TALENTS FROM BERLIN FASHION WEEK

IRMA will look for new design talent in Berlin to make a little change in her wardrobe
IRMA will look for new design talent in Berlin to make a little change in her wardrobe

Berlin: Berlin is known for young talent and it is great to see that more international buyers are coming into town to have a look at German fashion. This year, for example, Berlin welcomes the founder of matchesfashion.com, Ruth Chapman, who will be also visiting the Vogue Salon, where Vogue curated their favorite designers. There are more to come and I would keep an eye on the following young talents who are worth looking into.

LENA HOSCHEK
Lena’s career trajectory has been amazing. After attending the world-renowned Central Saint Martins in London, she interned with Vivienne Westwood (who also loves the dirndl and has famously said “There would be no ugliness in the world if every woman wore a dirndl.”) She returned to Graz to launch her own label at just 24, opening a small store attached to her studio. Three years later, she opened her retro-fabulous store in Vienna, where she now lives.

IVANMAN
Ivan Mandzukic is one of the newcomers among Berlin designers: Not until 2010 did the Serbian born designer found the label IVANMAN and has been designing men’s fashion ever since. He designs for the man who is unashamed to wear pink and likes to show some skin. So this season’s collection is dominated by back-free shirts and short pants, while IVANMAN at the same time stays true to his minimalist style with light colors, classic cuts and simple fits. His example for the purist look were the uniforms of New York’s stock exchange.

IRENE LUFT
Irene Luft was born 1977 Qaskeleng, near Almaty, Kasachstan. She moved to Munich and studied fashion design at the AMD Akademie Mode & Design. In 2008 she established her own label under her name. For season four of the TV show Germany’s Next Topmodel she designed a 20-piece collection, with which the candidates were photographed in Los Angeles. In 2011 she presented her collection for the first time at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Berlin.

MARINA HOERMANSEDER
Lady Gaga is a fan of fashion designer Marina Hoermanseder. She designs in order to provoke and shock – and most of the time she is successful. Her pieces are certainly unique. Inspired by prostheses and artificial limbs, the label that carries her name works mostly with buckles and self-dyed leather, which form voluminous bodies thanks to a unique cutting technique. With a love for detail and handicraft at the highest level, she creates unique designs that are impossible to overlook.