At Copenhagen Fashion Week, Cecilie Bahnsen marked a decade of her label with “Hana-bi,” a runway show named after the Japanese word for “fireworks.” The presentation took place against the industrial backdrop of Refshaleøen and showcased the brand’s signature contrast between fragility and strength. The collection opened in luminous white and shifted to silver, symbolising renewal and evolution. Drawing from ten years of design, Bahnsen revisited her archives, combining broderie anglaise fronts with quilted silk backs and reassembling familiar silhouettes into new forms. This tactile dialogue reflected couture-level craftsmanship and emotional depth.
Fabric as Storytelling and Handcrafted Intuition
Textiles such as Myrtia organza, Fiama fil-coupé, and quilted taffeta from previous collections were reinvented in fresh configurations. Most designs were created instinctively by hand, guided by intuition rather than seasonality. Even the footwear embraced transformation: white ASICS sneakers, part of a long-standing collaboration, were reworked with embroidery, foil, and deconstructed linings. The show played out like a physical poem, enhanced by a haunting score from August Rosenbaum and Beth Gibbons, with models moving through mist and light in fluid, painterly motions.
A Tribute to Copenhagen and the Brand’s Evolution
More than a retrospective, “Hana-bi” served as a love letter to Copenhagen and a thank-you to everyone involved in the label’s journey. Select guests wore archive pieces, blurring the boundary between audience and runway. The collection is now available for purchase directly from the runway or by private appointment at Bahnsen’s new Copenhagen boutique. For more details, visit the label’s official website.