By PAGE Editor

The Fashion Council Germany/VOGUE Fashion Fund, which is jointly initiated by the Fashion Council Germany and Vogue Germany, chose its first winner on Monday: Kasia Kucharska. She was announced as the winner at the Vogue Forces of Fashion event in Berlin by Michael Biel (State Secretary for Economic Affairs), Kerstin Weng (Head of Editorial Content, Vogue Germany) and Christiane Arp (Chairwoman, Fashion Council Germany) in front of nearly 250 guests.

The award was presented by Edward Enninful (Global Creative and Cultural Advisor of Vogue) and model Paloma Elsesser, who are both part of this year's jury. The Berlin designer Kasia Kucharska and her eponymous label beat the six other finalists Lou de Bètoly, LUEDER, NAMILIA, Richert Beil, SF1OG and Sia Arnika. She joins the list of successful international US-winners such as Melitta Baumeister (2023), Christopher John Rogers (2019) and Joseph Altuzarra (2011).

As a graduate of the Universität der Künste, Kasia Kucharska reinterprets the traditional material lace with her label under the claim “Future Craft” together with her former fellow students Wanda Wollinsky and Reiner Törner. Her designs are cast from biodegradable latex, many of them without producing any waste material. In addition to the prize money of €25,000, she will receive various communication services and a business mentoring program.

Over the next twelve months, six different topics will be explored in depth with renowned industry experts Christiane Arp (Collection Development), Kerstin Weng (Media / Press), Mumi Haiati (Brand Development), Roel de Cooman (Distribution / Sales), Scott Lipinski (Business) and Vanessa Gudehus (Production). The prize also includes the production of a fashion show for Berlin Fashion Week in February 2025, where the upcoming collection will be presented.

Scott Lipinski, CEO Fashion Council Germany, emphasized:

“We are proud to announce Kasia Kucharska as a great first winner of the FCG/VOGUE Fashion Fund. As an up-and-coming designer from Berlin, we saw great potential in her and her designs. Especially her creative and unique approach to rethinking fashion convinced me and the jury. I am sure that she has a successful international career ahead of her.”

Kerstin Weng, Head of Editorial Content Vogue Germany, added: "

Kasia Kucharska's looks impressed me straight away because they combine a unique appearance and an individual approach with modern contemporary design and sustainability. It makes me proud to have labels in Berlin that develop their creativity freely and follow their own vision without compromise – and that it has now been honoured by the FCG/VOGUE Fashion Fund and an international jury. We are all excited about the label's future and I look forward to working with Vogue, not only in Germany but also through our global network, to help give the label the attention it deserves.“

The overarching goal of the FCG/VOGUE Fashion Fund is to promote young design talent that is characterized by an innovative and creative approach. The aim also includes supporting the talents on their way into the industry. With the announcement of the German edition of the internationally renowned Fashion Fund during Berlin Fashion Week in February 2024, labels and designers based in Germany were able to apply to take part. For the July 2025 edition, the seven finalists were announced at a festive cocktail reception and their designs were exhibited at Der Berliner Salon in the historic Bode Museum.

In the subsequent second selection phase, further documents had to be submitted, containing a presentation video including a business plan and optionally a collection concept, which were then evaluated by a top-class panel of experts. This consisted of eight international industry experts: Christiane Arp (Chairwoman, FCG), Edward Enninful OBE (Global Creative and Cultural Advisor, Vogue), Kerstin Weng (Head of Editorial Content, Vogue Germany), Kim Petras (Singer), Margaret Zhang (Film producer), Mumi Haiati (CEO & Founder, Reference Studios), Paloma Elsesser (Model) and Scott Lipinski (CEO, Fashion Council Germany).

Further details on the FCG/VOGUE Fashion Fund can be found on VOGUE.de and on the website of the Fashion Council Germany.

The initiative was awarded a prize in the competition for innovative event formats. Co-funded by the European Union and the Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT FASHION?

COMMENT OR TAKE OUR PAGE READER SURVEY

Featured