Hi, Vogue Club! I’m Emily Chan, the Senior Sustainability Editor and Acting Executive Fashion News and Features Editor at British Vogue. My work focuses on all things related to sustainability in fashion and beyond, from the designers pushing for change to the climate activists we should be paying attention to.
Copenhagen Fashion Week is known for its sustainability requirements and grows in esteem each year. This fashion week, I’m bringing you along with me to the front row—and to a few dinners and parties along the way.
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Day 1: Monday, 27 January
After touching down in Copenhagen on Sunday evening, I caught up on some work in my hotel the following morning before changing into my day-one look: A Chopova Lowena dress I found on eBay. The first event of the day was the Copenhagen Fashion Week Opening Ceremony, held at the Thorvaldsens Museum. (One of my favorite things about this week is getting to peek inside so many amazing venues in Copenhagen.)
Then it was on to the shows! Day one featured a series of new names on the schedule, including Birrot, Bonnetje, and Stel, where I bumped into Vogue Scandinavia’s print editor Allyson Shiffman. I loved the upcycled blinds and pens on chains dangling from dresses at Bonnetje—a fun take on office wear!
Alectra Rothschild’s show was particularly powerful—it featured a recording of Donald Trump’s attack on trans rights played at the start, before the models stormed the catwalk in defiance.
After an afternoon of back-to-back shows, it was time to get dinner. As the schedule is packed with events, I decided on a quiet evening for this first night—enjoying some comforting noodle broth at Mr Pho.
Day 2: Tuesday, 28 January
Day two began with A Roege Hove, who is known for her cult stretchy knitwear. After the show, I went backstage to interview her as part of my review for Vogue Runway—it’s always great to get a closer look.
After that, it was on to Nicklas Skovgaard’s show—one of my highlights of the season. His signature dropped-waist dresses and bubble skirts are often made from deadstock materials that he’s thrifted. (I also loved seeing my friend Nicole DeMarco walk the runway!)
Between shows, I went to see Anne Sofie Madsen’s presentation—the designer said she decided to return to the schedule this season after several years away because she felt that she “had something to say again.” The textural pieces reminded me of sea anemone.
Then it was time for a quick pitstop at Sonny, a popular fashion hotspot that serves delicious sandwiches and sweet treats.
The last presentation of the day came from 66°North, an Icelandic outerwear brand that s celebrating its 99th birthday this year. After CEO Helgi Óskarsson talked me through the archive, it was time for a delicious dinner cooked by a local Italian restaurant.
Day 3: Wednesday, 29 January
One of the best things about fashion week is getting to see my colleagues from around the world—at The Garment Show, I sat with Vogue Germany’s Katharina Fuchs, who also happened to be my car buddy (all transport is electric). My look for the day was another Chopova Lowena dress (also from eBay), paired with a Worn Vintage leather coat made from deadstock materials.
Next up? The MKDT Studio show, held in the Statens Museum for Kunst, which was one of the most polished of the week. While Copenhagen Fashion Week is mainly womenswear, there are some brilliant menswear designers, too, including Frederik Berner Kühl, who is known for his minimalist wardrobe staples.
Then it was time to head to the Zalando Visionary Award winner announcement—it celebrates exciting new talent, including those working in the sustainability space. It was great to see Lagos-based brand Iamisigo win for its handcrafted creations, which are made by artisans across Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana.
It wouldn’t be a Scandi dinner without some artichoke—here’s the beautiful table setting for the antipasti.
Day 4: Thursday, 30 January
I spent the morning catching up on work before heading to the Marimekko show, held in the circa-1930s Vilhelm Lauritzen Terminal at Kastrup Airport, where I caught up with my friend (and COO of Copenhagen Fashion Week) Isabella Rose Davey. Then it was off to the final show of the day, Rotate—here I’m pictured with my Ganni Bou bag, made from recycled leather.
After travelling to Copenhagen Fashion Week for several years now, it was nice to see so many familiar faces at the official dinner, including Danish designer Cecilie Bahnsen. I wore a matching white top and skirt from her new collaboration with Nona Source, again made from deadstock materials.
Day 5: Friday, 31 January
The final day began with a NewTalent breakfast co-hosted by Ganni spotlighting Bonnetje, Berner Kühl, Stamm, and Alectra Rothschild. Those buns tasted as good as they looked!
Then it was time to catch a four-hour train to Aalborg for the Stine Goya show—held in the Kunsten Museum of Modern Art, where Goya curated an exhibition. It felt such a privilege to be part of the intimate audience for the show before being treated to a dinner and a private view of the exhibition. The perfect way to round off the week!
That’s all from me this Copenhagen Fashion Week! Thanks for tagging along. For more detailed analyses of the shows and trends, check out more of my work on British Vogue here and reviews on Vogue Runway here.