Editors, buyers, and trend forecasters gathered in a rainy Copenhagen on Tuesday to kick off the city’s first fashion week of 2020. Despite the gloomy weather, AW20 began with a bang thanks to the launch of CPHFW’s impressive Sustainability Action Plan 2020-2022.
“All industry players – including fashion weeks – have to be accountable for their actions and be willing to change the way business is done,” urged Cecilie Thorsmark, CEO of Copenhagen Fashion Week. “The timeframe for averting the devastating effects of climate change on the planet and people is less than a decade, and we’re already witnessing its catastrophic impacts today. Put simply, there can be no status quo.”
The pledge, developed by a board of directors including Ganni founder Nicolaj Reffstrup, and reviewed by experts including Orsola de Castro of Fashion Revolution, will ban single-use plastic, prioritize vegan food at events, and use electric cars to take guests between shows throughout the city. With the ultimate goal of a 50% reduction in climate impact and to be a zero-waste event by 2022, meaningful action like this shows how key players can influence the wider industry for the better.
Watch this space to see how the eco-conscious Danes serve up recycled, reused, and repurposed fashion in their new-season collections. In the meantime, we spotted plenty of sartorial inspiration on the streets of the city. Click through to see the most innovative and exciting looks at Copenhagen Fashion Week.
This thoroughly ’90s color palette has a touch of the kids’ TV presenter vibe to it. Printed rain hats are now essential, too.Asena Saribatur means business with this Big Sleeve Energy.Claire Rose Cliteur, Nicole Huisman, Stephanie Broek, and Yara Michels repping two key themes this season: murky shades of brown and green, and paintbox brights.Babba Rivera proves that ballgowns aren’t just for formal events – the more joyful, the better!Karoline Dall is channeling Elton John-esque glam rock with her orange snakeskin jacket.More green! Pair with candy stripe blue and white for a retro feel – and don’t forget your matching tights.Lois Opoku is a ray of sunshine in rainy Copenhagen – go for sunset hues and juxtapose textures.Lisa Hahnbueck’s ice-white bob offsets her mismatched green tones here.Oh, to be a Cecilie Bahnsen girl, à la Mathilde Gohler.Graphic florals, more citrus green, and white accessories. Yes, please.Sweater vests are our knitwear of choice this season – pair with a distinctive leather jacket and oversized hoop earrings for ’80s rebellion like Emma Fridsell here.Monikh Dale looked heavenly in this satsuma and white get-up at Stine Goya’s show.’70s tailoring and earthy tones make this duo stand out from the pastel-hued crowd.María Bernad has assembled our dream outfit. Color and flares and patchwork for life!Our desk-to-happy hour look is sorted – just add the perfect ’70s shades.Leonie Hanne matches her eyeshadow to her get-up and touts a trusty Bottega clutch for good measure.Deborah Reyner Sebag gives us head-to-toe cappuccino with a dash of milk.Vanessa Hong cuts through her all-white look with zesty lemon and huggable faux fur.Nina Sandbech’s get-up has more energy than our morning cup of coffee. Zing!Can you ever have too much snakeskin? We think not.One part The Matrix, one part Blade Runner. It’s a yes from us.Yes to every single element of this outfit. Use color to combat miserable weather and make your get-up fun!Green has fast become the most versatile color, as shown here by María Bernad. Seafoam and moss and citrus forever and ever, amen.Keep cozy in autumnal check, and throw on a waist belt for good measure.*Searches eBay for faux fur-trimmed vintage leather.* Thanks for the inspo, Milena Karl. Stomping boots are here to stay, too.Now, this is how to do slouchy suiting. Make like Tine Andrea and add pops of color to lift your tonal tailoring. Her bag is Coach’s latest it-bag, the Coach Horse & Carriage Tote.The Danes love their pastels, and this sky blue and candy floss concoction is pure heaven.Yowza! Kermit green is still at the forefront of our minds and with a zebra knit and cotton shirt underneath, we just got a new way to style it.Spotting Grece Ghanem is the best thing about fashion month. Note to self: must buy blue gloves and matching Bottega Pouch.More fantastic suiting, this time courtesy of Trine Kjaer. Head-to-toe gray is our new tonal go-to.Okay, maybe all pink is another new favorite tonal vibe…Green and pink was the color combo dominating our IG feeds last summer, but set against the gray Copenhagen winter, it shines even brighter.Maria Barteczko proves that black and electric blue is a match made in heaven.Oversized coats and rain hats necessary – we’re lucky that practicality is so slick these days.All! The! Print! And! Patchwork!Big collars are big news this season, the more clownlike, the better. Diggin’ this color palette, too.More green and pastel hues. Add a pair of ’70s shades like Maria to top it all off.Why choose one shade when you can have both? Tine Andrea’s two-tone coat is brilliant.Alternatively, beat the cold by wearing your duvet outdoors, like Oumayma Elboumeshouli.When in doubt, coordinate with your pals. More gray tonal looks here from Funda Christophersen, Mie Jul and Trine Kjaer.Squeal! We’re adding this rust shade to our wish list ASAP (and maybe taking Annabel Rosendahl’s bob cut to our hairstylist, too…).Sage goes well with white for an SS20 refresh.More green, more checks, more sneakers: we spot a few themes here…A varsity jacket never looked so fresh.Jeanette Friis Madsen channeling everyone’s favorite Quality Street with aplomb.
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