The First Edition of ZURICH FASHION WEEK Celebrates Opening Night with 850 Guests

From February 11 to 15, 2026, the first official edition of ZURICH FASHION WEEK took place at Kongresshaus Zurich. Over five days, ten fashion shows were presented, welcoming approximately 3,600 visitors
in total. The Opening Night gathered around 850 invited guests. Overall, 26 designers presented their collections on the runway.

ZURICH FASHION WEEK does not position itself in competition with or as a comparison to established international fashion weeks such as Paris or Milan. Its objective is to build an independent platform in Switzerland — serving as an interface between fashion schools, independent designers, industry stakeholders, and an interested public audience.

With approximately 850 invited guests, ZURICH FASHION WEEK opened its first edition on February 11, 2026 — setting a clear statement on the relevance and vitality of the Swiss fashion scene. At the heart of the evening was the Opening Night at Kongresshaus Zürich: a tribute to craftsmanship, creative independence, and the next generation of emerging talents.

Among the guests were Stefanie Heinzmann, young athlete Lionel Spitz, model Sandra Wildbolz, designer Adam Brody, Paris-based journalist Alice Pfeiffer, chef Meta Hiltebrand, Yannik Zamboni, Beauty editor Katrin Roth and numerous representatives from the worlds of fashion, culture, and media.

Swiss fashion was celebrated through two distinct yet complementary creative approaches:

MODECO COUTURE by THEATERSCHNEIDEREI

The historic Swiss School of Fashion and Design, founded in 1889, presented exclusive archival one-of-a-kind pieces under the label MODECO COUTURE by THEATERSCHNEIDEREI. The collection demonstrated the creative strength and technical precision of theatrical tailoring: historic construction techniques, sharply defined silhouettes, and elaborately crafted pieces originally developed for stage, film, and television.

Each presented garment is a unique piece and remains the property of MODECO. Custom commissions are available upon request. The presentation placed not only fashion at the forefront, but also the appreciation of a craft that has been cultivated and continuously refined in Switzerland for generation.

Thongchai Lerspiphopporn

Emerging designer Thongchai Lerspiphopporn, founded in 2025, brought a conceptual dimension to the runway with his Master Collection When Hope Is Not Enough.

Building on his education at HEAD – Genève, Lerspiphopporn transforms jewelry-making techniques into structural systems within fashion. Methods such as chainmail, modular linking elements, and setting techniques are not used as decoration, but as structural components of garments.

Entirely handcrafted, the pieces move between sculpture and wearability, representing a new generation of designers who understand craftsmanship as a structural discipline rather than ornament.

„I am very proud of the entire team. In a short period of time, we succeeded in delivering a first edition that clearly shows there is strong interest in Swiss fashion and in high-quality fashion formats. Not everything was perfect, but that is part of any beginning. We look forward to further developing the next edition on this foundation.” Tamy Glauser, President ZURICH FASHION WEEK.

Modeco, New Orchard, Atelier J. Santana, Coco Création, Selva Huygens, Ombre, Madame Badass, Intensify Me, Nova Noche, Tamara von Arx, Zano, Guju Gumpold, The Last Human, Fragile Base, Spacecrib, Amato, Judassime, Terje Vincentz, Daskos, Maya Seyferth, Dobrżanska, Asma, Arsen Aeby and Uondas.

This mix reflects the curatorial approach: strengthening the visibility of Swiss design while fostering exchange with international perspectives.

Thematic Focus: Sustainability Day

Thursday was dedicated to Sustainability Day, highlighting responsible and sustainable design approaches.
Several shows were sold out. Beyond the runway presentations, the week created space for exchange between designers, partners, media representatives, and the public.

Diverse Line-Up from Switzerland and Abroad

The line-up was intentionally composed of designers from both the German-speaking and French- speaking regions of Switzerland. The program was complemented by selected international designers from Germany, France, Belgium, Ghana, and Latvia.

Pop-Up Market as Direct Sales Platform

An accompanying Pop-Up Market allowed participating designers to present and sell their collections directly on site. This format intentionally created consumers.

Appreciation for Partners and Supporters

The realization of the first edition was made possible through the support of numerous partners. Special thanks go to Kongresshaus Zurich as main sponsor and venue, Landquart Fashion Outlet as official partner, Optic 2000 as backstage partner, Redken 5th Avenue NYC as professional hair partner, BaBylissPRO for styling equipment, and KIKO Milano as make-up partner.

„Redken participated for the first time as the official Pro Hair sponsor at Zurich Fashion Week, supporting a platform defined by creative courage and collaboration. Backstage, our team worked closely with designers and hairstylists, translating each collection’s vision into precise hair looks that enhanced the overall expression while preserving individuality. From the Blue Carpet to the runway, Redken ensured a strong backstage presence, providing the full professional styling range, hosting Redken Interviews, and engaging with the Swiss creative community both offline and online. This partnership reflects a natural fit: Redken and Zurich Fashion Week share the same creative DNA — bold, edgy, urban, and confident,“ emphasizes Nelson
Locher, REDKEN 5th Avenue NYC.

Sponsors: Kongresshaus Zürich, Landquart Fashion Outlet, Optic2000, Arabesque, A.T.O. Innovation AG, BaBylissPro, BE WTR, Blone Haute Parfumerie, Braun, Chopfab, Cornavin Watches, El Tony, FrancisFrancis, Glockenhof Zürich, GOLOY, Individuèl Cosmetics Genève, KIKO Milano, Laurent- Perrier, LDV L’Eau de Vodka, modeco, Openroom Creative Agency, ProKeSo, Redken 5th Avenue NYC, Schregenberger Law, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix Geneva, Tatarie Marie, Zweifel 1898, we-charge.

Credits Photographer:
Reto Turotti – Koordination – Runway – reto.turotti
Kurt Oswald – Runway Front – art_of_moment_photography
Bryan Schaffer – Runway Close Up – bryanpschaffner
Yassin Brown – Runway Front – yassynnizeyimana
Yuma Greco – Backstage – yuma.greco
Sharon Duursma – Backstage – sharon.duursma
Tiphaine Molinario – Lookbook – tiphainemphotography

Press materials: Zurich Fashion Week.

Thursday, Feb 12th, Sustainability Day
NEW ORCHARD – CH