Reference Festival presented the third edition under the theme “Protopia”
by Ivica Mamedy
Reference Festival partnered up with leading art institution Schinkel Pavillon to take over West Berlin’s ultimate architectural landmark, Bierpinsel. The idea was to explore the synergies between fashion and the arts by extending our interdisciplinary festival from Berlin Fashion Week into Art Week.
From September 6th to 19th, the Reference Festival: Protopia featured an installation by 032c which showcased their new MARIA collection, the first-ever presentation by Antonioli’s 44 LABEL GROUP, an installation by acte™, Carhartt WIP’s WIP Magazine Issue 05 launch with Houston based producer Paris Aden, a radio station by deadHYPE x Sunshine Live, a book launch presented by Do You Read Me?!; GmbH, Jack Wolfskin, a performative showcase by Juliana Huxtable x OTTOLINGER, a mobile pop-up and bouldering gym takeover by Phipps, video installations curated by Protopia Futures, an exclusive, news channel themed runway show by Richert Beil; Rudi Gernreich, an interactive installation by Treffpunkt, an exhibition by Wild Animals; a Wood Wood store activation and a music program curated by PAN’s Bill Kouligas which included Mark Leckey and more.
In addition, Reference Incubator (in partnership with Italian fashion powerhouse Slam Jam) presented its winner: London-based Sri Lankan Amesh Wijesekera. The initiative’s committee included super curator Hans Ulrich Obrist, Slam Jam founder Luca Benini, top model Soo Joo Park, Naomi Campbell protege Kenneth Ize, Supreme’s Zainab Jama, GmbH’s Benjamin Huseby & Serhat Isik, Sansovino 6’s Edward Buchanan, Vogue Italia’s Ferdinando Verderi, DEEP Energies’ Clea Irving & James Deutsher, Jack Wolfskin’s Mokhtar Benbouazza, and Eco-Age’s CEO Simon Whitehouse. Reference Incubator set to focus on responsible fashion and representation for new generation talent – Wijesekera perfectly captures this.
Versace Spring/Summer 2022
DIESEL FW21 Campaign
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Reference Festival presented the third edition under the theme “Protopia”
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