Walking Through Art, Fashion and Possibility: An Experience at the Echoes of Tomorrow Salon Show

The Salon Show served as a living extension of the exhibition Echoes of Tomorrow, which had originally opened in January of 2026 during Berlin Fashion Week. Organized by Fashion Council Germany in cooperation with The King’s Foundation and eBay Germany, the exhibition showcased the work of the V-Collective: Aleksander Kudrischow, Laura De Sousa, Lennart Bohle, Jon Liesenfeld and Melanie Parzenczewki. Through the Fashion × Craft initiative, these designers spent a year exploring traditional craftsmanship techniques, including weaving, natural dyeing, woodwork and metalwork, creating pieces that reflected both heritage and innovation.

Alongside Echoes of Tomorrow, visitors could also experience Gallery Looks. Fashion Stagings at the Gemäldegalerie, curated by Katja Kleinert, curator of 17th-century Dutch and Flemish art at the Gemäldegalerie Berlin. The fashion concept was developed by Christiane Arp, Chairwoman of Fashion Council Germany. Inspired by photographer Ralph Mecke’s exploration of the visual connections between Old Master paintings and contemporary fashion imagery, the exhibition featured photography by Ralph Mecke, video works by Florian Azar and designs by Anne Bernecker, Karen Jessen, Alexander Gigl and Estelle Adeline Trasoglu of Plaid-à-Porter.

As a model participating in the Salon Show, I had the privilege of wearing two looks by the incredibly talented designer Karen Jessen. Each designer presented 2 models, we moved through the museum, surrounded by centuries of artistic history, we became part of the exhibition, creating a dialogue between fashion, craftsmanship and fine art. The experience felt almost magical.

As we walked slowly through the galleries, visitors wandered among the artworks, taking inspiration from the paintings while simultaneously engaging with the contemporary designs moving through the space. There was no barrier separating the audience from the experience, everyone became part of the story. One of the most memorable moments came at the end of the catwalk, where a photoshoot set invited the audience even deeper into the creative process, the presentation continued, allowing visitors to witness another layer of image making and storytelling.

What stayed with me most, however, was the reaction of the crowd. I watched little girls stop in their tracks, their eyes lighting up as the garments passed by. I saw families smile, point and admire the craftsmanship up close. Many of these visitors may never have had the opportunity to attend a traditional runway show. Yet here they were, experiencing fashion in one of Berlin’s most beautiful cultural spaces, free from the exclusivity that often surrounds the industry.

In those moments, fashion felt exactly as it should: inspiring, welcoming and capable of sparking imagination.

The setting itself amplified this feeling. Walking through the magnificent halls of the Gemäldegalerie, surrounded by masterpieces that have inspired generations, reminded me that fashion is also an art form. Like painting, it tells stories, preserves techniques, reflects culture and connects people across time.

The Salon Show demonstrated that when fashion steps outside of its usual boundaries, something remarkable can happen. By opening its doors to the public and placing fashion within a museum context, Fashion Council Germany created an experience that celebrated not only design and craftsmanship but also curiosity, accessibility and community.

For me, it was a reminder that creativity is at its most powerful when it invites people in.