Merchandising Fashion in Germany

When you arrive in Berlin and drop your things off at the hotel, it won’t be long until your first adventure to study fashion in Germany begins. You’ll go to the Brandenburg Gate, one of the most well-known spots in Berlin, and the setting for Berlin Fashion Week since 2016. 

Berlin’s Kunstgewerbemuseum is a permanent exhibit in the Kulturform. Since 2014, it has been the home of an extensive collection of European fashions and accessories. The fashions and other art on display span the Middle Ages to today. You’ll get to see just how much has changed over the centuries both in what we wear and what textiles compose what we wear.

There are two contrasting collections at the Deutsches Historisches Museum, which makes it a can’t-miss stop. You’ll first see the Civilian Textiles and Costume exhibit, which features fashions and textiles from almost 275 years of German history. In addition to clothing and accessories, you’ll also see tapestries on display. When you’ve finished touring that collection, you’ll continue to Militaria, an exhibit of more regimented fashion of military uniforms and armor. 

You’ll have to catch a train to Hamburg in the morning to reach your next destination. You might want to bring a book as it’s about a 2-hour trip, but once you reach the Museum Für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg, the journey will be made worth it. The Fashion Collection at the MK&G Hamburg is made up of more than 10,000 articles of clothing and textiles. You’ll see some of the most recognizable names in fashion on display, like Yves St Laurent and Balenciaga. Due to the sensitive nature of textiles, the collection is regularly rotated to protect their integrity, so every time you go, you’ll see something different.

Want to try your hand at fashion design? With a quick call ahead to About: Fashion, you can set up a group class where you’ll get to choose what you learn. You can pick from an array of areas of study for your workshop, from fashion design and drawing to branding and creating a portfolio. You’ll learn about fashion beyond just the clothes, and in doing so, a deeper appreciation for all the work that went into the brands and exhibitions you’ve seen so far.

The Kronprinzenpalais doesn’t always have an exhibition going on inside, but the excitement you’ll feel touring the outside is more than enough reason to visit. The palace was the site of Berlin Fashion Week in 2016. Where runway models once walked, so did King Frederick II back in 1732. It changed ownership many times, but the Neoclassical architecture and exquisite design both inside and out have remained almost exactly the same.

Kronprinzenpalais serves as a backdrop for Mitte, the area of Berlin surrounding the palace, which you’ll visit next. This section of the city is one of the most fashion-centric. Here is where you’ll find shops of established designers as well as smaller shops of up-and-comers. 

Before you head home, you’ll stop and stroll along the sidewalks of Mulackstrasse. It has the reputation of being one of Berlin’s most stylish streets. The shops along the street boast names of designers that have yet to make it big on the world stage but are making strides to get there. Featuring everything from avant-garde attire you could wear to the fanciest of parties to bright street style wear, you’ll be walking through a visual wonderland.