Buttercream dresses, button-down shirts with oversized collars, peddle pushers, and whimsical hair accessories are just a few of the Danish trends that reigned supreme at Copenhagen Fashion Week this season. The city undoubtedly has its own sense of style—an identifiable, playful take on fashion. And while there are a few Danish brands (Ganni, Cecilie Bahnsen, Saks Potts) that gave Copenhagen its renowned status in the global fashion industry, their legacy has made way for a cohort of emerging Scandinavian brands to carry the torch forward. Copenhagen Fashion Week sets itself apart from others with its emphasis on emerging talent, and this week, a handful of smaller brands took center stage as the new class of designers defining Copenhagen’s fashion scene.
“In general, we embrace the philosophy that beauty and functionality should coexist,” says designer and co-founder Awa Malina Stelter of OpéraSport when asked how she would describe Danish style. “It strikes a harmonious balance between simplicity and sophistication, with an emphasis on clean lines, subtle color palettes, and premium materials.” It makes sense that these design principles would be evident in Copenhagen’s fashion week, given the city’s history and standing in the interior design world. For emerging designer Nicklas Skovgaard, the energy of Danish style is palpable. “I believe it’s more about the approach to dressing and the feeling you carry that defines the Danish style,” he says. “I feel that our kinship in our way of dressing has to do with how the clothes fit the life you live, and I think that is very Danish.”
Rising Danish and Scandinavian talent expressed their viewpoints on style and dressing by way of their Spring/Summer 2025 collections. Knitwear brand A. Roege Hove made a return to the CPHFW schedule after a brief hiatus (the designer, Amalie, made the decision to shutter her namesake label last fall partly because of unpaid orders from retailers). With the help of investors, the designer made her triumphant return with a runway show inside a brewery, where models donned Amalie’s signature ribbed dresses, tops, and skirts. Across town, beloved menswear (and newly womenswear) designer Mfpen opened its first store, where racks were graced with pleated trousers and perfected shirting. While this year’s Scandinavian designers run the gamut from eccentric and frilly to tailored and sophisticated (in fact, those seem to be the only two categories of dressing in Denmark), they all share a distinct sensibility: a consideration for how it feels to get dressed.
Despite the small, local nature of these labels, there are a few places to shop their current collections stateside. Below, shop this season’s newest talent of Scandinavian designers.
Caro Editions
Founded by Danish model and fashion icon Caroline Bille Brahe, Caro Editions reflects the spirit of Caroline’s personal style: eclectic, feminine, and nostalgic. Focused on using deadstock and recycled fabrics, the brand infuses a sense of new and old into two collections per year. The styles—big-shouldered jackets, beaded pants, and reversible bucket hats—evoke the feelings of pulling looks from a costume box, one full of styles that marry Danish tradition and a modern take on dressing up.
Mark Kenly Domino Tan Studio
This Copenhagen-based brand was founded just over a decade ago. Mark Kenly Domino Tan Studio is known for its elevated take on everyday wear—think quality fabrics, sophisticated silhouettes, and a neutral color palette. The brand produces pieces that are designed to be worn again and again, and even passed down through generations. Its take on sustainability is that longevity is the best way to minimize waste, along with using carefully-sourced, natural fabrics.
Mfpen
Designer Sigurd Bank founded Mfpen in 2015 with the vision of creating wearable garments made from quality fabrics. Bank says that for him, true Danish design is “relaxed, easy going, not over the top. It’s a bit safe, classic and slightly conservative… But not in a bad way.” Since expanding into womenswear just last year, Mfpen has become even more of a Copenhagen cult favorite, sought after for its shirting and slacks. For Sigurd, inspiration for his collection can come from anywhere. “Lately, I’ve been digging into a lot of old images of the ’70s and ’80s Krautrock/German industrial scene,” he says. “Bands like Grauzone, DAF, Einstürzende and Neubauten… I’m a big fan of the music too.”
Nicklas Skovgaard
Growing up just outside of Copenhagen, designer Nicklas Skovgaard found most of his inspiration on the internet—through muses like Tavi Gevinson and, of course, his mother, who made an event out of getting dressed. After buying a loom in 2020 to begin weaving his own pieces, he launched his namesake brand, a line of imaginative, feminine silhouettes. “I think Danish style is not just one certain thing to describe,” Skovgaard says. “To me, it is so many different things—it can be minimalist, maximalist or something in between, and still it can feel very Danish to me.” A few years into his business, Skovgaard is still finding inspiration in his mother. “She was the one who introduced me to fashion when I was a child growing up in the ’90s on a small island,” he shares. “Seeing this very personal approach to getting dressed for everyday or for going out really sparked my love for fashion, and it’s a big part of why I love making clothes.”
A. Roege Hove
Founded in 2019 by Amalie Roge Hove, who previously held a design position at Copenhagen-based design house Cecile Bahnsen, A. Roege Hove puts a creative spin on knitwear. “Danish style is easy and not overcomplicated,” she says. “I think it’s not so much about minimalism any more. It’s more about looking effortless.” With the relaunch of her label this season, the designer continues to find inspiration in materials. “Materials of any kind of texture inspires me,” Hove shares. “But preferably something that I can fit into my knitting machine.”
The Garment
Design pair Charlotte Eskildsen and Sophia Roe founded The Garment in 2020. Based in Copenhagen, the label is known for its sleek, elegant knitwear and tailored essentials in neutral tones and versatile silhouettes. This year, The Garment presented its spring 2025 collection in the courtyard at Copenhagen’s Thorvaldsen’s Museum. The pieces carried an ethereal feel: flowing cream and cerulean sheer dresses and pants paired with matching jackets were just a few of the standout pieces.
Jade Cropper
This emerging Scandinavian label is, in every sense of the phrase, a cool-girl designer. Since launching in 2020, her signature slithery, leather looks have already been embraced by Gigi Hadid and Kim Kardashian. This season, Cropper presented her latest collection in a warehouse-style room where models stood atop red sand wearing hooded, cutout jackets, structured leather skirts and draped jersey dresses.
Skall
This fan-favorite Danish brand was founded by design sisters Julie and Marie Skall, who grew up in Northern Jutland. Today, their line takes inspiration from a childhood spent outside in nature. The designers prioritize using locally-sourced materials, including wool, linen, organic cotton, and recycled cashmere. And, they produce almost everything close to home. For their Spring 2025 collection, Skall Studio presented a neutral-palette runway show, where models wore khaki gardening hats, billowing cotton dresses, and GOTS-certified denim—all looks that celebrate an outdoors lifestyle with a fashion-forward point of view.
Damson Madder
While Damson Madder is a London-based brand, the sustainability-focused line speaks to their appreciation for the Danish spirit in Copenhagen. Founded in 2020 by Emma Hill, the brand falls squarely into the playful category of design, embracing colored denim, big collars, and hyper-feminine silhouettes. This year, the label hosted a breakfast during CPHFW to celebrate the brand’s cult-following in the city (whether a hat, bag, or jacket, it seems every girl has a Damson Madder something).
OpéraSport
“Our inspiration comes from a diverse array of sources, each contributing to the aesthetic of our collections,” says OpéraSport’s designer and founder Awa Malina Stelter of their inspiration behind their Spring 2025 show. “Nature and architecture are constant muses, offering an endless supply of textures, colors, and forms that influence our designs. We also draw on art, history, and culture for inspiration, ensuring that our collections are not only visually compelling but also meaningful.” The brand kicked off Copenhagen Fashion Week on August 5th with a seaside runway show at the Opera House —a fitting location. Pastel blues, belted polo T-shirts and peddle pushers were just a few of the standout looks from this collection.
Elhanati
Copenhagen-based jewelry brand Elahanati was founded by Orit Elhanati, who draws inspiration from her own Nordic and Middle Eastern heritage. Founded in 2011, the brand has grown a strong and steady fanbase for its unique yellow gold statement rings and delicate sterling silver floral pieces. Every item is handmade and has a high-quality feel. Along with its popular zodiac pendants and beaded bracelets, Elhanati also offers a distinct men’s collection.
Lié Studio
Founded only several years ago in 2021, this accessories brand was brought to life by twin sisters and models Amalie and Cecilie Moosgaard—who you may recognize from the Alex Mill campaign. Each had years under their belt in the fashion industry, noticing an empty space for elevated yet accessibly-priced jewelry and leather goods.
Ragbag
This fan-favorite Danish jewelry brand was founded in Copenhagen in 2020 with an appreciation for craftsmanship and Denmark’s elevated design ethos. The pieces are equal parts modern and creative, bringing an architectural element to jewelry. Every material Ragbag uses is responsibly sourced, including sterling silver, 18k gold plating, freshwater pearls, and natural stone. And another plus: this brand is among the more affordable when it comes to Copenhagen jewelers.
Berner Kühl
A brand-new label on the CPHFW roster this season, Berner Kühl is a menswear brand offering high-quality staples with personality. Founded in 2019 by designer Frederik Berner Kühl, the brand offers a unique blend of minimalist and modern Danish aesthetics and responsible production. Kühl is meticulous in material sourcing (they prioritize durable fabrics that last, such as recycled polyamide and leather, as well as materials that are certified as sustainable) and insists upon creating only no-fuss, highly-wearable pieces. This season, the brand presented a collection defined by its crisp white shirting, shiny-sleek black collared jackets, and charcoal gray separates that add up to create monochromatic looks that balance simplicity and avant-garde style with ease.
