An ethical fashion trade fair was held in Berlin, Germany, for three days from July 8th to 10th. The fair, which began five years ago, consists of the "Ethical Fashion Show Berlin," showcasing casual street fashion, and the "Green Showroom," showcasing high-end fashion for business and parties. Now in its 10th year, ethical fashion has already become a familiar presence in Berlin's fashion scene. To analyze its current status, we spoke with Bernd Muller, a representative at Messe Frankfurt, about the fair's overview and the current state of ethical fashion. In 2014, 91 brands participated in the "Ethical Fashion Show Berlin," and 33 in the "Green Showroom." Participants came from 18 countries around the world, with a prominent presence from Germany and neighboring countries like the Netherlands and Switzerland. While many brands were based in cities close to the venue, there were also participants from as far away as India, Brazil, and the United States. The overwhelming majority of participating brands were women's wear. Including unisex wear, nearly 70% of the total was men's wear, along with bags, shoes, and accessories. The remaining 30% represented a diverse product range. While the official visitor count has not been released, Müller estimates that last year, approximately 3,000 people attended the two shows combined. This breakdown included buyers, journalists, and general visitors, each about 1,000 each, with the majority of journalists conspicuously high. This indicates growing interest in ethical fashion around the world. While the fair also hosts events such as fashion shows, the seminars featuring experts have proven particularly popular. This suggests that people are increasingly interested in events where they can gather specialized information about ethical fashion. Regarding the future direction of the fair, Müller stated, "We want to emphasize fair trade, which considers the working conditions in product manufacturing." In 2013, a building collapsed in Bangladesh, killing over 1,000 workers. The underlying cause is said to be poor working conditions resulting from cheap product manufacturing. Fair trade has the potential to improve this structure.
The recent trade fair held in Berlin showed a strong interest in ethical fashion. The venue was constantly packed with people, and visitors could be seen everywhere listening intently to product explanations. The organizers are also enthusiastically planning seminars and other events to stimulate people's interest. Given this state of supply and demand, it's hard to imagine this being merely a passing fad. It's likely we won't be able to take our eyes off ethical fashion trends going forward.
