Berlin Fashion X International brought twelve Berlin fashion labels & tech start-ups to New York City on a second delegation trip in April. The overarching goal of the initiative is to support Berlin-based companies in their market entry into the USA and to provide them with relevant and forward-looking business contacts. The project is funded by the Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises and the European Union. This year's trip was also accompanied by Chairwoman of FCG, Christiane Arp, and Berlin State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Michael Biel.

The delegation was made up of the twelve fashion brands and tech start-ups AVENIR, DR. BAUM, IMPARI, HADERLUMP, Kasia Kucharska, Natascha von Hirschhausen, PLATTE Berlin, SANE Standard, SF1OG, SOCIÉTÉ ANGELIQUE, REFRAMD and RICHERT BEIL.. The participants received a week-long programme specially tailored to their needs, which introduced them to the special features of the US market and included sales and communication workshops as well as strategic market entry recommendations. They were brought together with local stakeholders, press representatives and industry experts in various programme items and were thus able to make important international contacts.

Factory visits to the famous Garment District and meetings with representatives of the Parsons School of Design ELab, the concept store chain The Webster and the fashion stores of PHILLIP LIM and MERZ B. Schwanen provided the participants with valuable insights into sustainable technologies and US retail. They also had the opportunity to meet industry leaders such as Willa Bennett from Highsnobiety, industry expert Karo Brandi, freelance fashion journalist India Roby, buying expert Michal Kurtis and Carmen Gama from the Eileen Fisher Foundation in person. Another highlight of the five-day programme was a visit to the Council of Fashion Designers of America, where CEO Steven Kolb and Communications Director Marc Karimzadeh shared important US industry insights.

As in the previous year, the twelve entrepreneurs received a pitch training with entrepreneur Brian Frumberg as well as additional communication training and coaching with Kim Lenar. The training prepared the participants for the following "Pitch Night", where they met potential US investors. Following the respective pitches, they gave valuable feedback and even expressed interest in a possible investment. The evening was opened by State Secretary Michael Biel, followed by a keynote speech by Kim Lenar.

To mark the occasion of the delegation trip, another FCG Fireside Dinner was held in New York City at Loft 29, the photo studio of German photographer Udo Spreitzenbarth. For the second time, the evening was accompanied by the culinary delights of German prestige chef Simon with an exclusive menu. The dinner focussed primarily on the exchange between the German and American industry players and the establishment of valuable business partnerships.

The next step is proactive networking between the players in both markets. The aim here is to develop the partnerships that have been established and initiate concrete business. Fashion Council Germany will be on hand to advise all project participants and provide them with ongoing support in developing their business partnerships. Regular webinars provide further input on important topics relating to the US market.

The Pitch Night was supported by DWIH New York - German Center for Research and Innovation as well as the Berlin Business Office USA.