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For most people, blockchain technology is still quite an abstract concept. We can think of it as some kind of virtual database that saves all transactions in so-called blocks. This creates transaction or block chains, which are perpetuated with every subsequent transaction. Through the high degree of transparency, the system can do without a central controlling entity, as it is permanently controlled by many. The blockchain can be changed afterwards. So far, this technology has been used mainly to materialize cryptocurrencies, but it increasingly paves its way also through the fashion industry. The following section outlines a few blockchain concepts from the fashion industry:
 
Blockchain makes fashion forgery-proof
The Berlin-based startup business Lukso has created an opportunity to take action against trademark counterfeiting and forgeries by using blockchain. A chip replaces traditional QR codes, which can be copied easily. The data stored on the chip are locked in and thus cannot be edited. Thus, the authenticity of the garment can be verified. The founder of Lukso, Fabian Vogelsteller, used his experience he had gained as a developer for the Ethereum cryptocurrency in order to develop this chip.
„The Fashion industry is the perfect industry for a blockchain-network, since it is forward thinking and eager to try out new things. Especially the interaction between users is an important factor here. Also forgery-proof is still an unsolved problem,“ explains the founder of LUKSO, Fabian Vogelsteller.    

The data stored on the chip can be analysed, but not read. Thus, the information about the products is disclosed in the blockchain in a transparent way for the customers and retailers. However, by not disclosing the system, the information can neither be changed nor copied, making the history of the garment traceable at any time. This technology provides protection against counterfei¬ting in particular with regard to brand and luxury goods. The system is also suitable for second-hand shops selling high-quality products, as the buyers are given a guarantee that they have bought a genuine product.

…and its origin transparent
SourceMap is another development using blockchain for the fashion sector. SourceMap is a kind of social network based on blockchain technology developed by the software company Provenance.
 
It allows everyone from the farmer to the textile mill to the cut-and-sew factory to communicate directly with the brand that buys from them, and it is using Provenance’s blockchain technology to verify those communications. They envision a world in which every fashion product has traceable, transparent origins. The developers promise that for example organic and Fair Trade certifications cannot be faked. The designer Martine Jarlgaard from London produced smart labels from Provenance using blockchain technology already in 2017, allowing the customers to scan these labels to track every step in the production.
 
Also, the fashion label Babyghost has launched a kind of social network. With specific chips woven into the garments, the customers are able to track the entire history of the clothes using their smartphone. The blockchain technology behind that even allows the consumers to add their own photos, videos and messages. This way, each garment gets its own story that is accessible at any time.

Berlin-based business wants to revolutionize online shopping experiences with blockchain
Wysker is an app developed by Tobias Haag and his team from Berlin to revolutionize online fashion shopping. With the blockchain system, users can decide on whether and what data they want to disclose to the retailers. Those who provide data will be rewarded with discounts. The Wysker app itself shows only photos, prices and the providers of the products. Those who find what they are looking for will be forwarded to the respective business partner. The developers expect that the bonus model will become a small revolution. Every app user is given bonus points, so-called Wys tokens. The more intensive the app is used, the more tokens are given. The tokens can be redeemed with the participating retailers. They are based on blockchain technology and connected to the Ethereum cryptocurrency. The value of the bonus points increases with the popularity of the app, as the number of tokens is limited. Thus, increased demand leads automatically to a higher value. The app is still in the initial stage. However, many users have already been generated during the first few months.
 
The fashion industry shows once again its innovative strength and uses blockchain to embark on new paths, with blockchain technology being a means to the end. It creates transparency that can reward the users and bring new shopping experiences.

Further information:
https://www.lukso.io/ 
https://www.wystoken.org/ 
http://martinejarlgaard.com/Home 
https://www.mybabyghost.com/ 
http://www.sourcemap.com/ 

More than 3,500 exhibitors presenting their latest collections for spring/summer 2019 at the Berlin Fashion Week from the 3^rd - 7^th January 2018. The Berlin Fashion Week is the meeting point for buyers, press and media members from all over the world. Berlin has national and international appeal and is an exciting mix of art, film, music and fashion. This is where the trends of tomorrow are born. After a few seasons, Berlin has established itself as one of the top five capitals of fashion with more than 100,000 trade visitors and numerous events during Berlin Fashion Week, including fashion shows, trade show platforms, receptions and showrooms.

The order business has a constant growth with the fashion fairs Premium Exhibition, Panorama, Show & Order, Bright, Seek und Selvedge Run, the Greenshowroom, the Ethical Fashion Show Berlin, #FASHIONTECH Berlin, FashionSustain and Playtime Berlin. Also, this season young and established designer will show their collection at "Der Berliner Mode Salon" at Kronprinzenpalais.
Last season 100.000 Professionals, national and international Journalists came to Berlin to see the collections. The result: 5.000 reports in national and international newspapers, more than 5.000 online reports.

Only a few more hours until the Berlin Fashion Week starts – the tension is rising. When thinking about Berlin Fashion Week, images of the runway shows or well-known and talented designers come to mind, plus the showrooms exhibiting their creations and works of the designer. The Berlin Fashion is especially known for the big presentation platforms MBFW and Der Berliner Salon, which attract the professional audience each season. Read some minor spoilers about the biggest highlights of the upcoming fashion week:

MBFW (former Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week), July 03 to 07 2018
The new concept, which MBFW successfully introduced in July 2018 will be continued this edition. At ewerk Berlin, Wilhelmstraße in Mitte, emerging designers and established fashion brands will present their creations and collections from 3^rd until 5^th of July. Together with the Berlin-based creative agency NOWADAYS, MBFW has staged the platform very artistically for the designers. The theme of this MBFW is “Follow MBFW – Liberate Fashion”.

The schedule is nicely filled with outstanding talents. The programme kicks off on Monday, 2^nd of July with the show by Guido Maria Kretschmer, a well-known designer, who will present his spring/summer-2019 collection.

High-End Labels and established, excellent fashion brands will show to be experienced, on the following days. On Tuesday, Botter, Maisonnoée Berlin, Lena Hoschek and Irene Luft will present their Spring/Summer-2019 collection. Additionally, the fashion how “Greenshowroom Selected” will take place for the first time as part of MBFW. A selection of the collections and styles by the designers exhibiting at Greenshowroom and Ethical Fashion Show Berlin will be presented. As another highlight, the show will be live streamed at Kraftwerk Berlin.
 
On Wednesday, shows by Sportalm Kützbühel, Rebekka Ruétz, Maison Common, Riani and the upcoming-talent Danny Reinke, who won one of the MBFW show slots, funded by Projekt Zukunft.
The Thursday is the third main day of the Berlin Fashion Week and presents Marina Hoermanseder, Ivanman, who is seen as another emerging talent in the menswear field, Lana Müller and Isabel Vollrath, who will present her new styles. The big final, the Rebelpin Fashion Awards by ACTE is taking place on Thursday night.
http://mbfw.berlin/

DER BERLINER SALON, July 05 to 07 2018
For the eights time already, another highlight will take place as part of the Berlin Fashion Week. Designer from the German-speaking area will present their latest collections during Defilees, events and a group exhibition.

BERLINER SALON x DISNEY
This edition of the Berliner Salon starts with an event in cooperation with the Walt Disney Company. On 5^th of July, from 9.30 am - 11.30 am, the 90^th anniversary of Mickey Mouse will be celebrated – four German labels (Odeeh, Rianna + Nina, Strenesse und William Fan) created exclusive collections to honor the mouse.
Not only the pieces of names designers, but also well-known runway pieces by international fashion houses, e. g. Jimmy Choo, from the archives of Disney will be presented.

Zeitmagazin & Vogue Conference
The Disney morning will be followed by the known “Zeitmagazin & Vogue” conference with the theme “Change Fashion”. Already in the past years, important topics, such as the essence of fashion, were discussed by the podium speakers. This year, the audience can expect another important discussion and interesting keynotes for the 7th time as part of Berliner Salon. Model Toni Garrn, Benjamin Alexander Huseby, and the designer Wales Bonner will be on stage.

Defilees
The last two days of Der Berliner Salon will be defined by presentations and defilees. Various fashion labels, such as Dawid Tomaszewski, Odeeh, and William Fan will present their spring/summer-2019 collections.
 
Group Exhibition
Last but not least, the biggest event as part of Berliner Salon will be the group exhibition. For the opening of such, major and Senator for Economy Ramona Pop will be present. That and the expansion of the exhibition by artistic-designed creations by product designers show, how the format stands up for a new, public awareness of demanding, German design.
Altogether, 42 designers, photographers and artists from German-speaking countries will present their latest works to the audience, from 12pm - 5pm, on 6^th of July.
http://derberlinersalon.com/

Every day, GTAI experts observe and analyze the development of the most important German export industries on the world markets. Here you will find summarized information on the textile and clothing industry in Asian markets.
 
GTAI Industry Check - Vietnam
Textile and clothing industry: Vietnam needs more than sewing
The textile and clothing industry is one of the most important pillars of the Vietnamese industry and accounted for around 6 percent of total exports in 2017 with exports amounting to USD 26 billion. For 2018, the industry is aiming for growth of 7 to 8 percent and exports are expected to rise to over USD 33 billion. In order to comply with the rules of origin of the free trade agreements concluded by Vietnam, the country must achieve a higher added value. Domestic companies such as the Vinatex Group or Garco10, but also foreign companies are increasingly investing in technical innovations and expanding processes such as spinning, weaving and dyeing upstream of pure sewing. In addition, the first companies are beginning to automate their production processes.

GTAI Industry Check - Uzbekistan
Textile and clothing industry: Investments of more than USD 2 billion planned
The industry program for 2017 to 2020 lists around 130 projects with a total value of USD 2 billion. About half of the planned investments are to be
accounted for foreign commitments. The aim is to double the annual output of finished textile products during this period. With an annual production of more than 3 million tons of raw cotton, Uzbekistan is one of the world's largest producers of the white gold. A second industry programme foresees the implementation of five projects for the production of raw silk, silk wadding and silk fabrics and finished silk products between 2018 and 2021. The minimum investments required are estimated at USD 26 million.
 
GTAI Industry Check – Myanmar
Textile and clothing industry: Export strength through low wages
The lifting of sanctions by the EU and the US has noticeably revived the investment climate in the sector, especially as this was linked to the reactivation of the EU's GSP import status (Generalized System of Preferences). Most investors came from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan or South Korea, and Western brands such as GAP, H & M, Primark or Marks & Spencer were also included. Currently, about 400,000 workers are employed in almost 400 factories, mostly geared to CMP (cut-make-pack), including 171 foreign investors and 22 joint ventures. According to the Myanmar Garment Entrepreneurs Association, exports are expected to have increased by 40 percent to over USD 3 billion by 2017. For the first time the largest customer was the European Union, primarily Germany, ahead of Japan and South Korea.

GTAI Industry Check – Georgian Republic
Textile and clothing industry: Several expansion projects planned
The apparel industry produces garments for up to USD 70 million annually. The main products manufactured are international brands for export. Several new projects in the industry are in preparation. For example, the Turkish jeans manufacturer Baykanlar Textil plans to build a factory for the production of brand jeans in Ozurgeti by the end of 2018. A total of USD 15 million will be invested in the project. The Romanian company MGMtex, a subsidiary of the Swiss company Ottorose, is planning to start production of branded clothing in Kutaisi in cooperation with a local partner. The investments for the first and second project phases amount to more than USD 1.5 million. For the procurement of equipment, the company benefits from subsidies from the state program Produce in Georgia.

GTAI Industry Check - Turkmenistan
Textile and Clothing Industry: Investments of around 300 million US dollars planned
The textile and clothing industry represents 20 percent of Turkmenistan's industrial production and 30 percent of its manufacturing industry. A good USD 300 million will be invested in 2018 to 2020/21. The project list includes the construction of a large textile complex for the annual processing of up to 5,000 tons of fine-fibred cotton into semi-finished and finished products. Start March 2021; contractor: Cotam Enterprises Ltd, British Virgin Islands/Turkey) and a factory for the annual production of 6,000 tons of cotton yarn (2019/20, Hilli yol), the modernization of a textile factory (Daschogus), a cotton spinning mill (Tachtabasar) and a factory for medical wadding and cosmetic cotton (Ashgabat; 2018/2019 each). The potential of medical textiles, cotton fabrics, man-made fibers and the processing of wool and cocoons is still little used.
 
GTAI Industry Check – Azerbaijan
Textile and clothing industry: Light industry business park attracts investors
Azerbaijan launched several projects to revive the industry (output in 2017: USD 100 million). An industrial park for light industry has been under construction in Mingachevir since autumn 2016. Nine new factories are planned for cotton, acrylic and woolen yarn, clothing, hosiery and leather shoes. The project is worth up to USD 150 million. The first factory for the annual production of 20,000 tons of yarn is under construction. Under the umbrella organization for the Azerkhalcha carpet weaving mill founded in 2016, ten further smaller factories will be put into operation in 2018. Gilan Textil Park, Sumqayit, wants to expand its exports of home textiles. In the medium term, the construction of a silk spinning mill with an annual capacity of 3,000 tons of yarn is also planned.
 
GTAI Industry Check - Armenia
Textile and clothing industry: interest from abroad increases
Rising exports of clothing to Russia and western markets lead to expect further investments in the textile and clothing industry in 2018. Italian investors are planning to build a large jersey factory in Kapan (Sjunik region). The company SASSTEX in Artik (Schirak region) invests in two factories for the production of fashion (ZARA brand) and workwear. The Egyptian Wassef Group is considering the production of cotton fabrics and products therefrom. Yerevan-based hosiery and children's apparel manufacturer Alex Textile will continue its USD 28 million investment program in 2018 to expand apparel and hosiery production at several sites in Armenia.