Brands often speak of sustainability, but these claims remain just words.
In Copenhagen, practices related to an ecological and ethical relationship with nature and society have become a prerequisite for participating in fashion week since 2023, shifting the focus of the entire event.
Since January 2023, Copenhagen Fashion Week has only included brands that meet minimum sustainability standards in its official schedule. The AW25 Sustainability Requirements document outlines specific criteria, and designers interpret them differently. Alectra Rothschild finds them easier for a young brand: the standards integrate into the company’s growth rather than requiring a complete overhaul. Berner Kühl sees the same situation as a double-edged sword—there is no baggage from old supply chains, but the small team struggles to keep up with reporting and contractor oversight. Rolf Ekroth and Stamm view the requirements as an extension of goals they set for themselves. Success, as demonstrated by program participants, is not tied to scale. Alectra Rothschild describes it as the opportunity for a working-class designer to fully realize their creative work. Stamm defines it as feeling sustainable on show day. For Rolf Ekroth, it is financial stability that can free up time for design.
Most participants already share the goals of sustainability. The organizers of the fashion week in Copenhagen deserve credit for how the desire to participate in a specialized event motivates the teams to actualize those goals.