Berlin. This afternoon the emerging Austrian designer Christoph Rumpf opened the spring/summer MBFW in Berlin. Fashion experts, buyers and journalists followed the show as part of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Talents Programme for promoting future names in the international fashion world. Until Wednesday evening, 3 July, 15 other, predominantly German labels will be presenting their collections on the runway and the forecourt of the ewerk in Berlin Mitte. Further designers will also be showing selected creations in the publicly accessible, transparent Growhouses. On Tuesday, 2 July an exclusive Inspiration Talk by She’s Mercedes and Blogger Bazaar is taking place for the first time as part of MBFW, dedicated to the topic of “Focus Female Changemakers”.
Christoph Rumpf at MBFW
The 25-year-old student at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna won the Grand Prix du Jury Première Vision a few weeks ago at the 34th International Festival of Fashion, Photography and Fashion Accessories in Hyères. The award includes the invitation to Berlin as part of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Talents Programme. Christoph Rumpf’s collection is inspired by international cultures – from Indian fabrics through the opulence of Arab monarchs and traditional Spanish costumes of the 17th century to the works of the artists Pierre et Gilles and James Bidgood. The designer attaches a great deal of importance to sustainability and mainly processes fabrics and materials which he buys from flea markets in Vienna. By upcycling he gives a new lease of life to carpets, curtains, scarves and other items in his fashion collection. In addition to the menswear looks which won the award in Hyères, in Berlin he presented six new womenswear creations for the first time.
Christoph Rumpf has styled a Mercedes-Benz CLA for MBFW. The vehicle is exhibited on the forecourt of the ewerk and will be raffled via the official Instagram channel @MBFW.berlin among all the followers who like the competition post and link three friends below it.
FOLLOW MBFW – FOCUS FASHION
MBFW Spring/Summer 2020 has as its motto FOLLOW MBFW – FOCUS FASHION and is open to the public, as in past seasons. The green forecourt of the ewerk invites everyone interested in fashion to experience the designers’ shows on livestream and to visit the new Growhouses inspired by glazed greenhouses. Young designers and Labels such as Isabel Vollrath, Michael Sontag and Vladimir Karaleev are presenting their work in an exhibition there.
“With Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week we want to strengthen the fashion industry in Germany, make it accessible to an international audience and everyone interested in fashion and, as a mobility partner, connect all the platforms in Berlin on which the new trends for spring/summer 2020 are being shown”, says Katja Ohly-Nauber, Head of Marketing Communication Mercedes-Benz Cars Germany.
“An important part of this is promoting young fashion talents, which we have been driving forward for the past ten years with our Mercedes-Benz Fashion Talents programme. Christoph Rumpf’s show is again a very good example of the inspiring and future-oriented way in which the young designers are interpreting fashion.”
She’s Mercedes x MBFW hosted by Blogger Bazaar
“Focus Female Changemakers” is the title of an Inspiration Talk being held on Tuesday 2 July at 5 p.m. by She’s Mercedes in cooperation with Blogger Bazaar at MBFW in the ewerk. The fashion influencer Lisa Banholzer will be moderating the discussion panel with Stephanie Dettmann, co-founder of the natural cosmetics firm UndGretel, Sema Gedik, founder of the labels AUF AUGENHÖHE for people of small stature, and Cloudy Zakrocki, Vice President international Content & Brand Strategy at Refinery29, on female pioneering spirit, courage to change and impetus for a better future.
Ten years of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Talents
In 2009 Mercedes-Benz established the group’s own programme, “Mercedes-Benz Fashion Talents”, to support young people in the world of fashion. The goal has been to help pave the way for talented designers to enter the fashion sector outside of their home markets and provide them with support in their international careers. Over the past ten years, as part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Talents the automotive manufacturer has enabled shows to be held for more than 90 aspiring designers on approximately 30 platforms around the world, including in Milan, London, Prague, Istanbul and Berlin. The programme is growing continually and is being extended on an on-going basis with new initiatives and partnerships. The overview of the company’s involvement is revised annually.
24 years of Mercedes-Benz fashion activities
Over 24 years Mercedes-Benz has established itself worldwide as a major player in the fashion industry and title sponsor of selected fashion weeks and events. The brand is currently active at around 80 fashion events in over 40 countries, including the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Weeks, which take place in locations including Sydney, Mexico City, Madrid, Tiflis and Berlin and at the renowned International Festival of Fashion, Photography and Fashion Accessories in Hyères. In addition to this, Mercedes-Benz has been a member of the Fashion Council Germany (FCG) since 2017 and a member of the German Fashion Designers Federation e.V. (GFDF) since 2018. The overview of the company’s involvement is revised annually.
