When the curtains of the Big Four of fashion drop, fashion insiders move to Copenhagen. Outside of entertainment culture and celebrity worship, CPHFW is rooted in individual creativity and solution-driven businesses that seek to create slower and more conscious processes in the industry. The 34 brands in attendance are required to meet sustainability criteria to participate in fashion week. These requirements include sharing their sustainability strategies, DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) policies, and presenting evidence of circular design in their processes.
Gathering an important selection of Scandinavian brands, the industry is built on a constant questioning of the notions surrounding fashion, creating a space where creativity is down-to-earth and transparent. This season, designers explored the intersection of meaningful creation, community, and nature—subjects at the core of the Scandinavian way of living. Brands revisited the notions of design and tradition from a sustainable perspective, leading the way toward climate solutions. Taking into account their own reality—their surroundings, unique settings, long winters, and mild summers—Scandinavian fashion remains respectful of the environment, making it their biggest source of inspiration.
Here are some highlights from CPHFW Fall-Winter ’25.
Marimekko: With Anatomy of a Flower, Finnish brand Marimekko proves that visually exciting garments are what they do best. For this season, they wanted to draw attention to the dualism between darkness and light through joyful and colorful prints. Stepping away from the precept that Scandinavian fashion is not colorful, this collection features bright oranges, yellows, reds, pinks, and blues alongside colder tones such as camel, grey, and black. XXL floral motifs are central to the collection, sometimes denoting the joy of summer days, other times reflecting the introspection of long winters.
Stine Goya: Stine Goya presented a collection that was delicate, with feminine florals and ruffles adorning the pieces, while stronger elements were showcased through leather and structured suits, resulting in a runway full of contrasts. The collection draws from the shifting seasons and their personal significance to the designer. Capturing the essence of nature and its impact on humans, the show conveyed a sense of circularity, where the weather and the landscape of each season dictated the cycle of life.
Filippa K: Filippa K, the quintessential Scandinavian brand from Sweden, showcased a collection with strong Scandinavian roots, based on a minimalist wardrobe with touches of modernism. Known for their easy and wearable wardrobe, this collection remained true to the brand’s DNA, offering functional looks designed to transition from day to night. Merging Scandinavian heritage with British countryside influences, each garment proves that when it comes to comfort, northern countries do it better than anyone else. From wool to knit, cotton, and silk, each piece exuded luxury. Structured and tailored pieces were central to creating this timeless silhouette, while loose fits added a modern feel.
Henrik Vibskov: Henrik Vibskov’s collection proves that maximalism can also rhyme with the Nordic aesthetic, as long as it involves layers. An eclectic wardrobe, mixing and matching colors, motifs, and styles, created bold silhouettes and an edgy approach to creativity. Inspired by humanity’s interest in shaping nature and nature’s resilience, the collection blended landscape and trivial motifs with stripes. Playing with the proportions of the layers, each look offered a retro styling.
Won Hundred: Won Hundred reworked the idea of destruction and renewal through a collection that was raw and edgy, with silhouettes that were deconstructed and almost dystopian. Dark denim ruled the runway, while loose-fitting aesthetics disrupted the classic minimalism of other shows. Reminiscent of Grunge’s silhouettes, the collection was imprinted with an underground energy.
