As part of the delegation trip of the internationalisation project Berlin Fashion x International supported by the Berlin Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises, the Fashion Council Germany hosted the second international Fireside Dinner in New York City. The event took place at Loft29, the photo studio of Udo Spreitzenbarth, and the location of Chef Simon's German Speakeasy Dinner concept. Selected players from the fashion and tech scene, as well as relevant representatives from the press and politics, including the Berlin State Secretary for Economics, Michael Biel, came together for an inspiring evening.

The Fireside Dinner offered participants the opportunity to network with industry experts and gain valuable insights into the US market. The discussions focused on the challenges and difficulties of entering the US market, but also on the many opportunities that can be offered by potential network partners of the internationalisation project. The positive international development of Berlin Fashion Week was also discussed.

Fashion Council Germany CEO Scott Lipinski and Chairwoman Christiane Arp opened the evening together with the Berlin State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Michael Biel. Scott Lipinski explained: ‘With Berlin Fashion X International, we have launched an initiative to build and strengthen German-American partnerships in the fashion industry. We appreciate the openness and support of our US network partners and are delighted about the great interest in Berlin as a location’. Christiane Arp added: ‘Berlin is known for techno, its club culture, theatre, art and more and more for its creative, diverse, sustainable fashion community. We want to focus the New York and international gaze on what we see: Talent and great potential.’

Berlin's State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Michael Biel, emphasised: ‘The fashion industry is an important and growing part of Berlin's creative industries. We are proud of the young talents who are developing their very own idea of inclusive, sustainable and innovative fashion in Berlin. They are ambassadors for a new generation of fashion creators. We want to make this visible internationally and are experiencing great interest here in New York.’

The highlight of the evening was the exclusive menu by German prestige chef Chef Simon. With his ‘German speakeasy dinner’ approach, he has been representing a new interpretation of German cuisine in New York City for several years. Guests included designer Melitta Baumeister, winner of the CFDA/VOGUE Fashion Fund 2023; Marcel Ostwald, Senior Vice President Michael Kors; Teen Vogue's Managing Editor, Alyssa Hardy; Teneshia Carr, Editor-in-Chief of Blanc Magazine; Lucie Brigham from the United Nations Office for Partnerships and Fashion Editor & Stylist Jenny Capitain.

Participants included AVENIR, DR. BAUM, IMPARI, HADERLUMP, Kasia Kucharska, Natascha von Hirschhausen, PLATTE Berlin, RICHERT BEIL, ReFramed, SANE Standard, SF1OG and SOCIÉTÉ ANGELIQUE. As part of the delegation trip, participants will also have the opportunity to meet representatives from major US industry players such as Highsnobiety, the CFDA and the renowned Parsons School of Design. By networking with showrooms, PR agencies, retailers, press contacts and other multipliers, a basis for the desired US market entry can be formed.