FASHION EVOLUTION – WHAT IS DRIVING THE INDUSTRY TODAY

The world of fashion winds its way through the city like an elegant thread and – in typical fashion for Düsseldorf - on short paths. It is only a few minutes' walk from the high fashion boutiques on the world-famous Königsallee to the showrooms of well-known brands.

In summer and autumn 2023 Düsseldorf will be a hotspot for fashion events. VIVID presents three of the most important organisers and their contributions.

Photo shoot, fitting or fashion show - there are many talented people behind the “perfect look”. VIVID presents three creative contributors and their perspectives on the processes behind fashion. 

Düsseldorf is a shopping metropolis whose purchasing power ranks in the top 5 among German cities and attracts investors with new store concepts. But what do streetwear and luxury brands, international fl agship stores and individual boutiques have in common? The future of retail lies in its emotionalisation.

Düsseldorf's start-up scene also has a lot to offer when it comes to fashion. However, anyone who thinks of fashion start-ups only in terms of young fashion labels is short-sighted. Because also beyond classic fashion design, the fashion industry offers plenty of potential for a wide variety of new business ideas. For example, when it comes to the development of innovative materials, more effi cient processes, ideas for more sustainability or new digital channels. The three start-ups we are introducing to you today are also pursuing very different approaches with which they want to make the fashion world a little nicer, more transparent and inclusive. Meet F.L.A.B., retraced and Swilook.

Nachhaltigkeit und Avantgarde verflechtet die Designerin Angelika Kammann zu ihrer unabhängigen Fashionbrand Société Angelique. In ihren konzeptionellen Kreationen stecken viel Handwerk, Erfahrung und die unerschütterliche Vision, ein neues Bewusstsein für Mode zu schaffen. VIVID sprach mit der umtriebigen Kreativen, die vom Mönchengladbacher Atelier aus eine ganze Branche verändern will.

Mario Keine knew early on where he was heading. At the tender age of 13, he decided to become a fashion designer. In the schoolyard of the grammar school in Attendorn, Sauerland, all eyes were on him wearing silvercoated jeans trousers or smart jackets with ties and collars. Today, at 30, Mario Keine's childhood dreams have come true. His first fashion collection has been launched, he presented it at the Press Days of the Fashion Council Germany in Berlin. His label is called MARKE, an acronym of his first letters, and he already won one of the two prizes at the first strike a pose festival in Düsseldorf in cooperation with the artist Manuel Graf with his very first launched product, a chain necklace, which he showed as an artistic contribution to the gender debate. In an interview, the former student of the Düsseldorf Design Department reveals how he prepared himself for the challenges of the fashion market and why the journeys of his childhood play a key role in his first collection.

Sarah Vieten has been the new managing director of Fashion Net e.V. for a few months now. She spoke to VIVID editor Rainer Kunst about Düsseldorf as a fashion location, the plans and visions she has for her networking work, her fascination with the fashion industry and the topic of failure.

From production to presentation: digitalisation is revolutionising the fashion industry at breakneck speed - with hybrid showrooms, virtual fabrics and AI as creative director.