Fashion Council Germany has launched the fifth edition of its mentoring programme, FASHION X CRAFT, opening it for the first time to both emerging German-based designers and their British counterparts. Four designers from each country will work together at the intersection of traditional craftsmanship, sustainability, and innovation. The edition takes place in cooperation with The King’s Foundation, with Lands’ End as a partner, and for the first time with support from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, Dr Wolfram Weimer.

Processed with VSCO with a6 preset

A jury of experts from the UK and Germany selected the eight participants. From Germany: Anne Kathrin Bodach, Alina Nazari, Lukas Roßkamp, and Vivien Vetterkind. From the United Kingdom: Genaro Alberto Rivas Ravelo, Rachel Lucretia McComb, Holly Shih, and Isabelle Pennington-Edmead.

From 5 to 26 October, participants will take part in workshops and coaching focused on craft techniques and sustainable resources. New this edition: the three-week residency will take place in Germany rather than the UK, at Werkhaus Stöckle in Gerswalde, Uckermark. Tutors from The King’s Foundation will travel from the UK to lead workshops on traditional British craft techniques, complemented by sessions with local artists.

By the end of January 2027, each participant will create two fashion designs and a reinterpretation of the Lands’ End tote bag, with materials provided by ZEROW. The results will be presented at Berlin Fashion Week FW27 and at an exhibition in the UK in summer 2027. “Craft lives through passing skills on, and that is exactly what happens in FASHION X CRAFT,” said Scott Lipinski, CEO of Fashion Council Germany. “The fact that the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media and The King’s Foundation are supporting this collaboration sends an important signal about the value of craftsmanship, sustainability and international cultural exchange.”