Copenhagen may not be the one of the first European destinations on most people's list, but it should be. The Danish capital boasts some of the hallmarks that the continent has to offer: a five-to-one bike-to-car ratio, history that dates back millennia, picturesque streets and architecture, world-class restaurants and an art, fashion and design scene that rivals any in the world.
Sure, things can be bleak in the winter, as is the case with much of Europe. In the summer, however, one begins to think suspiciously about how such a place could exist — an almost utopian town, where trains always run on time, petty crime seems to never happen, people are free to jump into streams anywhere and at any time and a general laid-back demeanor pervades the small city that packs a seriously big punch.
Whether they are aware of this or not, the Danes operate with a general nonchalantness that perhaps stems from Janteloven, or the Law of Jante — a Scandinavian code of conduct that discourages standing out, in favor of collective accomplishments and well-being. From Hay to Tekla, NN.07 to Audo Copenhagen, Janteloven begins to make sense when observing the minimal silhouettes, tailoring and sensibilities that have come to define Danish design and fashion. Arguably no period in the calendar year does this become more present than during Copenhagen Fashion Week (CPHFW). Operating in January and in August, CPHFW has quickly ascended as the chill alternative to its busy counterparts in London, Paris and New York.
Like the well-oiled machine that is the city of Copenhagen, CPHFW runs smoothly thanks in part of the organization's exuberant COO, Isabella Rose Davey. Isabella previously cultivated emerging labels in London under the British Fashion Council’s NEWGEN initiative. Four years in and Davey has now done the same with a range of Scandinavian brands that are galvanizing the attention of the fashion industry on a global stage. Hypebeast was invited to take part in the latest Spring/Summer 2025 offerings that were unveiled during the latest Copenhagen Fashion Week — from runways held in historic and cutting edge courtyards to exclusive sneaker drops, graduate shows and anniversary parties, read our best moments below.
NN.07 x SLOP Magazine
There are certain collaborations that just make sense. Like the perfect crops harvesting together at just the right time of year. Enter the second installment in the fruitful partnership between Copenhagen-based label NN.07 and SLOP Magazine. Drawing on the latter publication's niche reportage on the world of produce and the Danish capital's reputation as a world leader in all things culinary, the two sides whipped up a special Ollie jacket that will carry with it timeless appeal from season to season.
Constructed with yarn-dyed brown organic woven cotton, the jacket features tonal Corozo buttons and an embroidered strawberry patch that is figuratively growing out of the left chore pocket. Complemented by NN.07 and SLOP's branding, the Ollie jacket is limited to 100 units worldwide and was first made available during a joint release party for Issue 5 of SLOP Magazine, which centers around the overlooked produce and ingredients found in the city — from a West London community garden and a North London greenhouse to the coastline of Edinburgh and a historic deep dive into Prague's wine heritage.
Founded in 2007, NN.07 (the two letters standing for "No Nationality") was first inspired by the founders' trip to Tokyo. The brand carries with it all the appeal that Danish design is known for — namely, a minimally timeless approach to contemporary fashion — using clothing as a mere platform to tell stories of the needs of today and tomorrow.
For those looking to purchase, a small batch of NN.07 x SLOP Ollie jackets are still available online for $293 USD.
OpéraSPORT at the Operaparken
As the first show to kickoff the week of events, OpéraSPORT's SS25 runway was aptly held at the recently opened Opera Park (Operaparken) concert venue. The setting, much like the rest of Copenhagen, is as picturesque of a location as you'd find virtually anywhere, with boats and swimmers in the distance, while Stephanie Gundelach and Awa Malina Stelter's latest collection tapping into the surrounding angular architecture and floral gardens adjacent to the catwalk.
Stelter and Gundelach were notably inspired by Baroque motifs of the Exillion Garden just outside the Danish capital. From quilted leather vests and striped silk shirts and skirts to frilled tops over elegant swimwear, there was no shortage of floral nods in OpéraSPORT's SS25 line, all made with recycled and organic materials and set against a romantic soundtrack that included "Zombie Park" by JB Dunckel and "Come Wander with Me" by Bonnie Beecher.
Free Sneakers From Salehe Bembury and New Balance
Salehe Bembury and New Balance joined forces to drop an ultra exclusive pair of 530's in a frenzy of highlighter colors. If you weren't in the line that wrapped around Copenhagen art gallery Etage Projects, well, chances are, you won't be getting this pair of kicks as they were only made available — given for free in fact — during the pop-up event.
Built with a combination of mesh and suede, the upper features a highlighter yellow base with purple, teal and pink accents. Additional details include the "N" logo in a shiny metallic silver with Bembury's signature fingerprint pattern, as well as comfy Abzorb midsole and a cork insole.
Few independent footwear designers have made the impact as Bembury in recent years, as the New York-born, Los Angeles based creative has shaken after markets through a number of collaborative releases, including his alien-esque Crocs Pollex Juniper and news that he will be designing PUMA's next basketball silhouette.
Rolf Ekroth Takes You on a Floral Reverie
For Finnish designer Rolf Ekroth, every collection is a family matter. Each of the garments from his namesake label are partly crafted by his own relatives, as are the nostalgic stories embedded within the fabric, making reference to his cultural background and interests. For SS25, Ekroth provides a portal into a floral reverie, paying homage to the Lavatanssit dances found across the Finnish countryside.
Unveiled at the Poolen warehouse space, Ekroth's forthcoming gender neutral line oscillates between a state of dreaming and melancholy, where camo, tartan and marguerite flower prints dominate a number of the silhouettes, including technical outerwear, oversized double-breasted blazers and life vests that give way to a billowing tunic. The latter garment appears charming and eclectic on first glance, but reveals darker undertones when learning about hukkumisbingo, a game that can be equated to a drowning bingo, that involves Finnish people betting on how many people will over-drink and drown in the lake during the summer.
Standouts within the collection also includes a pair of blue denim jeans that are meticulously crafted with 250 dandelions, that come alive with each stride. As always, collaboration was plentiful for Ekroth, who tapped Happy Socks, Puma (emblematic of the Speedcats worn by the models), jewelry brand Kalevala and the creative expertise of Matilda Diletta, Tino Nyman, and Richard Ntege to lend on design and styling.
Tekla Introduces Its Softest Collection Yet
Few sleepwear brands, if any, garner the same cult following as Tekla. Since its founding in 2017, the Danish label has nestled a unique position within the market for its supple bedding, terry towels and pajama sets that can double as lifestyle attire out in the streets. Inspired by icons of art and design, including Agnes Martin, Donald Judd and Le Corbusier, Tekla has fielded a number of tasteful collaborations in that span, from a partnership with Artek, sleepwear with Jacquemus to comfy slides with Birkenstock.
Unveiled at its flagship space in Copenhagen, the brand introduces the Sateen collection of bedding and sleep attire that provides its most luxurious offerings yet. Available in pink (porter), white (savoy), light blue (bellhop) and navy (chelsea), the latest line of long-sleeved shirts and pants are crafted from 100 percent organic cotton in a shimmering midweight weave. “Tekla has always strived to create quality pieces that bring a feeling of luxury to everyday moments. The sateen collection continues in this way, drawing on classic designs to elevate daily routines,” said Tekla’s founder and creative director Charlie Hedin in a statement.
Whether for the bed or over the body, the fabric in the Sateen collection is tighly woven in a heavy 400 thread count (240 for the striped white colorway), resulting in a silky soft touch on the skin that is complemented by mother of pearl buttons on elongated enclosures. Shop the full collection here.
Mark Kenly Domino Tan Reflects on the Cycles of Nature for SS25
Mark Kenly Domino Tan (MKDT) lifted the curtain on its SS25 collection at the 18th century Kunsthal Charlottenborg, which first operated as a palace and now boasts one of the finest collections of contemporary art in the country. Like sculptural works in their own right, MKDT's SS25 line is largely designed in neutral tones of cream, chestnut, white and black, each model appearing on the runway like Carrera marble statues walking around the circular courtyard as they carried natural elements, such as straw creations made by Danish designer Sara Martinsen and set against an ambient soundscape performed by a trio of musicians.
A general looseness pervaded each silhouette: from billowing gilets, ruffled tops and matching trousers to short blousons that draped over the wearer like a cape and wide-brim bucket hats that concealed the face from the elements. Standouts within the collection include an elegant tan trench coat with a button enclosure that waves across the chest like a flower petal enshrouding its pistil. MKDT crafts each garment by sourcing a mix of natural and sustainable materials, to create long-lasting silhouettes that will stand the test of time and trends. Together, the combination of music, architecture and fashion created a trance-like effect as each string of the bass guitar was felt.
Saks Potts Turns 10
It's not always the best idea to work with your friends. Inevitably, problems will arise and friendships will slowly sour due to the rigors of running a business — whether a band, firm, studio or fashion label. Not for Catherine Saks and Barbara Potts, though, the Danish co-founders of their eponymously run label, Saks Potts.
The two first met in kindergarten and have been closer than ever over 20 years on, seeing each other as sisters running around the yard, rather than business partners solving real-world issues. That sense of play is evident in their Copenhagen-based label, which bypasses the usual minimalist approaches of Danish design, in favor of statement pieces that adhere to traditional sartorial codes while not being afraid to experiment with color and materials, adding personality and storytelling to each piece, without being gimmicky.
Since 2013, the brand has produced go-to staples that have been worn by en masse by the likes of Rihanna, Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner and countless others. From the honeydew Foxy Shearling Coat that Hadid was spotted in to the no frills Serena longsleeve polo shirt that will grow old in your closet. Saks Potts celebrated 10 years in business during CPHFW with an extravagant party held at the lakeside Embassy of Switzerland in Hellerup. Close friends and family of the brand, as well as press from around the world commenced for a night of festivities that included Danish acrobatic dancers, face paint and fire works — each element, like each garment in their collections, paying nod to the stories from Catherine and Barbara's youth, as the duo cheers to the next ten years.
Build a Relationship With Your Clothes, Says the Royal Danish Academy
"How do you understand local culture, cultural heritage and how do you identify with a garment?" asks the Royal Danish Academy. This was the question posed to each of its graduating seniors who showcased their work during CPHFW. Without knowing it, one would be forgiven to think that the designs on display were created by seasoned professionals, rather than students. Each collection carried a level of craftsmanship and innovation that is usually only acquired through years of painstaking trial and error. Running concurrent through each collection is the urge to create relationships with our clothing, amidst the threats of climate change — a crisis exacerbated heavily by the fashion industry.
"By creating garments that is rooted in the emotional and cultural understanding of cloth, the designers are pointing to a more responsible future for the fashion industry, that is not only by handling materials sustainably - but also by pointing to the important role of the cultural values imbedded in fashion and what it means to the end user," said Else Skjold, a textiles and ecology researcher at the Royal Academy.
Cecilie Bahnsen and ASICS Reveal the First Women's Model of the Gel-Quantum 360 VIII
The 2024 Paris Olympic Games have just drawn to a close, but the spirit of competition lives on through the latest collaborative project between ASICS and Cecilie Bahnsen. The Copenhagen native and LVMH Prize finalist was tapped to create the first-ever women’s model of the ASICS Gel-Quantum 360 VIII.
"How do you turn a very masculine shoe into something feminine?" Bahnsen told Hypebeast during its unveiling. "We worked with the transparencies, floral [motifs] and make it lighter than what it's known for." In regards to the progression of their latest shoe with the Japanese label, Bahnsen wanted to carry over key design elements, such as the velcro straps and the flower prints that reveal itself through the transparency of the sole unit. The campaign was also shot using a Danish gymnast who performed deft-defying acrobatic feats that "reflected the emotions of sport within the product," Bahnsen added.
The Cecilie Bahnsen x ASICS Gel-Quantum 360 XIII is available to purchase in mint and yellow for €240 EUR / $262 USD via an online raffle.
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