Hamburg and Berlin build joint infrastructure for the fashion industry

System Update for the Fashion Industry: PLATTE.Berlin e.V. and FABRIC Hamburg Build Joint Infrastructure for the Next Generation of Fashion

Berlin/Hamburg, 26 March 2026 – Two of Germany’s most influential fashion hubs are joining forces: With a strategic partnership, PLATTE.Berlin e.V. and FABRIC Hamburg are combining their strengths in 2026 to address the industry’s challenges with new, accessible structures.
The goal: opening market access to all talents and strengthening the economic position of independent designers.

Two cities, one ecosystem: The cooperation between PLATTE and FABRIC creates a complementary ecosystem. In an industry often defined by exclusivity, gatekeeping, and rigid hierarchies, the partners are committed to collaboration, exchange at eye level, and collective intelligence.

FABRIC Hamburg acts as the “engine room”: With a focus on innovative production processes, circular digital infrastructure, and technological evolution, this is where the how of future fashion is shaped.
PLATTE.Berlin e.V. becomes the “arena”: As a real-world lab for experimental retail and community engagement, PLATTE provides the visibility and direct market validation that designers need.

Economic sovereignty instead of “creative chaos”: A central focus of the 2026 partnership is the professionalization of the next generation. PLATTE Berlin consolidates this in an annual program that guides young labels toward entrepreneurial stability through mentoring, business scaling, and a resilient network. In parallel, FABRIC Hamburg launches the FABRIC Academy, which operates at the production and development level: it provides technical expertise, access to professional infrastructure, and supports designers in efficiently translating concepts into market-ready products.

“The industry doesn’t need another event format – it needs a new infrastructure,” say the initiators. “We’re not managing the status quo; we’re building the bridge that enables talent to access the market – regardless of social background or starting capital.”

Low-threshold access and new standards: The joint Commitment Paper by PLATTE and FABRIC defines clear guidelines: easy accessibility, the removal of barriers, and the promotion of fashion design as a relevant economic sector.

Concretely, this means: both institutions are opening their programs to each other and, for the first time, creating a permeable infrastructure between Berlin and Hamburg. This includes the joint NEXT GEN Pop-up and Exhibition Award, two annual events at both locations, shared consulting and knowledge formats, the planned “Fashion Lift” incubator program, as well as regular workshop days at FABRIC for Berlin-based labels. This is complemented by pop-up presentations of Hamburg designers in PLATTE’s retail space. The result is a network that interlinks production, training, visibility, and market access. In addition to the major accelerator program, PLATTE also offers needs-based services such as training and one-on-one consulting for in-store designers to ensure continuous professionalization.

About PLATTE Berlin
PLATTE.Berlin e.V. is a creative, community-driven retail platform in the heart of Berlin that has served as an interface between fashion, culture, and the market since 2021.

About FABRIC Hamburg
FABRIC – Future Fashion Lab is Hamburg’s center for sustainable production and textile innovation, located in the heart of the city and a project of Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft, the city’s economic development agency for the creative industries.