Berlin’s Fashion Week kicks off

Germany’s capital turns its attention to fashion this week, with 2012 winter collections on the runway starting Wednesday at Berlin Fashion Week and emerging designers showing off their edgy pieces at the streetwear trade show known as Bread & Butter.
Berlin Fashion Week, which often struggles in comparisons to the better known, well-established couture presentations in Paris or Milan, defines itself as a showcase for young and local designers. Some 200,000 people are expected to flock to see the collections of Hugo Boss, Patrick Mohr and
Dorothee Schumacher.
The fashion week shows started with the flowing, ready-to-wear knit fashions of Belgian design duo Filip Arickx and An Vandevorst, known as A. F. Vandevorst. Browns, beiges and blacks dominated the collection, with belted big tops worn over tight pants with boots. Each piece was marked by a bright red thread woven into the fabric.