How Copenhagen became the coolest week on the fashion calendar
Fresh out of her fifth Copenhagen Fashion Week, fashion journalist Zeda explains how Copenhagen kicked ‘the big four’ to become the best week on the fashion calendar.
Copenhagen feels like home from the second you step off the plane. I am lucky to have called this Copenhagen Fashion Week AW25 the fifth season in a row that I have attended where I get to enjoy the fun and frills and see all my fashion favourites. There’s something about this particular fashion week that feels different. While the traditional big four – New York, London, Milan and Paris – offer grandeur, heritage and a sometimes intimidating air of exclusivity, CPHFW is like fashion’s effortlessly cool, sustainably-minded bestie. Every season, it reminds me why I love fashion in the first place: the creativity, the community and the sense of something fresh on the horizon.
As an Irish girl and a sincere lover of garments and all its frills, I’ve always admired fashion’s ability to tell stories and connect those who seek it. Yes, Ireland has its own rich history of craftsmanship and design, but growing up, fashion often felt like something that existed in distant capitals, beyond my immediate reach. CPHFW, however, feels accessible in a way that resonates deeply with me. It embraces individuality while fostering a strong sense of collective responsibility, a value I’ve always held close in my own creative journey.
Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword in Copenhagen, it’s the foundation of the entire week. Copenhagen’s emphasis on sustainability and inclusivity aligns so deeply with my belief that fashion should be both expressive and ethical. CPHFW is the first major fashion week to implement strict sustainability requirements for all brands on the official schedule. Designers have to meet specific environmental and ethical criteria just to showcase their collections, ensuring that sustainability isn’t an afterthought but an industry standard. In a world where fashion is one of the biggest polluters, they are proving that a better way is possible. Brands like Ganni, Baum und Pferdgarten and Zalando are leading the charge, showing that ethical fashion doesn’t have to sacrifice swag. There’s a natural and genuine ease to the way CPHFW approaches sustainability; never preachy, just intentional and actually fun. From carbon-conscious shows to circular fashion initiatives, it’s an example the rest of the industry needs to follow and already, London Fashion Week is now taking a leaf out of the Danish book for the upcoming season.
