On January 18th, the Hamburg label Fassbender presented the new winter 2023 collection under the title “Identity” at a show & lunch. The designer and founder of the label, Christina Fassbender, chose the Stilwerk Kantgaragen as the location for this, where the Berlin Salon also takes place. Upon entering the showroom, a live art installation immediately catches the eye: a model in a statuesque pose wears a cream-colored dress that is painted with silver brushstrokes in a semicircle by artist Fulya Celik. This dress was the center piece of the collection. The guests sat at round tables decorated with colorful flowers and set with fine crockery. The show began before the first course: the models walked individually through the table constellation from the back of the room. At the end an impressive appearance of all models who made their way through the room like a herd of horses.
Fassbender Autumn Winter 2023: fashion, art and identity
“We wanted to play with the identity of clothing,” says Matthias Louwen, creative director of the label, explaining the motto of the collection. A hybrid of dress and suit, culottes and shirt dresses show this playful approach. The pieces in the collection are timeless, but special. Fassbender stands for elegant tailoring, which was also the focus of this collection. Leather was also an important component: “We used a leather that was tanned only with olive leaves and no chemicals were used. For me, leather itself is a sustainable product because we only use leather as a waste product from the meat industry,” says Christina Fassbender. A highlight of the collection are the silver elements that frame the art element of Fulya Celik. “I met the artist a year ago. She exudes exactly what I feel and has a strong personality. Then we decided to unite and merge,” says Fassbender.
Fashion that lasts forever
Fassbender fills a gap in the high fashion luxury segment: Lebel tries to use 100% sustainable fabrics. Quality is essential for Fassbender: “For me, the consumer who chooses slow fashion and clothing that lasts a long time is sustainable. Although these are a bit higher, you can still give them to your children or grandchildren.” Four months ago, Christina became a mother for the second time. “Being a mother gives me serenity and inner peace that I didn’t have before. This has a positive effect on my design process.” Developing sustainable fabrics takes a lot of time, but Louwen sees it as a challenge and an opportunity at the same time. “The joy of it is creating something that lasts, something that lasts.”
Author: Jessica Haberl – Photos: Finnegan Godenschweger