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| Luminous red leather and cut-off shorts and long socks at Asger Juel Larsen at Copenhagen Fashion Week. Cover picture at the Haervaerk show and photograph above by Jesper Bang-P.Thortzen |
Copenhagen Fashion Week is known for its cultural cool and celebration of Nordic ingenuity and style. Today, it is the largest and most influential fashion event in Scandinavia. Held between the menswear shows in June and the prêt-à-porter womenswear collections in September, Limor Helfgott reports on the highlights from the Danish capital. Photography by Jesper Bang-P. Thortzen
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| Plays on gender. Photo: Jesper Bang-P.Thortzen |
FOR three days, Copenhagen Fashion Week takes over the city as the best of Scandinavian design sashays down the runways at different venues around town. Denmark has become a powerful global fashion stage and has an undeniable cultural cool. It's designers are known for their sophisticated, unusual and artful collections for both men and women. There is no doubt that Danish fashion has a lot to offer, from edgy dark street couture to lighter, tailored and more flowing styles. But most of all it is their effortless, modern and fresh take on current trends.
Most labels showing at Copenhagen Fashion Week had collections that were both wearable and generally more affordable than those at the major fashion cities such as Paris, Milan, London and New York. Although there were trends in Copenhagen already seen during the other fashion weeks, there were also more unique and eclectic pieces with unusual colour combinations, textures and silhouettes and interesting plays on gender, such as model Vincent Beier at Mark Kenly Domino Tan (pictured above). These are some of the brands and designers with the most interesting and innovative collections of Spring/Summer 2017:
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| Asger Juel Larsen. Photo:Jesper Bang-P. Thortzen |
Asger Juel Larsen: Cool Nordic Gent
This season Asger Juel Larsen, known as one of the most avant-garde, experimental Danish designers is back with a very strong collection and his catwalk show was one of the highlights of fashion week. A big questions this season in Copenhagen was can Asger Juel Larsen rise from ashes? A literal rather than metaphorical question as a few months ago, Larsen's studio in Copenhagen was tragically destroyed by fire. The designer and his team had to start afresh and work day and night to prepare the new SS17 collection. The result is a magnificent collection entitled: ‘Burned Not Fried’, a presentation with strong commercial looks and a new creative energy that was very much evident throughout his show. There was a wide variety of colour choices and silhouettes, large skeleton head designs along with loose suiting, oversized sweaters with military references, plaid shirts with statement pieces such as a red motorcycle jacket and a fierce zebra print set that stole the show.
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| Barbara I Gongini.: Jesper Bang-P.Thortzen |
Barbara I Gongini: The Bold Side of Summer
Once again, Barbara I Gongini presented an edgy, Nordic-inspired collection with striking pieces suitable for both men and women, especially for the bold and environmentally-conscious among us. If you are looking for a colourful summer wardrobe, you will not find it in Gongini’s collection. The colour palette was her signature black, accompanied by greys and whites and styled with large tribal inspired necklaces. Models' hair was combed up around their faces with dark ghoulish make-up to create a loose, elegant parade of extravagant pieces.
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| Freya Dalsjo. Photo: Jesper Bang-P. Thortzen |
Freya Dalsjø: The Uncrowned Queen
Contemporary womenswear designer Freya Dalsjo is fashion week’s uncrowned queen and is known for her playful and experimental style. Her SS17 collection was very wearable: jumpsuits and shirt dresses in a range of neutral shades and lots of zippers and patchwork details. Once again, like on a lot of other catwalks this season, the designer pushed the boundaries between male and female and new, experimental forms. At first, Dalsjø's collection seems quite simple, but with an avant-garde approach: exaggerating and deconstructing forms and silhouettes and using colours that most designers would think impossible to combine. Voluminous coats, parachute dresses and the strong choice of the colour palette (a noisy lime green hue was a feature of the show) and the bold yellow, polished boots, made it quite clear that this collection was created for women with a bit of an attitude yet feminine and complex.
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| House of Dagmar. Photo: Jesper Bang-P.Thortzen |
House of Dagmar: Imagined & Re imagined
Welcome to The House of Dagmar, a world of beautiful tailoring, flowing yet sturdy materials and fine details.
The Swedish brand, established in 2005 by the three sisters Karin Söderlind, Kristina Tjäder and Sofia Wallenstam, showcased their new collection at Copenhagen fashion week for the first time. They presented a form of Swedish minimalism combining an elegant sensuality with natural materials. The inspiration is a modern woman going back to nature despite the digital world she lives in. The collection included a variety of knitwear and soft leather in natural colours: white, oatmeal, indigo, stone and sky blue hues combined with stronger colours such as orange that was used as an accent. Overall it was a sophisticated and sensual collection designed for a confident, outgoing woman.
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| Lala Berlin. Photo: Jesper Bang-P. Thortzen |
Lala Berlin: Jungle Fever in the City
Chic urban city girl, meets sophisticated jungle wardrobe seemed the inspiration for Lala Berlin's new collection. Are you confused? So were we until Iranian-born designer, Leyla Piedayesh unveiled her stunning SS17 collection ~ then the diversity all made sense. “City Jungle” was held in the old Carlsberg brewery in an industrial area in the middle of Copenhagen and had clear connections to the African jungle with a feminine flair. The colour palette went from white and soft light blue to dramatic greens, yellows, oranges and black. The strikingly innovative looks had details such as fringes, embroidered patchwork and knitted ruffles while the filmy white dresses and shirts all had rich textural details. The collection was unusually elegant yet very wearable.
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| Baum & Pferdgarten. Photo: Jesper Bang-P.Thortzen |
Baum & Pferdgarten: The New Femininity
Designers Rikke Baumgarten and Helle Hestehave are well-known on the Danish fashion scene and are local favourites of editors and fashionistas in Copenhagen. Baum & Pferdgarten have been creating innovative feminine collections since 1999 and the brand is known for experimenting with different styles, especially clashing shapes and prints. And this season continued the exploration of these themes. The SS17 collection was inspired by the late Seventies and early Eighties with a distinctly preppy style. Stripes and checks were the most stand-out combination with prints layered upon prints. Other features were the pussy-bow blouses and suit jackets, sheer skirts teamed with striped knee-high socks and floating lemon-yellow dresses worn on top of knitted, striped trousers. All of the these elements added up to a quirky and fun new collection.
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| Mark Kenly Domino Tan: Jesper Bang-P. Thortzen |
Mark Kenly Domino Tan: Chiffon School Girl
At a beautiful venue in Copenhagen's Amager, Mark Kenly Domino Tan showed stylish, feminine silhouettes. The SS17 collection included an eclectic choice and mix of fabrics. Chiffons and silks were teamed with contrasting furs and suiting while fur-lined coats were paired with over-sized bows and silken trousers. Pinstripe shirts were transformed into dresses with sky-high slits. Collaborating with Yvonne Koné and Orit Elhanati, Mark Kenly Domino Tan's collection was complimented by beautiful shoes and jewellery. It was interesting to see yet another show that proves gender norms are shifting in fashion. The label's gender-fluid muse and one of fashion’s most promising new faces, Maison Margiela’s stunning seventeen year old Vincent Beier, walked the show again, having made his debut with the brand last August. Overall this season Mark Kenly Domino Tan presented a more utilitarian and less couture-influenced collection. It was still dramatic but at the same time very wearable.
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| Haerverk. Photo by Jesper Bang-P. Thortzen |
Hærværk: Welcome to the Future
Every season exciting new brands are added to the Copenhagen fashion week schedule to keep us on our toes. Debuting this August in the capital was Hærværk, (‘vandalism’ in Danish) founded by Niels Gundtoft Hansen. The young designer recently graduated from the Royal College of Art, specialising in menswear, and has already been featured in Italian Vogue. The designer chose a unique, authentic and raw setting to show his new collection. The show was held at a skate ramp called Alice in Wonderland in Christiania where the designer presented his sci-fi inspired SS17 collection. The show had a strong futuristic vibe, a combination of work wear and industrial textures. Many of the garments had a pre-loved, used look mixed wtih rugged utility belts and robot-like boots with sci-fi style lettering dominating most of the pieces. Colours were strong such as blue, yellow and orange. The setting and the powerful collection made a big impact and Niels Gundtoft Hansen is certainly a new designer to keep an eye on for next season in Copenhagen!
Tap on photographs for full-screen slide-show from Copenhagen Fashion Week
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| Model Vincent Beier, muse for the Mark Kenly Domino Tan collection. Photo by Jesper Bang-P.Thortzen |
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| Stylish and contemporary suiting at Mark Kenly Domino Tan. Photo by Jesper Bang-P.Thortzen |
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| Mix of fabrics and fur at Mark Kenly Domino Tan. Photo by Jesper Bang-P. Thortzen |
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| The dramatic and feminine new collection of Mark Kenly Domino Tan in Copenhagen. Photo by Jesper Bang-P. Thortzen |
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| Asger Juel Larsen's "Burned not Fried" collection at Copenhagen Fashion Week. Photo by Jasper Bang-P.Thortzen |
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| Dark opaque and glimmering textures at Asger Juel Larsen. Photo by Jesper Bang-P.Thortzen |
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| The burnt orange and yellows of the Seventies era gave inspiration to Asger Juel Larsen for the latest collection. Photo by Jesper Bang-P. Thortzen |
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| Space age silver & pastel pink at Asger Juel Larsen. Photo by Jesper Bang-P. Thortzen |
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| Backstage in Copenhagen, designer Barbara I Gongini contemplates her new collection. Photo by Jesper Bang-P.Thortzen |
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| Ghoulish make-up created backstage at Barbara I Gongini. Photo by Jesper Bang-P. Thortzen |
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| Appearing out of the dark, the white, windswept creations of Barbara I Gongini. Photo by Jesper Bang-P. Thortzen |
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| Barbara I Gongini's conceptual show in fluid blacks, whites and greys. Photo by Jesper Bang-P. Thortzen |
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| Asymmetry and crushed fabrics at Barbara I Gongini. Photo by Jesper Bang-P. Thortzen |
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| Freya Dalsjo's dynamic new collection with its dash of vivid lime green in Copenhagen. Photo by Jesper Bang-P. Thortzen |
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| Unusual colour combinations at Freya Dalsjo in grey and lime green with s splash of denim. Photo by Jesper Bang-P. Thortzen |
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| Tailored black jacket with a soft sheen was combined with graphic trousers at Freya Dalsjo. Photo by Jesper Bang-P. Thortzen |
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| Sleek silhouettes and textured fabrics at House of Dagmar. Photo by Jesper Bang-P. Thortzen |
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| Sporty colourful tops contrasted with asymmetric skirts at House of Dagmar. Photo by Jesper Bang-P.Thortzen |
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| Smooth and bulky knitted sleeves made an interesting contrast at House of Dagmar. Photo by Jesper Bang-P. Thortzen |
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| Flowing lines in light blue and white at Lala Berlin, held at the old Carlsberg Brewery. Photo by Jesper Bang-P.Thortzen |
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| A certain hippy chic ran through the new collection of Lala Berlin in Copenhagen. Photo by Jesper Bang-P. Thortzen |
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| The finale with the designer between two giant elephants at the old Carlsberg brewery in Copenhagen, Photo by Jesper Bang-P. Thortzen |
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| Quirky knits at Baum & Pferdgarten. Photo by Jesper Bang-P. Thortzen |
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| Prints inspired by the Seventies were a highlight at Baum & Pferdgarten. Photo by Jesper Bang-P. Thortzen |
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| A Gossamer-fine creation and retro jacket at Baum & Pferdgarten. Photo by Jesper Bang-P. Thortzen |
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| Sheer fabrics and a Seventies aesthetic at Baum & Pferdgarten. Photo by Jesper Bang-P. Thortzen |
