The must-know fashion events to put in your diary in 2022

As we’re all painfully aware, any plans made over the last two years have been frustratingly uncertain, which makes it hard to keep track of the usual annual events – especially the ever-evolving fashion week calendars. Things have become even more complicated now that the world has embraced digitalisation, as runway shows move to YouTube and panel debates take place over Zoom. To make planning a little easier, we’ve compiled a list of the biggest sartorial events set to happen in 2022 including what their schedules might look like, so you can start thinking about your outfits – even if your sofa is the FROW and you’re sporting silk pyjamas…

Copenhagen Fashion Week will return in all of its hybrid glory once again this year. The four-day extravaganza is considered to be the Nordics’ biggest fashion occasion, and will feature events and talks in addition to its runway shows.

February will see 31 of Scandinavia’s most exhilarating brands present their AW22 collections, from established names – like Stine Goya and By Malene Birger – to fresh faces such as A Roege Hove who won the inaugural Talent Slot at the SS22 CPHFW in August 2021. There will be a total of 20 physical shows, eight fully digital shows, and three digital shows with physical screenings. All of the showcases will be available to watch live on YouTube too.

The city will also host two trade shows during CPHFW: Copenhagen International Fashion Fair, which has been running since 1993, will take place at the Bella Center, while Revolver will showcase progressive designs in the consistently cool meatpacking district.

Copenhagen as a whole embraces these few days of sartorial fun, and you’ll find that there are fashion-related events organised all over the city. The Copenhagen-based non-profit organisation The Soulfuls – a community for women from all backgrounds – has invited a panel of inspiring women in the industry to discuss how they got to where they are now.

Related: “There still is a systemic bias that needs to be addressed”: How the Soulfuls founder is making room for diverse talent

When CPHFW ends, it is Stockholm’s turn in the spotlight. Launched in 2005, Sweden’s take on fashion week is slightly shorter than Denmark’s and focuses almost exclusively on designers from its own pastures.

This year’s line-up has yet to be announced, but if it’s anything like previous iterations, it’ll be a mixture of physical and digital shows and both seasoned and upcoming menswear and womenswear. We’re expecting sustainability to be at the forefront and the likes of Iggy Jeans, Filippa Agaton and House of Dagmar to take the stage…

You don’t necessarily need to be in the four fashion capitals to enjoy their biannual stints. Keep an eye on the schedules and look out for any digital events that you might be able to livestream.

AW22

New York Fashion Week, Feb 11-16
London Fashion Week, Feb 18-22
Milan Fashion Week, Feb 22-28
Paris Fashion Week, Feb 28 - March 8

SS23

New York Fashion Week, Sept 9-14
London Fashion Week, Sept 16-20
Milan Fashion Week, Sept 20-26
Paris Fashion Week, Sept 26 - Oct 4

Related: The ultimate guide to 2022’s must-see exhibitions in Scandinavia

Iceland’s largest design festival, DesignMarch, returns in May with around 100 exhibitions and events scattered across the capital city. While the official programme won’t be released until March and April, there are already 18 fashion-related happenings confirmed and designers including Hildur Yeoman, Anita Hirlekar, Magnea Einarsdóttir, Apotek Atelier, 66°North are said to be participating. Previous programmes have featured creative mending workshops, collection showcases and the presentation of the Icelandic Fashion Council’s Indriða Award for contributions to Icelandic fashion design.

One of the youngest events on our list is Southern Sweden Design Days in Malmö, which only launched last year. Lokstallarna in Kirseberg will welcome a four-day programme chock full of exhibitions, seminars, workshops and networking opportunities all based around this year’s sustainable theme of proximity.

To give you an idea of what to expect, last year’s schedule included a virtual peek into the studios of local designers, a meditative film called Sensorial Dressing, 3D digital knitting, and a competition to create new products using discarded denim – which resulted in patchwork armchairs and sleek handbags. With this imaginative line-up, we can’t wait to find out what’s in store this spring.

Finland’s long summer days can be spent discovering emerging brands and listening to the wise words of some of the industry’s most innovative and avant-garde designers at the capital’s Fashion in Helsinki event.

The 2022 edition will feature fashion shows by Rolf Ekroth, Latimmier, Hedvig, Maria Korkeila and ByHinders, as well as the annual graduation show Näytös by students of Aalto University. The five-day fete will also consist of screenings, presentations, exhibitions and discussions – and will, of course, champion sustainability. Last year, revered designers Rick Owens and Martine Rose were part of a seminar ensemble who unpicked what makes a design technically ‘good’, so you can expect to see some notable names on the line-up…

The United Nations Environment Programme’s annual World Environment Day will be hosted in Sweden this year, thus its slogan ‘Only One Earth’ is a reference to the 1972 Stockholm Conference. The summit will revolve around the idea of living sustainably and in harmony with nature and will undoubtedly address some of the problems that the fashion industry contributes to. Since 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the venerable Stockholm Conference, the country will also host an event called Sweden+50, which aims to accelerate the progression of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Related: The most sustainable fashion moments of 2021

Norway’s Oslo Runway and Fushion Night Out events will evolve to become just one celebration this year. In August, Oslo Runway will take over the capital with Norwegian designers and brands taking to stages and streets – expect to see the likes of Holzweiler, Swims and Oleana among the razzle dazzle. In addition, the newly united brand plans to launch a design award for upcoming talent in collaboration with DS Automobiles.

There will be a smattering of fashion-related delights to discover during Helsinki Design Week in early autumn, and not all of them will necessarily be future-focused. Last year, Helsinki brand House of Nostalgia took over the GLO Hotel Art with its vintage-inspired designs, inviting guests to try on garments and pose for photographs amongst the Art Nouveau set. We’re looking forward to getting involved with more irreverent and immersive events such as this one.

Helsinki Fashion Week caused a stir in 2020 when it presented its futuristic, experimental, and entirely sustainable digital framework – including avatar models – to the sartorial stage via Youtube and IGTV. Participants could virtually order and try on outfits within the online platform called the Digital Village. The event’s Instagram page hints at an eighth installment this year, but we’re yet to find out what visionary treasures await... Watch this space.

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