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Copenhagen Fashion Week: 5 unmissable shows of spring/summer 2025, from Marimekko’s ‘Maridenim’ and signature Unikko flower, to new ‘It’ girl wear by Rotate Birger Christensen at fashion’s fifth city
STORYGloria Tso
- Copenhagen is well-known for its mix of high fashion and high street, and a focus on accessibility, sustainability and business-savviness has contributed to its rise as a fashion capital
- The ‘Scandi girl’ look refers to a classic bohemian chic, timeless minimalism, and comfortable wardrobe staples embodied by ‘hygge’ – and this was on full display with Skall Studio
Since its relatively recent inception in the mid-2000s, Copenhagen Fashion Week has come a long way. Now unofficially dubbed “fashion’s fifth city” – after the “Big Four” parade of fashion weeks across New York, London, Milan and Paris, of course – the Danish capital hosts hordes of buyers, editors and influencers biannually, many of whom come from far away to admire and learn from the trendy new brands that this tiny design powerhouse continues to churn out season after season.
Among the myriad reasons for Copenhagen’s rapid emergence as a fashion capital, three stand out. First is its accessibility – unlike the largely luxury-only schedules that define Milan and Paris, Copenhagen is well-known for its mix of high fashion and the high street. There is a focus on introducing brands that, beyond affordability, also help foster a more welcoming and inclusive environment, encouraging up-and-coming designers to take creative risks.
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Second is the sustainability factor – while local success stories like Ganni have largely led the way when it comes to inspiring younger brands how to reuse and recycle, Copenhagen Fashion Week continues to set the standard when it comes to minimising the fashion industry’s enormous impact on the environment. As of 2023, brands must meet certain sustainability requirements in order to have their show on the official schedule.
Last but certainly not least, Copenhagen has business-savvy, forward-thinking fashion executives to thank as much as the strength of its creative community. The Copenhagen International Fashion Fair (CIFF), one of Northern Europe’s largest trade shows, runs in conjunction with Copenhagen Fashion Week and actually predates it by over a decade. Having recently merged with fellow trade show Revolver to maximise impact, CIFF now makes Copenhagen a go-to destination to see Scandinavian fashion, as well as a place for international brands to do business.
We checked out Copenhagen Fashion Week and, ahead, break down five stand-out shows from the spring/summer 2025 season that embody the event’s creative values.