Berlin Fashion Week - a must-visit for fashionistas

Berlin is a great location for a holiday at any time of year thanks to the city's great range of cultural and historic landmarks, but the German capital is also renowned as a global fashion centre, and this is worth exploring if you plan to visit during July.

This is when Berlin Fashion Week takes place, and there are plenty of interesting events to attend as part of the occasion. Whether you work in the industry or are just an avid follower of fashion, you'll find plenty to keep you busy during the occasion if you choose to hire a boat in Germany and explore Berlin.

Scheduled to run from July 3rd to 8th, fashion week incorporates events held at locations throughout the city, including trade fairs, public shows and catwalks. The trade event Show and Order from July 3rd to 6th is a must for fans of high fashion who work in the business and if you visit you'll be able to see pieces by the likes of Missoni, Vincenti and Moschino, while the Gallery Berlin will be showcasing collections that break away from the mainstream from the 4th until the 6th. The latter will be displaying approximately 70 collections from names like The Swiss Label, Aziz and Catherine Andre.

The fashion show Premium, the streetwear trade fair Bright with its skateboarding gear, and the New York Trade Show with capsule collections from Topman, Randolph and Mark McNairy New Amsterdam are all set to be highlights of the event.

Ethical fashion also takes centre stage at a variety of venues throughout the city in the Lavera Showfloor Berlin, the GREENshowroom and the Ethical Fashion Show, in which sustainable and ecological conditions have been vital to the creation of the garments and accessories on display.

Many events are being held under the banner Showroom Days, and these are open to the public rather than just those within the industry. At least one Showroom Day will take place each day during fashion week at a location in the city, displaying the latest creations from a range of brands. The works of 145 designers will be on show at 40 separate venues.

Among the events is Huftgold Berlin, which will showcase their bags, scarves and belts on July 3rd. The following day sees NIX Design display their spring/summer collection 2013 Urban Gardening, and Projekt Galerie pop-up shop runs all week presenting collections by brands like Tata Christiane, Alfred and Paula Immich.

Many fashion industry professionals will be visiting Berlin to take a look at the latest designs, and if you work in the sector it really is worth taking in the shows and events. Open to those within the industry is the trade show Bread and Butter, which will take place between July 4th and 6th at Tempelhof Airport. The busy event is a platform for well-established designers and those new to the industry alike to present their contemporary works.

The event has been running for over ten years and will bring together 600 exhibitors from the streetwear segment. Brands displaying their creations will include Famous Stars and Straps, UCLA, Diadora, Lacoste Footwear and K-Swiss.

If you work in the industry as a retailer, supplier, private label, agency or wholesaler, you can register online and request tickets.

An unmissable event for those attending Berlin Fashion Week will be the Underground Catwalk on July 4th. Taking place in the evening, the show will be held on a moving metro train departing from Alexanderplatz and making its way along a special course.

The innovative event brings together 14 labels, including Savage Wear, Le Marchant, Elf Craft, Hustler, My Chili and Bershka, which all have unique styles ranging from urban to gothic and punk. If you're 18 or over, you can buy tickets online or from some shops in Germany. It might be best to buy over the internet in advance, as there is no box office for the show.

You should expect to pay around 15 Euros for a standard ticket, but if you're willing to spend more you could get a VIP pass that will allow you access to special areas, as well as to the after show party at the city's Sage Club.