Copenhagen Fashion Week SS27: sustainability and street‑type

The 20th anniversary of Copenhagen Fashion Week opened in August 2026 with the spring-summer 2027 programme, keeping the sustainability agenda introduced the previous year. Brands were required to use at least 60% recycled or responsibly sourced materials and to follow a 19-point environmental plan. Danish designers Stine Goya, Stem and Nicklas Skovgaard were highlighted for vibrant prints, zero-waste production and experimental eco-aesthetics, while street-style coverage captured pastel hues, crochet accessories, bold colour-blocking, pearl earrings, lace headscarves and beaded headpieces.

By Malene Birger returned after a six-year hiatus, with Emilie Martinsen-Kønigsfeldt as creative director and Sydney Roark leading design. The collection emphasized a restrained, tonal aesthetic—cream, chocolate brown, anthracite and burgundy—showcasing leather jackets, cropped blazers, denim-on-denim and second-hand lace, underscoring the brand’s focus on quality, functionality and subtle colour harmony.

Street-style observers noted belts as the season’s standout accessory, inexpensive flip-flops under €30, layered “over-posições” outfits and a shift toward monochrome ensembles that added depth through varied textures such as linen, fine knit, matte leather and glossy silk. A six-metre “pixels of the soul” installation by Brazilian artist Paulo Ricardo Campos linked contemporary art with the fashion programme.

The event introduced an International Guest Slot, with New-York label Collina Strada presenting a one-off collection in partnership with The Climate Pledge, reinforcing the climate-focused agenda. The season also featured the SS26 collection by Institution, winner of the Zalando Visionary Award, which incorporated Azerbaijani cultural heritage and traditional craftsmanship from the Kvemo Kartli region. Overall, the week balanced bold street-style expression—including maximalist prints and sequins in daylight—with an emerging tonal look trend, cementing Copenhagen’s reputation for wearable, sustainable fashion.