Florentina Leitner opened the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (MBFW) at Berlin’s Kraftwerk with her show with around 200 live guests attending. The young designer showed her spring/summer 2022 collection from her London label of the same name as part of the Mercedes-Benz Young Talent Promotion Programme.
After the show, the fashion industry and media met at a cocktail reception. For the first time since the beginning of the Corona pandemic, MBFW Berlin was able to take place with a live audience. The hybrid format also allowed digital participation worldwide.
The inspiration for Leitner’s spring/summer 2022 collection “Vacation on the Moon” is the Mondsee lake in Austria and her vision of designing the collection for a holiday on the moon. The silhouettes are inspired by dirndls, sailor jackets and spacesuits. The colour palette is defined by metallic silver tones and a mix of summery colours like pink and various shades of blue.
“The MBFW Berlin Show is really special for me, and not only because it is my first catwalk presentation for a live audience after the break,” says Florentina Leitner. “I was only able to show my last two collections digitally, because of the pandemic. Presenting at an MBFW is something up-and-coming designers dream of, and Mercedes-Benz has now made it come true.”
Florentina Leitner is a Master’s graduate of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. The Austrian was on Dries van Noten’s design team before setting up her own label in London. Stars like Kylie Jenner, Lady Gaga and Charli XCX have worn her creations. In February 2021 she presented her autumn/winter 2021 collection “The Royal Leitners” at the digital New York Fashion Week.
Mercedes-Benz Global Fashion Engagement
Since 1995, Mercedes-Benz has established itself worldwide as a major player in the fashion industry, building authentic relationships within the fashion community through its commitment to emerging designer initiatives, innovative collaborations, fashion week partnerships, and live events. The brand is currently active in many key locations around the world, including the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Weeks Russia, Mexico, Madrid, Tbilisi and Berlin and also the acclaimed International Festival of Fashion, Photography and Fashion Accessories in Hyères.
A responsible future in fashion
Committed to the sustainable future of luxury design, Mercedes-Benz proactively works to future-proof the responsible growth of its fashion partnerships; highlighting best practices and aligning itself with creatives that reflect and champion values such as outstanding and intuitive design, creativity and innovation.
Mercedes-Benz is delighted to develop its long-standing partnership with Festival Hyères for 2021 with the inaugural Mercedes-Benz Sustainability Prize, an evolution of Mercedes-Benz’ support of the festival’s fashion finalists which will educate the next generation of talent in sustainable best-practices. Through its Mercedes-Benz Fashion Talents programme and creative collaborations, the luxury brand has supported nearly 170 designers in over 30 platforms around the world, including Milan, London, New York, Beijing, Sydney, Prague, Istanbul, Berlin and Accra.