Copenhagen Fashion Week Podcast

AW26 The Digital Mirror – Re-writing the Rules of Fit in Europe

The Digital Mirror – Re-writing the Rules of Fit in Europe

The panel will discuss how new tech will master personalized fit, transforming high returns into design insights, and ensuring psychological comfort in virtual try-on technology.

To explore the topic, Moderator Amy O’Brien, Tech Editor at Vogue Business, brings together Pelin Anli Bedirhanoglu, Director of Product Management at Zalando, and Dr. Helena Lewis-Smith,  Associate Professor of Psychology at Body Image & Psychology Consultant.

Moderator:

Amy O’Brien, Tech Editor, Vogue Business

Amy O'Brien leads the discussion on how technology is rewriting the rules of design and commerce, and the strategic imperative for Europe to lead this innovation.

Panelists:

Dr. Helena Lewis-Smith, Body Image Expert and Research Psychologist

Dr Helena Lewis-Smith is an Associate Professor of Psychology and Body Image & Psychology Consultant focused on improving body image across society. Her work examines how sociocultural influences, including fashion, media, and advertising, shape body image, and she develops evidence-based strategies to promote body confidence. Her research and consultancy across business and health sectors has informed initiatives to promote positive body image and reduce appearance pressures. Helena is passionate about driving societal change and helping brands support more positive and inclusive body image.

Leona De Graft, VP of Ecommerce, Levi's

Leona De Graft acts as Vice President of Ecommerce for Levi Strauss & Co. Europe, leading a diverse, 40+ strong team spanning six countries. Her remit encompasses the full spectrum of the brand's online presence, from ecommerce trading and customer experience to operations, marketing, and loyalty programs.Prior to her tenure at Levi's, Leona spearheaded the digital transformation at Foot Locker Europe, where she managed the P&L for 18 European websites. Her impressive career also includes key roles as Global Digital Sales and Marketing Director at The Body Shop and Senior Manager, Ecommerce EMEA at Tiffany & Co.

Pelin Anli Bedirhanoglu, Director of Product Management, Zalando

Pelin is a tech entrepreneur and AI-driven product leader with 15 years of experience. She has founded and scaled two VC-backed startups in fintech and health-tech. Her expertise lies in building and scaling data and innovation products across B2B2C models. With a background in Private Equity, she focuses on solving complex, unsolved problems through innovation. Based in Zurich, she is Director of Product Management at Zalando, leading AI solutions for size and fit. Pelin holds an Engineering BSc from Koç University and an MSc from Imperial College Business School.

AW26 Fashion as a Platform For Identity and Expression

Fashion as a Platform for Identity and Expression

Fashion has long been a medium for expression, with this talk unpacking how its role has shaped the message of creatives, stylists, designers, and the wider industry alike.

To explore the topic, Moderator Naima Yasin, Head of Secretariat at Saga, brings together Alana Hadid, Creative Director, Activist, Model, Sylwia Nazzal, Founder of Nazzal Studio, Joseph Aumeer, Ballet Dancer and Movement Director, The Royal Danish Ballet, and Alectra Rothschild, Creative Director and Founder of Masculina.

Moderator:

Naima Yasin, Head of Secretariat, Saga

Naima Yasin is one half of the award-winning podcast "A Seat At The Table". She is also the Head of Secretariat at SAGA, a non-partisan youth movement with more than 2,600 members working to advance the priorities of young people independently of party politics.

Panelists:

Alana Hadid, Creative Director, Activist, Model

Alana Hadid, an influential activist and advocate for social change, she is recognized for her unwavering commitment to creating a more equitable and inclusive world, starting with a liberated Palestine. Alana has become a prominent figure in the fight for Palestinian Liberation.

Alectra Rothschild, Creative Director and Founder, Masculina

Alectra Rothschild was a trained tailor before beginning her fashion studies. She studied at Beckmans College of Design, completed an MA in Fashion under Fabio Piras at Central Saint Martins, and later studied sustainability and fashion at The Royal Danish Academy. During this time, Alectra trained with the likes of Iris Van Herpen and Anne Sofie Madsen. She got her first job in the fashion industry at Mugler under the creative direction of Casey Cadwallader, and has since worked freelance for Alexander McQueen and collaborated with Birkenstock. In 2023, she founded her namesake label, Alectra Rothschild / MASCULINA, a brand built on notions of craftsmanship, femininity, and high glamour. i-D named Alectra Rothschild among the “Best of CPHFW SS23 and AW23”. She was selected for the DAZED100 List in 2022 and was chosen as the first recipient of the CPHFW NEWTALENT One To Watch slot for AW23. Alectra presented a performance for CPHFW SS24 in collaboration with VISCOSE JOURNAL. MASCULINA has had the pleasure of dressing artists such as Arca, FKA twigs, MØ, Zara Larsson, Michèle Lamy, and Eartheater.

Joseph Aumeer, Ballet Dancer and Movement Director, The Royal Danish Ballet

Growing up in London, later spending time in Paris, and now living in Copenhagen has shaped Joseph Aumeer’s character deeply, both as an artist on stage and in the way he expresses his sense of style. Movement, storytelling, and fashion continue to be the driving forces behind his creative work. He is inspired by how these passions can meet, influence one another, and open new doors. Taking part and contributing to Copenhagen Fashion Week in this way feels like a natural and exciting step forward for him. He looks forward to sharing his perspective and connecting with other creatives in the room.

Sylwia Nazzal, Founder, Nazzal Studio

Sylwia Nazzal is an artist and founder of Nazzal Studio, a brand rooted in Palestinian heritage, ethics, and activism. Her work reframes fashion as a medium for storytelling and resistance. Her graduate collection, What Should Have Been Home, explored themes of displacement and resilience and later gained global attention for its raw portrayal of Palestinian identity. Nazzal Studio collaborates with refugee women to create ethical, artisanal pieces that preserve craft and empower communities. The studio positions itself as a collective of artists using clothing as a living archive of memory and defiance.

AW26 Exploring Innovation in Design

Exploring Innovation in Design

What innovations are we seeing in fashion today, and how can we learn from the past in order to build a forward-thinking future in design?

To explore the topic, Moderator Emily Chan, Senior Sustainability Editor & Acting Executive Fashion News and Features Editor at British Vogue, brings together Helgi Óskarsson, Chief Executive Officer of 66°North,Madeleine Bernhard, Business Development Manager, OnceMore® from Södra, Sarah Brunnhuber, Founder of Stem, and Trine Young, Founder & CEO of Rodinia Generation.

Moderator:

Emily Chan, Senior Sustainability Editor & Acting Executive Fashion News and Features Editor, British Vogue

Emily Chan is the Senior Sustainability & Features Editor at British Vogue and covers 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.

Panelists:

Helgi Óskarsson, Chief Executive Officer, 66°North

Helgi Oskarsson, CEO and Co-Owner of 66°North, grew up in Iceland as the child of two entrepreneurs. After studying International Business in the United States and building a broad international career, he was encouraged by his wife, Bjarney Harðardóttir (now Co-Owner and CBO), to explore the potential of Icelandic brand 66°North. Together, they acquired the brand and began steering its global growth from 2011 onward. Under Helgi’s leadership, 66°North has opened stores in Denmark and the UK, developed a global wholesale network, secured significant investment from New York-based Mousse Partners, achieved B Corp certification, and is helping bring Icelandic identity to a global audience.

Madeleine Bernhard, Business Development Manager, OnceMore® from Södra

Madeleine Bernhard is Business Development Manager at OnceMore® from Södra, a pioneering textile recycling innovation that transforms blended fabrics into new high-quality textile fibers. She works closely with fashion brands to navigate the textile value chain and implement material strategies aligned with sustainability goals. With extensive experience in retail and product development, Madeleine has held roles such as Head of Assortment and Sourcing, Product Development Manager, and Retail Manager. Her background combines deep industry knowledge with a focus on advancing sustainable solutions in fashion.

Sarah Brunnhuber, Founder, Stem

Sarah Brunnhuber is a textile designer, weaver, and the founder of Stem: a Copenhagen-based brand launched in 2021. At its heart, Stem is an ongoing experiment in rethinking how garments and textiles are made, what they leave behind, and how stories of production can be made tangible. Sarah was selected in the Dazed 100 list in 2022, joined ‘Den Unge Kunstneriske Elite’ Statens Kunstfond program in 2023, won the Wessel & Vett Fashion Prize in 2024, and joined the CPHFW New Talent program in 2025 for AW26, SS27, AW27. Alongside the brand, Sarah has embarked on opening Stem Mill: a long-term vision to establish a circular woven textile infrastructure in Denmark. Combining micro-spinning, agile production, research, and education, the mill will be both a material facility and a pedagogical experiment: a blueprint for how localised, low-impact textile systems will re-emerge.

Trine Young, Founder & CEO, Rodinia Generation

Recognised by Vogue Business as one of 2024’s 100 Innovators, Trine Young is the founder and driving force behind Rodinia Generation — an ambitious hardtech company developing patented production technology for automatisation of apparel manufacturing. Under her leadership, the company is bringing the O-factory® to market: the world’s first onshore and on-demand production system designed to expand globally. Her journey began with an MA in Design & Technology from the London College of Fashion. First-hand experience in the fashion industry sparked her drive to design systems that help brands produce more responsibly, flexibly, and competitively.

AW26 Wear and Care – Cultivating Consciousness, Creativity, and Longevity in Fashion

Wear and Care – Cultivating Consciousness, Creativity, and Longevity in Fashion

The journey of a garment—both in its construction and also in its life after—is the subject of this talk, discussing how we produce but also how we protect.

To explore the topic, Moderator Georgia Graham, Founder of Threads of Conversation, brings together Dio Kurazawa, Co-Founder of The Bear Scouts, Freyja Taus, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Taus, and Max Wagner, Director of Corporate Sustainability at Miele & Cie KG.

Moderator:

Georgia Graham, Founder, Threads of Conversation

Georgia is a presenter, consultant, and former model. She is the creator of Threads of Conversation, a podcast and newsletter unravelling the stories we tell through style. Guests include Lyas, Dara, Conner Ives, and Raven Smith. As a journalist, she’s interviewed the likes of Cate Blanchett, Demna, and Ryuichi Sakamoto. She also spent several years working on the creative teams at global retailers Selfridges and Browns Fashion, and is a creative consultant at Liberty. In a past life, she walked the Chanel supermarket show and fronted a Jacquemus campaign.

Panelists:

Dio Kurazawa, Co-Founder, The Bear Scouts

Dio Kurazawa is a prominent figure in sustainable fashion and co-founder of The Bear Scouts, a design-driven product development consultancy that transforms supply chain challenges through creative and innovative solutions for brands and suppliers. His latest venture, Carob Cowboys, is an alternative leather company pioneering the production of plastic-free carob leather on his 17-hectare farm in Portugal. Kurazawa serves as an Advisory Board member for the BNV Foundation, CPHFW, and Pizarro SA, and has held advisory board roles with leading organizations, including GANNI, UNSPUN, and IODF. His work champions inclusivity, collaboration, circularity, and innovative solutions that advance the sustainable fashion industry.

Freyja Taus, Co-Founder and Creative Director, Taus

Freyja is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of the Copenhagen-based label Taus. She earned her master’s degree in Fashion from the Royal Danish Academy, as well the Browns Award at ALPHA in 2022.

Max Wagner, Director, Corporate Sustainability, Miele & Cie KG

Max Wagner leads the global corporate sustainability team at the premium household appliance manufacturer Miele. His team is responsible for the development and management of the global sustainability strategy, internal consulting on sustainability-related topics, and supporting the implementation of regulatory requirements. With his background in computer science and engineering, his heart beats especially for product development.

AW26 What is a Magazine Today

What is a Magazine Today

The role magazines should play is shifting dramatically, being redefined across purpose, format, and audience. This talk will explore the new territories magazines can - and should - inhabit.

To explore the topic, Moderator Eni Subair, Senior Fashion Features Editor at The Face, brings together Madeleine Rothery, Freelance Writer at AnOther, Christopher Michael, Host at What's Contemporary Now?, Vena Brykalin, Editor-in-Chief at Vogue Ukraine, and Farrah Storr MBE, Head of International at Substack.

Moderator:

Eni Subair, Senior Fashion Features Editor, The Face

Born in Archway, North London, Eni was previously Fashion Features Editor and Fashion News Editor of ELLE UK. In both roles she worked across the magazine and the website, covering fashion and features. Before joining ELLE UK, Eni was Junior Fashion Writer at British Vogue and Editorial Assistant at Vogue Global. Since joining THE FACE in 2024, Eni has written fashion and beauty pieces across both print and digital platforms, interviewing pioneers including Martine Rose, Laura Lowena and Emma Chopova of Chopova Lowena, Ellen Hodakova Larsson, Paloma Elsesser, Recho Omondi, Aaron Esh and more. During her time in the industry, Eni has appeared on SHOWstudio, contributed to Walpole: The Book of British Luxury, chaired panels and consulted for luxury brands.

Panelists:

Christopher Michael, Host, What's Contemporary Now?

For the past two decades, Christopher Michael has moved through the fashion industry with the curiosity of an outsider and the access of an insider. From his base in New York City, he has spent years in conversation with the creative forces who steer the global narrative of style — designers, image-makers, thinkers, and the occasional beautiful contrarian. Many of these exchanges find their way onto his weekly podcast What’s Contemporary Now?, where he teases out the ideas, impulses, and human quirks that make fashion, in all its unruly brilliance, what it is.

Farrah Storr MBE, Head of International, Substack

Farrah Storr MBE is the Head of International at the subscription platform, Substack. Prior to joining Substack in 2021, she was the multi-award-winning editor-in-chief of ELLE, Cosmopolitan, and Women's Health, and in 2024 was awarded an MBE for her services to the media. She also writes the best-selling Substack, Things Worth Knowing.

Madeleine Rothery, Freelance Writer, AnOther

Madeleine Rothery is a Paris-based fashion and arts writer. A regular contributor to AnOther, Dazed, and Exhibition magazines, her work traces the ways fashion and beauty entangle with the body—both as intimate expression and as a reflection of the shifting world around us.

Vena Brykalin, Editor-in-Chief, Vogue Ukraine

Vena Brykalin was appointed editor-in-chief of Vogue Ukraine in 2023 at a critical time for the war-torn nation. Brykalin, now based in Paris, has long been a tastemaker in Ukraine’s fashion scene, but following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, his role took on a whole new tenor. He is a prominent voice in Ukraine’s creative scene and reframed fashion and beauty as an act of resistance.

AW26 What Role Does AI Hold Within Fashion for Its Future Growth and Innovation?

What Role Does AI Hold Within Fashion for Its Future Growth and Innovation?

This talk examines AI and its relationship with fashion is still in its infancy, exploring how AI and fashion can look to work inter-connectedly with one another, solving obstacles and building new avenues.

To explore the topic, Moderator Andrea Cheong, Author, Creator, and Fashion Educator, brings together Sally Trier, Creative & AI Artist, Iris Skrami, Co-Founder & CEO of Renoon, and Paolina Russo & Lucile Guilmard, Creative Directors of Paolina Russo.

Moderator:

Andrea Cheong, Author, Creator, and Fashion Educator

Andrea is a social media creator and the author of the fashion bestseller, Why Don't I Have Anything To Wear? Since 2024, she has been the host of Kering's podcast, Fashion Our Future. She runs sell-out monthly community events, teaching Londoners how to mend, alter, and make their own wardrobe. Andrea has been featured on the cover of The Guardian as the “care label queen,” and in 2025, she was named 40 under 40 Women Of Hope by ELLE UK. She has written for Who What Wear, British Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and The Telegraph.

Panelists:

Iris Skrami, Co-Founder & CEO, Renoon

Iris Skrami is the Co-Founder and CEO of Renoon, where she builds the backbone for Digital Product Passports using AI. Her earlier work at Nike and PVH placed her inside the machinery of global supply chains and consumer decision-making, giving her a clear view of how information moves — and where it breaks. Those gaps became the basis for Renoon, designed to give products a digital identity that persists beyond their first sale. She was recognized by Forbes Under 30 for her contribution to the intersection of technology, traceability, and fashion. Today, Iris focuses on shaping an industry where every product carries its own record — accessible, enduring, and accountable.

Paolina Russo & Lucile Guilmard, Creative Directors, Paolina Russo

Founded in 2021 by Paolina Russo and Lucile Guilmard, this London-based brand is built on the pillars of friendship and belonging. The duo transforms suburban nostalgia into a futuristic wardrobe, blending traditional crafts like knitwear and wood carving with cutting-edge technology. By prioritizing sustainability and innovation, the label has secured high-profile collaborations with adidas Originals, Converse, Roblox, and Dover Street Market. Their rapid ascent is marked by a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and recognition as an LVMH Prize finalist. In 2023, the brand further solidified its industry impact by winning the first Zalando Visionary Award.

Sally Trier, Creative & AI Artist, Freelance

Sally Trier is a Danish multi-creative working across creative direction, film, design, and generative AI. With a background as an art director in the advertising industry, she draws on her commercial experience while developing ideas through a more artistic and experimental process. She works with narrative development, world-building, and visual concepting, creating ideas that move freely between formats. Sally is part of Runway’s Global Talent Network and is recognized for her forward-looking approach to visual storytelling and the creative use of emerging technology.

SS26 Cultures of Fashion: Cross-pollination of fashion, art and music

Cultures of Fashion – Cross-pollination of Fashion, Art and Music

An exploration of the role of fashion within the wider cultural economy.

Cultural exchanges between fashion and other creative fields can fuel original collaborations with mutual benefits. Fashion is key to the visual identity of musicians who, in turn, can help increase brand awareness. Visual artists increasingly work with fashion with exciting offerings. But how does the cross-over of fields work? What are the creative strategies behind the exchange? What happens to the idea of authenticity when the commercial and fine art meet?

To explore the topic, moderator Ane Lynge-Jorlén, Director at ALPHA, brings together Sofie Winther, Artist & Designer, Puer Parasitus, Silas Adler, Creative Director, other circle, and Chris Pedersen, radio host, ‘Popsmart’ DR.

Moderator:

Ane Lynge-Jorlén, Director, ALPHA

Ane Lynge-Jorlén is the director of ALPHA, an organisation that empowers emerging Nordic fashion designers internationally. Lynge-Jorlén is special advisor on fashion talents for Copenhagen Fashion Week. She holds a PhD in Fashion Studies from University of the Arts London, and she has published her research internationally, including Fashion Stylists (Bloomsbury 2020) and Niche Fashion Magazines (Bloomsbury 2017) and she has curated several exhibitions on contemporary, experimental fashion across, and beyond, the Nordics, most recently Social Fabric at EMMA - Espoo Museum of Modern Art and Beautiful Repair. Mending in Art and Fashion at Copenhagen Contemporary.

Panelists:

Chris Pedersen, Radio Host, ‘Popsmart’ DR

Chris Pedersen is a Danish culture journalist and radio host. His writings have been featured in most major Danish magazines and papers, and he is now working at the Danish National Broadcaster hosting the podcast "Popsmart" about pop culture.

Silas Adler, Creative Director, other circle

Silas Adler was born in Denmark and his mixed heritage and early exposure to different cultures sparked a deep curiosity that has guided him throughout his life. Three defining experiences have shaped how he sees the world and approaches his work. The first was discovering hip-hop — albums like Home Invasion by Ice-T, Enter the 36 Chambers by Wu-Tang Clan, and Doggystyle by Snoop Dogg, all which had a profound impact on him. The second was hearing skateboard wheels outside his home, leading him to a local crew and to an identity that revolved around skateboarding. The third was becoming a father, which shifted his perspective from inward-looking to outward-focused. The curiosity and fearlessness he sees in his children continue to inspire his life and work.

Sofie Winther, Artist & Designer, Puer Parasitus

Puer Parasitus, founded in 2021 by artist Sofie Winther (b.1991), is a project at the crossroads of fashion and sculpture, emerging from an intuitive, three-dimensional approach to textile materials and recycled objects. It challenges conventional boundaries by deconstructing and reconstructing everyday items into immersive works that question consumption, empowerment and the roles of gender and power in society.

SS26 Craft is Key: Can Traditions of the Past Solve Obstacles of the Future

Craft is Key: Can Traditions of the Past Solve Obstacles of the Future

A discussion on the role that craft currently plays within the fashion landscape, and whether a volatile future for the industry could signal a return to traditional practices.

This talk examines the resurgence of traditional techniques in contemporary design, asking whether heritage methods offer not just aesthetic value, but tangible solutions to the industry's most pressing challenges. Panelists explore how slow, skilled, and often regional practices are being reimagined for a new era of sustainability and innovation. Could looking back be the key to moving forward?

To explore the topic, moderator Emily Chan, Senior Sustainability Editor & Acting Executive Fashion News and Features Editor at British Vogue, brings together Indré Rockefeller, Founder of The Circularity Project, Nana Sacko, Fashion Leader & Founder, Oriole Cullen, Senior Curator of Fashion and Textiles at the Victoria and Albert Museum, and Tina Lemke, Marketing & Brand Experience Manager at OnceMore® from Södra.

Moderator:

Emily Chan, Senior Sustainability Editor & Acting Executive Fashion News and Features Editor, British Vogue

Emily Chan is the Senior Sustainability & Features Editor at British Vogue and covers 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.

Panelists:

Indré Rockefeller, Founder, The Circularity Project

Indré Rockefeller is a climate communicator, entrepreneur, and Founder of The Circularity Project, a nonprofit dedicated to championing circular design in fashion with the goal of sparking creative approaches to reducing the industry's environmental footprint. Indré began her fashion career at Vogue and held senior executive positions at e-tailer Moda Operandi and Spanish luxury fashion brand, Delpozo. Before launching The Circularity Project, Indré was the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Paravel, where she oversaw the award-winning sustainable design. Indré graduated from Columbia University’s Climate School, where she earned her Masters degree and launched an educational series on climate change that has amassed over 7 million views. She holds a BA from Princeton University and an MBA from Stanford University.

Nana Sacko, Fashion Lead & Founder, Sacko

Nana Sacko is a fashion and textile lead with over 20 years of industry experience, specializing in design, production, and material sourcing. As the founder of Sacko, a small-scale dyeing studio, she champions natural dyes and circular design practices through curated slow fashion collections rooted in craftsmanship and cultural heritage. Nana is also dedicated to talent development for fashion designers, nurturing new industry leaders and driving innovation and circular design in western Sweden.

Oriole Cullen, Senior Curator of Fashion and Textiles, Victoria and Albert Museum

Oriole Cullen is a Senior Curator of Fashion and Textiles at the Victoria and Albert Museum where she has run the Museum’s contemporary Fashion in Motion programme since 2006. Prior to joining the V&A, she worked as curator for Dress and Decorative Arts at the Museum of London. A graduate of the Courtauld Institute, her recent exhibitions and accompanying publications include Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams (V&A 2019, Long Museum Shanghai 2020) and Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto (V&A 2023). She is currently working on the V&A’s new permanent fashion gallery due to open in 2027.

Tina Lemke, Marketing & Brand Experience Manager, OnceMore® from Södra

Tina Lemke’s background is in fashion, having worked with several Swedish brands such as Lindex and Vagabond Shoemakers. She has been involved in marketing and digital marketing in various capacities, primarily as a project manager for digital initiatives and sales. At the beginning of 2023, her career took an exciting new turn. As Marketing & Brand Experience Manager at OnceMore® by Södra, she is now helping drive change in the fashion industry - raising awareness around textile-to-textile recycling and the innovative MMCF processes and products.

SS26 Vogue Business x CPHFW: Size Inclusivity Report

Vogue Business x CPHFW: Size Inclusivity Report

An exploration in collaboration with CPHFW and Vogue Business on the Size Inclusivity Report and into the urgent changes needed to present a modern perspective of fashion on the runway.

This talk unveils findings from the Size Inclusivity Report, a joint initiative between Vogue Business and Copenhagen Fashion Week, spotlighting where the industry stands—and where it still falls short. As calls for authentic representation grow louder, this session unpacks the structural and creative shifts needed to make size inclusivity more than a trend. Industry leaders and change-makers reflect on what meaningful progress looks like on the runway, in showrooms, and beyond.

Moderator:

Lucy Maguire, Senior Trends Editor, Vogue Business

Lucy Maguire is senior trends editor at Vogue Business. Alongside her focus on fashion consumer trends, digital strategies, and youth culture, Lucy leads the Vogue Business Next-Gen Edit, spotlighting emerging brands and startups across the fashion and beauty industries. She has previously worked with the Vogue Global Network, Suzy Menkes and British Vogue.

Panelists:

Christine Sofie, Entrepreneur & Model, Studio Force Majeure

Christine Sofie has worked as a model for nearly two decades, first in traditional sample sizing, and later forging her path in the industry on her own terms. Her career breakthrough came after relocating to New York City, where she gained recognition working as a curve model. Christine now lives on the coast north of Copenhagen with her husband and their two daughters. She is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of three companies, working at the intersection of house development and interior design.

Clara Svane, CEO & Founder, Swan Scouting Agency

Clara Svane is the founder of Swan Scouting Agency, a Copenhagen-based scouting agency redefining model scouting through authentic diversity. Swan Scouting Agency discovers fresh faces through street scouting and supports underrepresented talent, focusing on real people of all backgrounds. By developing and mentoring new models, Swan Scouting helps them thrive in an industry ready for change — proving diversity isn’t a trend but the future of fashion.

Ulrikke Skotte-Lund, Model, Scoop Models

Ulrikke Skotte-Lund is a Danish plus-size model and an advocate for body neutrality. She shares content that promotes self-acceptance and celebration of different body types. She aims to normalize different body types without it being a statement, but simply as a natural part of diversity. With her uncompromising approach to beauty and authenticity, Ulrikke challenges the norms of the fashion industry and represents a new generation of plus-size models.

Abisola Omole, Writer & Creative Director

Abisola Omole is a Creative Director, Interior Designer, and Writer known for her boundary-pushing approach to lifestyle, design, and storytelling. She’s the founder of Arva, a multifaceted brand spanning interiors, fashion, and sensory-led culinary ventures. From designing inclusive fashion to developing furniture lines and concept stores, her work blends emotional clarity with aesthetic rigor. A trusted voice in the industry, her insights and projects are featured across leading editorial platforms worldwide.

SS26 More Than a Garment – The Ripple Effect of Adaptive Fashion

More Than a Garment – The Ripple Effect of Adaptive Fashion

Beyond access, a discussion on the transformative power of Adaptive fashion for wearers and fashion brands.

For SS26, Zalando presents the second edition of its Adaptive Fashion talk series, continuing the dialogue launched in January. This session focuses on the transformative power of Adaptive fashion for wearers and fashion brands, exploring the challenges and opportunities in inclusive design and social impact.

To explore the topic, moderator Kay Muwoki, Senior D&I Manager at Zalando, brings together Lauren Wasser, Model & Activist, Emma Matell, Casting Director at Emma Matell Casting, and Francesca Harvey, Apparel Designer at Adidas.

Moderator:

Kay Muwoki, Senior D&I Manager, Zalando

Kay is a global inclusion strategist with over 15 years of experience driving equity-focused change across Europe, Africa, and North America. Currently leading inclusive brand programs at Zalando, she shapes initiatives that connect D&I and commercial impact. Her background spans leadership roles at UNICEF, Transparency International, and INCO, where she built cross-sector partnerships and guided strategic transformation. She brings a systems-level perspective and a zeal for amplifying Adaptive innovation and inclusion in the fashion industry.

Panelists:

Lauren Wasser, Model & Activist

Lauren Wasser, "fashion's girl with the golden legs," is a model, actress, and activist. Her career shifted in 2012 after contracting life-threatening menstrual Toxic Shock Syndrome (mTSS), leading to the amputation of both legs. Lauren bravely reclaimed her narrative, transforming her prosthetics into striking golden legs and relaunching her career at New York Fashion Week in 2018. She has since walked for major brands like Louis Vuitton and Balenciaga, starred in Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty shows, and earned "Woman of the Year" accolades. Lauren uses her platform to advocate for the safety of feminine hygiene and women's rights, proving that beauty thrives in diversity and that dreams are always worth pursuing.

Emma Matell, Casting Director, Emma Matell Casting

Emma is one of the industry's most astute, progressive young voices in casting. Hailing from Copenhagen and based in London, her ethos is guided by a desire to afford visibility to bodies and identities that have historically been absent from prestigious fashion narratives. Ethically conscious and all-encompassing, Emma's work is a testament to her generation & social attitudes, and positions her as a key figure in the introduction of unexpected and radical perspectives on beauty to contemporary fashions visual discourse. Emma's clients include Vivienne Westwood, Diesel, Gucci, Sinéad O'Dwyer, Cecilie Bahnsen and magazines including The Face, Dazed, i-D, Another Magazine & Acne Paper.

Francesca Harvey, Apparel Designer, Adidas

Francesca is a British apparel designer based in Nuremberg, Germany, currently working at the Adidas headquarters as a Performance Sportswear Designer. In her role, she led the design of Adidas’ first released adaptive garments tailored specifically for individuals who use wheelchairs, supporting both sports and everyday wear. These designs were offered to teams of athletes in the lead-up to the Paris Paralympics 2024 and are also available commercially. Francesca holds a diverse academic background in fashion, accessories, and 3D digital design, having studied at Central Saint Martins, Kingston University, and Amsterdam Fashion Institute [AMFI]. Her multidisciplinary experience informs her innovative approach to performance sportswear design, with a strong focus on inclusivity and functionality.