Copenhagen Fashion Week 2025: August 4–8 Recap
Nordic Sustainability, Rising Talent & Street Style Swagger: What Made Copenhagen Fashion Week SS26 a Global Moment
Copenhagen has mastered the art of the quiet statement. There are no blaring theatrics, no unnecessary excess, just an assured voice that carries further each season. From 4 to 8 August 2025, the Danish capital once again proved why it has become one of fashion’s most closely watched cities, staging 44 shows and presentations that gracefully moved between heritage and freshness, concept and wearability.
This wasn’t just a schedule, it was a conversation in motion. In venues ranging from royal stables to forest clearings, designers delivered collections that spoke in textures, sustainability pledges, and cultural nods. The city’s unofficial second runway kept pace on the streets, distilling the Scandi ethos into layered prints, confident tailoring, and accessories with a wink.
Runway Highlights with Lasting Resonance
45 brands and programs shaped the SS26 calendar across four days, each given the flexibility to present their collections in ways that felt true to their identity. The format allowed for both traditional runway energy and intimate presentation spaces, making room for experimentation in how collections are experienced. The pace was deliberate, never rushed, with time to see clothes instead of simply documenting them.
Cecilie Bahnsen’s 10th Anniversary Spectacle
Cecilie Bahnsen celebrated a decade of her brand with a collection that felt like a love letter to her archives. Entirely crafted from past fabrics and dresses, the collection emphasized her signature poetic volume, featuring bustle-inspired shapes, empire necklines, and shimmering disco-ball gowns in silver and white. However, the real surprise was the juxtaposition of sporty hoodies and shorts made from upcycled couture. This blend was a tribute to her past and a challenge to her future creativity. The opening look, modeled by Ísadóra Bjarkardóttir Barney—daughter of Björk—set the tone perfectly: translucent tulle, delicate bows, metallic makeup, and sneakers paired with knee socks. It created an image of softness layered over a quiet rebellion.
Image Courtesy of James Cochrane via Vogue Scandinavia
OpéraSPORT
Poolside at the historic Frederiksberg Badene, OpéraSPORT's show resembled a dialogue between continents. The pastel sage and butter yellow tones drew inspiration from Seoul's sunrise light and blended seamlessly with Copenhagen's design ethos of clean, minimalist shapes. Hibiscus prints floated across sheer, 3D lace, while the swimwear was topped with delicate embroidered caps that evoked a nostalgic glamour without veering into retro cliché. However, the standout moment was the debut of 3D-printed Havaianas flip-flops. This marked a quiet revolution in footwear, demonstrating how the brand integrates technology into its craftsmanship not as a gimmick, but as a genuine evolution.
Image Courtesy of Vogue Scandinavia
Rotate by Birger Christensen
Rotate's interpretation of the '70s focused on emotion rather than mere imitation. Suede skirts swayed alongside sheer, polka-dotted blouses, while bohemian drapes elegantly framed the shoulders in a relaxed, lived-in manner. Soft lemon and powder blue hues washed over the collection, reminiscent of sun-faded Polaroids. It exuded nostalgia with a gentle touch, less like a costume and more like clothing imbued with memories that carried the warmth of a summer afternoon you thought you had forgotten.
Image Courtesy of James Cochrane via Vogue Scandinavia
Baum und Pferdgarten
At Charlottenlund's stables, the scent of hay mingled with a sense of excitement. The collection embraced equestrian themes, featuring country checks on flowing skirts, silk scarves tied with effortless style, and windbreakers adorned with racing stripes. Straw peeking from the footwear added a playful touch to each step. This collection was fun without being frivolous, showcasing the unique balance Baum und Pferdgarten has mastered.
Image Courtesy of James Cochrane via Vogue Scandinavia
Han Kjøbenhavn
Han Kjøbenhavn excels at transforming the ordinary into something strange and cinematic. This collection redefined suburban masculinity with oversized faux-leather bombers, light-catching mesh tracksuits, and sculptural silver tops that appeared almost otherworldly. Each piece's unique scale and texture challenged the familiar, turning the everyday into something exciting.
Image Courtesy of James Cochrane via Vogue Scandinavia
Iamisigo
Iamisigo arrived from Lagos with garments that embodied the essence of African craftsmanship. Each piece showcased the art of upcycling, as discarded materials were transformed into intricate shapes and textures that adorned bodies and shared stories. Here, sustainability was more than just a buzzword; it represented a lineage—a continuation of traditional hand skills that had been passed down and reimagined.
Image Courtesy of James Cochrane via Vogue Scandinavia
Street Style: Scandi Spirit in Motion
In Copenhagen, the street has always been more than a walkway. It’s an extension of the runway, where style breathes between shows. This season, the energy on the sidewalks was distinctly personal. Rather than following trends in their purest form, guests bent and twisted them until they carried a part experiment, part autobiography signature. There was a sense of ease and a refusal to let the city’s famously practical wardrobe fall into predictability.
Lace in a New Light
Lace ventured beyond its delicate origins and embraced a bolder fashion statement. Black leather jackets were worn over sheer lace dresses, while pale lace blouses peeked out beneath distressed denim. This contrast was visual; it transformed lace from something fragile into a symbol of resilience, demonstrating that it could stand its ground against more rugged elements in a wardrobe.
Polka Dots, Stripes & Checks
Graphic patterns were mixed deliberately, not accidentally. Striped button-downs clashed joyfully with checkered trousers, while polka-dot pencil skirts were worn under oversized striped knits. The combinations had a certain rhythm: structured yet unrestrained, like Copenhagen.
Balloon Pants
Silhouettes expanded and moved with the flow of balloon pants. Their exaggerated volume was balanced by thoughtfully selected tops, such as cropped knits, tailored blazers, or tucked-in t-shirts. This style played with avant-garde elements while focusing on comfort, making it appealing in photographs and practical.
Elevated Flip-Flops
What could have been the laziest choice in footwear turned into an unexpected topic of conversation. Flip-flops featured kitten heels wrapped in suede and were adorned with grommets. They were styled with tailored trousers and sharp skirts, giving them a more subversive feel than a casual look, almost like a cheeky wink during a formal discussion.
Image Courtesy of Noorunisa Khan via Vogue Scandinavia
Image Courtesy of Martyna Mierzejewska via Vogue Scandinavia
Image Courtesy of Martyna Mierzejewska via Vogue Scandinavia
Inclusivity and Business Innovation
Copenhagen thrives on accessibility. Unlike other fashion capitals, the city’s shows feel porous, with a mix of high-fashion editors, street style photographers, and curious locals all crossing the same cobblestones. Casting choices reflected a broad spectrum of ages, ethnicities, and body types, not in a tokenistic way, but as an authentic extension of the city’s open spirit.
Off the runway, the CIFF trade fair at Bella Center acted as a buzzing hub for over 150 Nordic and international brands. Buyers and press could move seamlessly between shows and the fair, creating a cultural showcase and commercial driver week.
Under the leadership of CEO Cecilie Thorsmark, CPHFW has built its identity around resilience and relevance. While other fashion weeks have struggled to align values with vision, Copenhagen has fused them into a clear mission: championing creative risk-taking without compromising sustainability. The result is a platform that feels as fresh for buyers and editors as it does for young designers making their debut.
Why This Week Mattered
Copenhagen Fashion Week August 2025 showed that a fashion capital doesn’t need to shout to be heard. Sustainability wasn’t a glossy afterthought; it was the base note. Heritage houses stood beside emerging names without hierarchy, and the week’s most memorable moments carried both concept and care.
From rat-shaped clutches to 3D-printed sandals, from forest clearings to palace courtyards, the message was clear: mindful innovation can be visually thrilling. Street style didn’t just echo the runways it engaged in its dialogue, proving once again that Copenhagen’s influence is as much about the clothes as it is about how people inhabit them.
The city, as always, left us feeling that Scandinavian poise is not static; it’s in a constant creative pulse.