Copenhagen Fashion Week (CPHFW) is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year \u2013 and what a milestone it is. From its humble beginnings as a small, little-known fashion community to becoming a global player on the fashion week calendar, the event proves that setting trends while pushing meaningful change within the industry is not only possible, but profitable, too. <\/p>\n
Open this photo in gallery:<\/a><\/p>\n Copenhagen label Bonnetje is known for reconstructing old suits into new silhouettes.James Cochrane\/Supplied<\/p>\n CPHFW\u2019s slot on the calendar \u2013 August for Spring\/Summer and January for Fall\/Winter \u2013 makes it the first fashion week ahead of the \u201cBig Four\u201d in New York, London, Milan and Paris to present collections each season, cementing its role as an originator of emerging trends.<\/p>\n The milestone edition of the biannual event kicked off in January under a fresh blanket of snow and blistering winds. But the freezing temperatures didn\u2019t deter the hundreds of international buyers, editors and creatives who travelled to Copenhagen, with the street style set showing no shortage of inspiration for winter dressing. (Hint: it might be time to swap that black puffer for a more expressive approach to outerwear.)<\/p>\n The organization\u2019s strict sustainability requirements<\/a> have become a blueprint for greener fashion weeks worldwide. But that\u2019s not the only reason all eyes are on the so-called \u201cfifth fashion week.\u201d Cecilie Thorsmark, Copenhagen Fashion Week\u2019s chief executive officer, said fashion is now Denmark\u2019s third-largest export commodity, reflecting a growing global interest in Danish and Nordic fashion driven by strong craftsmanship, creativity and an accessible pricing structure.<\/p>\n Open this photo in gallery:<\/a><\/p>\n For Stockholm\u2019s Rave Review, designers Josephine Bergqvist and Livia Sch\u00fcck draped curtains onto skirts and dresses.James Cochrane\/Supplied<\/p>\n The event\u2019s philosophy of accessibility was not only evident behind the scenes but intrinsic to the collections themselves. Designers presented a vision of modern Nordic style in which functionality meets experimentation, with even the most conceptual designs appealing to real life rather than distant fantasy.<\/p>\n One of CPHFW\u2019s rising stars, Nicklas Skovgaard, spoke to this idea at his studio ahead of his show. \u201cMy brand is cultivated on the edge of romanticism and realism,\u201d he said. \u201cI see a lot of references from old films and images that I really love, but I always think: How would I imagine one of my really good friends wearing this? I\u2019m not interested in making costumes \u2013 I want to make clothes people can actually wear.\u201d <\/p>\n Skovgaard\u2019s Fall\/Winter 2026 collection featured 1930s silhouettes inspired by Danish actress Marguerite Viby\u2019s wardrobe in the film Mille, Marie og mig, juxtaposed with unexpected materials such as grey cotton jersey and brightly coloured leather. The looks were styled with 1970s-inspired sneakers and round-toe pumps.<\/p>\n Norwegian brand Holzweiler, which celebrated its 10th year showing at CPHFW in January, shared a similar mindset. \u201cWe want to create wearable fashion \u2013 clothes that can live with a person and become better and better over time,\u201d said designer Maria Skappel Holzweiler.<\/p>\n