Our AW26 talk series with Vogue Business as media partner make up a vital element of the official schedule each season, representing an opportunity to dig deeper into wider issues facing fashion.

Once again, this AW26 Copenhagen Fashion Week will bring the talk program to a live audience, with a dedicated talk being held each day in the Copenhagen Fashion Week Talk hub hosted in the Polestar Space, right in the center of the city.

Attendance to the talk program is open to the public and will be on a first come first served basis and will include a 30-minute panel talk followed by a 15-minute Q&A. The talk will activate the global network of Copenhagen Fashion Week, inviting industry leaders from a variety of organisations and practices to speak across the topics at hand.

Furthermore, Copenhagen Fashion Week is excited to announce Vogue Business as an official media partner, who will use their global audience to amplify the reach of the talks that will be launched as podcasts post release.

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

AI and its relationship with fashion is still in its infancy, with the talk exploring how AI and fashion can look to work interconnectedly with one another, solving obstacles and building new avenues.

Monday, 26 January / 11:00 – 11:45 CET / Mater, Købmagergade 3, 1150 Copenhagen K

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, Freelance Art director & AI artist

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.

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.

Monday, 26 January / 14:00 – 14:45 CET / Mater, Købmagergade 3, 1150 Copenhagen K

Moderator:

Eni Subair, Senior Fashion Features Editor, The Face

Born in Archway, Eni was previously Fashion Features and News Editor of ELLE UK. Working across print and digital, she interviewed creatives including Ayo Edebiri, Daniel Roseberry, Tyla, and Law Roach. Prior to this, as Junior Fashion Writer at British Vogue, she penned essays on mental health and moderated conversations between figures like Michaela Coel and Issa Rae. Eni has an affinity for platforming young designers, profiling rising talents such as Tolu Coker, Feben, Diotima, and Standing Ground. Since joining THE FACE in 2024, she has interviewed pioneers including Martine Rose, Chopova Lowena, and Paloma Elsesser. She has also appeared on SHOWstudio, contributed to Walpole: The Book of British Luxury, 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.

20 Years On: What Is Ahead for the Future of Fashion

In light of CPHFW's 20th anniversary, this talk will explore what the future of fashion will be like and what obstacles we must overcome to cultivate a positive industry for future generations.

Tuesday, 27 January / 15:00 – 15:45 CET / Mater, Købmagergade 3, 1150 Copenhagen K

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:

Mara Hoffman, Founder, Mara Hoffman

Mara Hoffman is an artist, designer, and creative visionary recognized for helping to evolve the conversation around sustainability in fashion. For over two decades, her namesake brand led with a deep commitment to environmental and social responsibility, transparency, and the belief that beauty and integrity must coexist. In 2023, the brand was honored with the CFDA Environmental Sustainability Award for its pioneering leadership in shaping a more conscious industry.
In 2024, Mara consciously closed her brand to honor the cycle of transformation and to explore new expressions of creativity through photography, writing, and guidance. Rooted in a lifelong devotion to nature and consciousness, she remains committed to seeing the fashion industry transform toward systems that nurture both people and planet.

Omoyemi Akerele, Founder & CEO, Lagos Fashion Week & Style House Files

Omoyemi Akerele is the founder and CEO of Lagos Fashion Week and Style House Files, playing a pivotal role in shaping the African fashion industry for over two decades. Her work focuses on strengthening the textile and apparel ecosystem by creating opportunities for brands, businesses, and communities to grow sustainably. Through Lagos Fashion Week, she has built more than just a platform for showcasing talent; she has driven industry-wide advocacy, created capacity-building programs, and facilitated access to new markets. Initiatives like SHF Trains, Woven Threads, and Green Access support emerging talent, promote sustainability, and foster innovation across the value chain. Moreover, Omoyemi's experience extends beyond fashion. She works with multilateral organizations such as UNIDO, SheTrades, and UNESCO, as well as stakeholders like the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, British Council, and private sector partners like Heineken.

Stephany Goncalves, Strategic Advisor, Academic Lecturer & Founder, FÉ

Stephany Goncalves is a strategic advisor, academic lecturer, and social impact voice whose work sits at the intersection of fashion, governance, and leadership. She brings over a decade of international experience with brands including H&M, Gucci, Zalando, and Levi’s. Her practice focuses on future-proof fashion governance and people-centred leadership, shaped through advisory work, research, and public dialogue. She is the founder of FÉ, a mentoring platform expanding access to meaningful mentorship across industries. She also leads Reimagining Fashion Leadership, her platform exploring leadership through access, alignment, and advocacy. In 2024, she was recognized as a University of Amsterdam Impact Maker and has recently contributed to Vogue Poland’s Business Fashion Environment Summit and Harper’s Bazaar Netherlands.

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.

Wednesday, 28 January / 14:00 – 14:45 CET / Mater, Købmagergade 3, 1150 Copenhagen K

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 as she received 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.

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.

Thursday, 29 January / 14:00 – 14:45 CET / Mater, Købmagergade 3, 1150 Copenhagen K

Moderator:

Amy O’Brien, Tech Editor, Vogue Business

Panelists:

Dr. Helena Lewis-Smith, Associate Professor of Psychology, Body Image & Psychology Consultant

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.

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?

Friday, 30 January / 11:00 – 11:45 CET / Mater, Købmagergade 3, 1150 Copenhagen K

Moderator:

Emily Chan, Senior Sustainability & 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.

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.

Friday, 30 January / 14:00 – 14:45 CET / Mater, Købmagergade 3, 1150 Copenhagen K

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 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. 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. 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 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.