York, London, Milan, and Paris, a new contender has emerged as the "fifth fashion week" - Copenhagen. Once considered a mere curiosity, this Danish showcase has evolved into a catalyst for change, transforming not only its own fashion scene but also inspiring others to follow suit.
Over the past two decades, Copenhagen Fashion Week (CPHFW) has experienced remarkable growth, with Denmark's fashion industry now boasting significant international demand. According to figures, fashion exports have skyrocketed 84%, with Danish brands representing a substantial 5% of the country's total merchandise exports.
So what sets CPHFW apart from its more established counterparts? For starters, it prioritizes sustainability - a theme that has become increasingly important in recent years. The show's sustainability framework, which was introduced in 2020, sets out 18 minimum standards for participating brands, including measures to reduce plastic usage and implement environmentally friendly practices.
This forward-thinking approach has not gone unnoticed. Ganni, one of Denmark's most successful fashion brands, credits CPHFW with its success. "Showing biannually in Copenhagen from 2014 was instrumental to our success," says Ditte Reffstrup, the brand's creative director. "There is no doubt Copenhagen Fashion Week has been our main stage and helped us become an international brand."
CPHFW's influence extends beyond Denmark's borders. Brands such as Baum und Pferdgarten, which co-founded with Rikke Baumgarten and Helle Hestehave, have benefited from the platform. "In the beginning the shows were far more primitive and intimate," says Baumgarten. "It felt much more amateur. Copenhagen Fashion Week has changed enormously and it has been a crucial platform for our growth as a brand."
As CPHFW celebrates its 20th anniversary, it is clear that its impact extends beyond the fashion industry. The show's commitment to sustainability serves as a catalyst for change, inspiring other fashion weeks and brands to follow suit.
But what does this mean for Copenhagen? Will the city remain at the forefront of fashion innovation, or will it eventually lose its grip on the coveted title of "fifth fashion week"? Thorsmark, CPHFW's CEO, acknowledges that this may be the case. "The ambition will never be to keep brands in Copenhagen forever but to support them in whatever feels relevant for the brand itself so that they continue to develop and thrive."
Regardless of what the future holds, one thing is clear: Copenhagen Fashion Week has cemented its place as a major player in the fashion world. As an industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how this unsung hero continues to shape the face of fashion.
! It's about time the fashion industry shifted its focus towards being kinder to the planet 
. As a parent, I worry about the impact our kids will inherit if we don't make some serious changes. Copenhagen is showing us that it's possible to be stylish and sustainable at the same time - that's something every kid (and adult!) can get behind 
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I mean, Copenhagen is like totally underrated when it comes to fashion weeks, right? They're not just some small time thing, they've got some serious clout now 
. The way they're pushing sustainability and all that jazz... it's like, super on point 
And it's not just them, other brands are killing the game too 
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. They're really doing something right with that sustainability thingy. I mean, who doesn't wanna save the planet while looking stylish 
? It's great to see other fashion weeks taking note and trying to follow suit. Maybe we'll see a global "fashion week" revolution 
? Anyway, Copenhagen is definitely becoming a major player in the fashion world, and I'm hyped to see what they have in store for us next 
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. And it's awesome to see brands like Ganni and Baum und Pferdgarten getting some love - I mean, those girls are killing the game right now 
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They're all about that sustainability life, and it's totally catching on. Ganni's success story is a prime example - who wouldn't want to show their stuff in one of the coolest fashion weeks around? 
I'm curious to see how other fashion weeks adapt to this new wave of eco-friendly vibes 
! I've been following their fashion week for a while now and I gotta say, they're really killing it 
they just keep rehashing the same old trends and ideas. copenhagen on the other hand seems to be pushing boundaries and actually trying new things, like that sustainable framework 
. It's just another attempt to spin a city into a trendy destination that doesn't even exist for most people. I mean, who needs Copenhagen when you have LA or Tokyo doing the whole sustainable thing? Those cities are way more relevant to the global market and actually make an effort to support emerging brands.
. It's just another fashion brand that got lucky with some good PR and a strong online presence. Ditte Reffstrup's claim that CPHFW was instrumental to their success sounds like total BS to me. I bet if they had shown up at NYFW or London Fashion Week, they'd still be struggling to make ends meet.
. It's just a marketing ploy to get more tourists coming into the city and spending money on overpriced fashion merch 
. The real question is what happens when the bubble bursts and Copenhagen isn't able to sustain this level of hype for long?