Campus for Design and Art

Big names of the international fashion industry guest at Campus Gestaltung

Presentation of the young talent prize "Miranda Konstantinidou - Junior Fashion Innovation Prize" from left to right: event organiser Prof. Dirk Wolfes, Nadja Führinger, Lea Kasper, Miranda Konstantinidou, Anette Göhrlich. ©Marco Piecuch

On February 8 and 9, the Fashion Design Department invited former students from the international fashion industry to the big alumni festival "HORIZONTAL SUPERIOR". Patron of the event was Miranda Konstantinidou, owner of the jewellery label KONPLOTT, who also studied fashion design in Trier. High praise was given for the organisation of this event on the initiative of Prof. Dirk Wolfes.

Betty Barclay, Aigner, Calvin Klein, WSGN, Salewa - numerous graduates of the Fashion Design Department of the University of Applied Sciences Trier have been working internationally as successful designers in large fashion houses, as stylists and fashion editors or they have founded their own label since their graduation. Their success stories began with a degree course in Trier. Reason enough for the organiser of the event, Prof. Dirk Wolfes, to invite the former students to a big reunion for the first time. More than 200 designers in the field of fashion design at the Irminenfreihof were thus welcomed to a large creative network meeting this weekend.

The big alumni meeting, which celebrated its premiere in 2020, offered an extensive programme over two days with lectures, experience reports, exhibitions and the opportunity for exchange. Young students in particular had the opportunity to make valuable contacts with established companies and designers and to learn from their experiences in a "family" setting. A large number of lectures by former students, such as "Fashion and Marketing - PR and Fashion Business in a global world" by London designer Paula Knorr, offered the students interesting insights and valuable industry knowledge.

The Dean of Campus Design Prof. Dr. Matthias Sieveke as well as Dr. Prof. Christina Threuter and organiser Prof. Dirk Wolfes from the Fashion Design Department welcomed the numerous guests who had travelled from all over the world for this weekend. "As students, make use of this valuable network, this unique family bond", appealed Prof. Dr. Sieveke. Mayor Wolfram Leibe also addressed the audience: "Trier has a nationwide, even Europe-wide charisma with this field of study". For many decades there has been a close connection between fashion and the city, which is also reflected in the major fashion shows, Leibe continued. Afterwards he visited the extensive exhibition, got into conversation with the students and was visibly impressed by the works on display.

Miranda Konstantinidou, founder and owner of the internationally renowned jewellery company KONPLOTT, is also strongly connected to Campus Design as a former student of fashion design. As patron of the alumni festival she awarded a new sponsorship prize for young fashion designers from Trier, the "Miranda Konstantinidou - Junior Fashion Innovation Prize". Out of 26 exhibited final theses, she selected the three most innovative fashion collections for her. The prizes went to Anette Görlich, Lea Kasper and Nadja Führinger.
Many of the exhibited works dealt with the topics of the hour: sustainability and digitalization. "The fashion industry is currently undergoing a major upheaval," said Prof. Dirk Wolfes from the fashion design department. "It is a highly complex profession that requires a great deal of knowledge - from editing to materials science, communication and market understanding to production processes".

On Saturday evening, under the moderation of Prof. Christian Bruns from Trier University of Applied Sciences, the topic "Developments in the fashion industry and future professional requirements" was discussed on the top-class podium. The audience was offered a very lively and interesting discussion. The topics ranged from innovation processes in the course of the advancing digitalisation, the idea of sustainability in the fast-moving fashion world to the necessary skills a designer should have today. In this context, the gathering of experience through international internships was considered particularly valuable for future applicants.

Guests on the podium: Miranda Konstantinidou - Konplott. Manfred Wagner - Closed. Volker Ketteniß - WGSN. Sina Steidinger - Rosner. Julia Lipfert - Betty Barclay. Antje Selzer - Calvin Klein. Reinhard Brodel - Clockhouse C&A technical presentations: Nastasja Preuß, Professor Christian Bruns, Dennis Hinze, Christian Beck, Paula Knorr, Ralf Schmitt, Miranda Konstantinidou

Fashion design in Trier - A course of studies with almost 100 years of history and tradition
The Department of Fashion Design at the University of Applied Sciences in Trier is not only one of the most renowned in Germany, it is also the oldest still existing institution for fashion design, which was founded as a design class in 1922 at the State School of Crafts and Arts and Crafts. In 2022, the Fashion Department, in which 221 students from 26 countries are currently studying, will celebrate its 100th anniversary. A big anniversary celebration is already planned here as well.

Panel discussion with successful graduates Guests on the podium f.l.t.r.: Antje Selzer (Calvin Klein), Sina Steidinger (Rosner) Julia Lipfert (Betty Barclay), Moderator Prof. Christian Bruns (Modedesign,Hochschule Trier), Reinhard Brodel (Clockhouse C&A), Volker Ketteniß (WGSN), Miranda Konstantinidou (Konplott), Manfred Wagner (Closed). ©Marco Piecuch

Head of Department Prof. Dr. Christina Threuter and Prof. Dirk Wolfes of the Fashion Design Department open the Alumnifest at Irminenfreihof. ©Marco Piecuch