Nikolaj Storm Copenhagen Wins Zalando Sustainability Award during Copenhagen Fashion Week 

• Nikolaj Storm Copenhagen’s continued commitment to producing fashionable, high-quality and low-impact products stood out from the competition
• Nikolaj Storm Copenhagen and Zalando to create an exclusive collection to further explore more sustainable options
• The Zalando Sustainability Award aims to encourage fashion brands to explore alternative approaches to design and production to contribute to a more sustainable fashion industry

BERLIN, AUGUST 12, 2021 // Today, Zalando, Europe’s leading online platform for fashion and lifestyle, announces Nikolaj Storm Copenhagen as the winner of its second Sustainability Award in partnership with Copenhagen Fashion Week. Nikolaj Storm Copenhagen particularly impressed with its strong sustainability ambition which is implemented through many aspects of the brand’s supply chain. 

According to the jury, the collection showcased at Copenhagen Fashion Week displayed the brand’s ethos of creating more sustainable styles which enable consumers to express themselves. The brand’s commitment to reducing its impact on the planet means it has worked towards avoiding waste in a closed-loop process, by producing re-designs and items made with recycled materials. The variation of more sustainable materials displayed in the collection, as well as the fresh, modern approach to genderless and diverse fashion, set it apart from the competition. The judges believe Nikolaj Storm Copenhagen’s SS22 collection is the type of fashion consumers are waiting for to realize that more sustainable clothing can be bold, colorful and full of fun!

Anaheta von Berenberg, Buying Director Designer at Zalando says: “We are delighted to be able to announce Nikolaj Storm Copenhagen as the winner of this season’s Zalando Sustainability Award. Nikolaj Storm Copenhagen demonstrated a strong commitment to more sustainable practices by showcasing a variation of innovative materials within the collection and brought fun and energy to Copenhagen Fashion Week. It was this blend of boldness and dedication to more sustainable practices which set the brand apart from the competition. We believe it is this type of collection our consumers need right now to consider making more sustainable fashion choices.” 

The collection was presented at Copenhagen Fashion week with a physical show in front of 120 guests. The event was delivered with all the social distancing and safety precautions required in the context of the ongoing health pandemic. The collection was also showcased in the Zalando Greenhouse, a digital showroom that allows consumers around the world to explore the collection. Nikolaj Storm Copenhagen will receive a financial prize of €20,000 and a partnership with Zalando to develop an exclusive collection that will further explore more sustainable solutions in design across materials, production processes, technological solutions and traceability. Zalando will make a broad selection of the SS22 collection showcased at Copenhagen Fashion Week available to its around 45 million customers across 23 European markets.

Creative Director Nikolaj Storm said, “To win the Zalando Sustainability Award 2021 is a huge moment for me and one I am immensely proud of. It has been a journey to reach this point and I am grateful to work with a fantastic team of people who have brought me to this moment today. Our ambition is to marry together our passion of self-expression through fashion with our commitment to find more sustainable practices. This approach ensures we offer customers uncompromising styles, whilst allowing them to shop in a way that is kinder to the people and the planet.

We are grateful to Zalando for bringing this award to the attention of the industry at a time when it needs it most. Our industry must continue to work harder to find better ways of promoting sustainable values, and with the support of initiatives like this, it is possible. We are excited for the next steps of our journey together and to create a collection for more fashion fans around the world to enjoy.”

The runners-up, Mother of Pearl and Teatum Jones were also recognized by the jury as outstanding examples of brands that inspire and integrate sustainability throughout the entire supply chain while creating bespoke fashion pieces that are wardrobe heroes.

The winner was chosen by seven jury members including model and environmental activist, Arizona Muse; CEO of Copenhagen Fashion Week, Cecilie Thorsmark; editor-in-chief of VOGUE Scandinavia, Martina Bonnier; president & CEO of WGSN, Carla Buzasi; sustainability and brand advisor Dio Kurazawa; Director of Sustainability at Zalando, Kate Heiny; and Buying Director designer at Zalando, Anaheta von Berenberg. The jury members closely reviewed each brand’s sustainability strategy, including their collections and dedication to sustainable advancements.