The Five Best Collections From Copenhagen Fashion Week SS19

Copenhagen Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2019 has just wrapped up at the Danish capital and this season reaffirmed why some industry insiders deem CPHFW the biggest “under-the-radar” fashion week. Beyond the “Big Four” — Paris, London, New York and Milan — where iconic design houses unveil new works to the highest of expectations, we look to the Danes as a tall glass of water amidst a feverish fashion week cycle.

Season after season, Copenhagen proves not only to be a paragon of Scandinavian style, but also where trends bubble up locally before hitting the global scene. While we may be familiar with two strong personalities of Scandi style — the hard-edged coolness of techwear minimalism, and the soft-focused, pastoral romanticism of Nordic “It-girls” — the best Spring/Summer 2019 menswear collections combined elements of both worlds.

This season saw a general progression from pure menswear to unisex silhouettes, to dedicated womenswear pieces, resulting in collections with diversity in silhouette, material and construction. Established labels such as Han Kjøbenhavn, HELIOT EMIL and Holzweiler strengthened their brand identities by honing craftsmanship and tailoring, coincidentally, all opting for a focus on layered ensembles and transparent materials. Other more graphic-centric brands used the runway as a means of rallying, such as HÆRVÆRK‘s youth cult spectacle and MUF10‘s politically-charged message regarding Denmark’s new ban on burqas.

This edition of Copenhagen Fashion Week demonstrated that both the familiar and the element of surprise were welcomed by fashion’s finest. See below for our selection of the best CPHFW SS19 runway shows and make sure to check out our backstage coverage for more behind-the-scenes access.

Han Kjøbenhavn

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Han Kjøbenhavn‘s Spring/Summer 2019 show makes the top of the list not only for the collection’s strong styling and garment construction, but also for the runway’s storytelling element. The show took place inside an industrial building where the air was thick and the atmosphere charged with an eerie, neon energy. The center of the runway was a micro-chip encrusted greenhouse — an extension of the collection’s story, which reflects on the nostalgic, pastoral scenes of Creative Director Jannik Wikkelsø Davidsen’s youth, and the interruption of the digital era.

These themes were conveyed through the collection’s plush silks, sheer voiles and kitschy floral fabrics, juxtaposed with the skin-tight nylon suits, technical materials and plastic garments. This collection was also the Danish brand’s first dedicated womenswear range, which was designed with a respect for the female figure while keeping to the label’s robust, boyish aesthetic. The result: a mix of soft and hard, old and new, romance and sci-fi. The show concluded with the models coming to a standstill, giving guests a chance to see the garments’ precision and polish up close.

HELIOT EMIL

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Design duo Julius and Victor Juul of HELIOT EMIL hosted perhaps the most highly-anticipated menswear show at CPHFW, and the delivery of their SS19 collection, titled “Referential Transparency,” was nothing short of classic HE. Show attendees were presented transparent tote bags and a clear, canned beverage printed with the designers’ statement.

For the collection itself, steely cool monochrome palettes, industrial materials, military/sportswear elements, and bold tech accouterments maintained the brand’s established blueprints with an emphasis on handmade buckles, straps, zippers and lock carabiners. Plays on asymmetry, cutouts and heat-sensitive thermo expanded the label’s design repertoire, while an unexpected appearance of fur sleeves gave a slight tilt to the HELIOT EMIL codes we all know and love.

A full lineup of women’s silhouettes presented new canvases, while an accessories category filled with silver metallic cable ties (worn as chokers and armbands), patent leather bags and an Asics sneaker collaboration animated the collection’s mechanical rhythm, which at times saw design consistency veer to repetitiveness.

Holzweiler

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Holzweiler‘s Spring/Summer 2019 collection was a presentation of classic Scandinavian fare — light, airy and cleanly cut with an outdoors blitheness. The runway took place in a tented greenhouse, which would have been ideal if Copenhagen wasn’t experiencing record high temperatures that day.

Nevertheless, the collection stayed true to the Norwegian brand’s crisp, minimalist aesthetic with layers of anoraks, bombers and hiking silhouettes presented in an approachable pastel color scheme. Muted oranges and blues, geometric and check prints, and the occasional graphic knit were styled with buckle belts, cross-body straps, waist packs and sun flap hats.

Notable pieces from the ready-to-wear range include the quilted coats, the many-pocketed fisherman vest jackets, and the unisex contrast stitch denim pieces. Sharp tailoring and assorted materials found strength in simplicity and delicate sophistication, giving a nice break from the loud branding and logos we so often see in the current fashion scene.

HÆRVÆRK

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HÆRVÆRK checked all the buzz-worthy streetwear trends for its latest collection, titled “Volume 5.” The HÆRVÆRK SS19 collection looked to classic gaming culture and teenage slacker lifestyle during the ’90s and early aughts. The runway was located in CIFF and featured a stand of computer screens placed in the middle, playing Tekken and surrounded by cans of energy drinks and posters featuring the HÆRVÆRK cult — Bjørn, Benny, Buster and Birk — a cartoon foursome that took on a Gorillaz-style appearance.

The soundtrack consisted of  8-bit video game soundbites, to which models marched wearing low-hanging beanies, giant backpacks and baggy sportswear fits with bold branding. Tight nylon biking shorts were contrasted by large jackets and billowing sleeves, while more classical menswear pieces such as white button downs and trousers channeled youthful rebellion in the style of ill-fitting school uniforms or Sunday church wear.

A neutral palette of camel and brown was lifted by yellow, neon pink, patent black and metallic silver duck tape accents, creating a sharp color block effect that gave way to clear logo branding and striking zebra prints.

MUF10

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MUF10 made perhaps the loudest statement of the entire Copenhagen Fashion Week on the first day of shows by protesting Denmark’s new burqa ban, which outlaws the wearing of facial coverings in public. Iranian-born, Danish designer Reza Etamadi sent models down the MUF10 Spring/Summer 2019 runway in traditional Muslim hijabs and niqabs, while police officers in uniform stood at the back of the set as a display of solidarity.

The collection itself was a decidedly street-centric lineup, anchored by sportswear silhouettes such as tracksuits, anoraks, hoodies and graphic tees. A color scheme of earthy beige, grey, black and olive was paired with bold branding, text prints and Danish nationalistic emblems combined with Arabic script.

Besides the statement-making garments, there were subtler sartorial motifs that spoke to the theme of immigration and cultural dialogues — loafers, trench coats, a pleated midi skirt and a dinner suit vest stood-in as emblems of western heritage. An opening look of a printed Muslim hijab worn with a military combat vest made a defiant statement.