Dutch Sustainable Fashion Week dresses up Rotterdam

For the 11th time in a row, Dutch Sustainable Fashion Week (DSFW) showcases a better version of the Dutch fashion industry. Rotterdam is once again one of the main venues of the sustainable fashion event. With an extensive public programme, DSFW Rotterdam pays tribute to the innovative, diverse, entrepreneurial and creative character the city has grown up with.

Between 9 and 13 October, there will be contributions from Rotterdam designers, artists and organisation throughout the city. The diverse programme aims to put sustainable fashion on the map in Rotterdam and to make visible local makers who contribute to it.

The initiatives come from all along the chain, from high-end fashion design to creative solutions for textile waste. ''DSFW gives visibility to talented Rotterdam makers who are normally a bit hidden away. With their diverse initiatives and solutions, they show what the city has to offer,'' say Serife Dikbas and Martijn van der Mark of the Municipality of Rotterdam.

Monique Drent adds: ''With DSFW, we want to significantly drive the shift towards sustainable consumption options. The greater the demand for alternatives, the better they can compete with fashion as it is now.''

DSFW Rotterdam presents circular concepts such as repair cafes and green shopping streets, which help keep clothes alive longer. With surprising design, Rotterdam-based designers show that fashion can be more than a disposable product.

Full programme throughout the city

Ahead of DSFW Rotterdam, there is already a lot of sustainable things to see and do in the city such as an exhibition on emerging sustainable fashion designers in Rotterdam. This can be seen until 8 October in exhibition space De Goot, in the middle of the Koopgoot.

On 9 October, the official public programme begins with a Fashion March through the city centre. Sustainable fashion entrepreneurs from the city will thus make a statement about the change that is needed. After the kick-off, a varied programme will unfold throughout the city with fashion shows, workshops and exhibitions.

Earth Bride offers embroidery workshops with live classical music at iconic Rotterdam locations, such as Trompenburg's cactus greenhouse.

The Silkscreen Café travels the city with a pop-up workshop.

Willem de Kooning Academy organises a special evening on repurposing discarded textiles and the Zadkine Beauty & Design Lab temporarily opens its doors to present the Microfactory meets Milan project.

Click here for the full list of events and free tickets.