This past week has been Copenhagen Fashion Week, and I have so much to share. In December, I reached out to 10 brands who were doing shows asking to volunteer. I reached out again in January, but sadly none of them got back to me. Luckily, one of my professors suggested to all of us that we go to some of the events open to the public during fashion week. I attended two events: CIFF(Copenhagen International Fashion Fair), and an event focused on highlighting women in fashion. This week has been so surreal for me. My experience with Copenhagen Fashion Week turned out better than I thought it would.
Initial Fears
Starting off with CIFF. Representatives from different brands display their new collections and show them off to buyers at CIFF. It’s essentially a trade show, but with the most stunning clothes you could ever see. The entire center was separated by brand and covered with racks of clothes. There was womenswear, menswear, kids’ clothing, shoes, jewelry, bags, even some skincare. The fair had everything you could think of, and more.
When I first arrived, I was nervous because I was alone. It’s intimidating walking into a room filled with people who work in the fashion field, are a little older, and don’t look like you. I felt out of place then I remembered no one knows who I am. If I embarrass myself in front of a rep or another attendee, that’s perfectly fine. These people don’t know me, and I don’t know them. As I walked through the fair, I became increasingly more confident talking to reps, and asking questions. This was an opportunity to learn about another side of the fashion world, so I took it.
Besides meeting new people, I also got some cool free stuff. I got a denim shirt, skincare, candy, a 3D printed key chain, and some catalogs. A lot of brands advertise by handing out branded items to attendees. In addition, I also got this beautiful custom scarf from one of the stations. It was a collaboration between VIA University College and EPSON. The station was run by university students, and they were repurposing scarves made from deadstock fabrics by printing new designs on them. The idea is very innovative and sustainable which is desperately needed in fashion right now. With the amount of waste fast fashion contributes to the world each year, it’s exciting to see young students leading the charge towards more mindful fashion.
What I Learned at CIFF
Being a buyer must be overwhelming at times especially when attending fairs like this. They’re in charge of choosing collections that will be in their storefronts. It’s their responsibility to determine which ones will be most popular and profitable. Events like this are fun for an attendee like me, but buyers have their jobs on the line. It’s very similar with reps, but they have even more stakes. The buyers at least have options while the reps have to work to reel buyers in, and keep them entertained. There were so many brands with high quality and well crafted pieces that sadly had empty stations. The fashion world is fickle and cutthroat. Making the pieces is one thing, but getting someone to buy them is even harder because reps have to make buyers believe in the collection.
Women in Fashion Event
CIFF was lovely, and I’m thankful I was able to attend. That same day I went to the women in fashion event. This event was much smaller and cozier. Very hyggeligt as the Danes would say. The event was a showroom and popup for small designers from around the world to showcase their work. All of the clothing brands were incomparable to each other, and had their own distinct narrative. I’ll list the brands below, so you all can look at them yourselves.
- Balkanica (Peru)
- Lafaani (India)
- MAZ (Colombia)
- Olga Fisch (Ecuador)
The event inspired me because it was a reflection of what I want in my future. Attending this event is hopefully a step in the right direction, as it would be a dream to have my own brand.
Attending these events as a part of Copenhagen Fashion week is a memory I will never forget. The best part is that they were FREE. All I did was sign up online, and I was in. Events like these can help anyone that is interested in fashion, but doesn’t know where to start. They are low stakes and expose you to different audiences in fashion which can help you find your niche.
Thank you all for reading this week’s post. I hope you enjoyed it. If you’d like to know when I post again, fill out the subscriber form to your right. Stay sharp 😉