Berner Kühl wins the Wessel & Vett Fashion Prize 2026 at Copenhagen Fashion Week An award that for over ten years has recognised creativity, innovation, responsible production and entrepreneurial ability
« As a small brand, we have big ambitions, but we're often limited by the resources we have. Winning a prize like this gives us the opportunity to take the next step and grow the business without having to compromise on what we believe in», commented Frederik Berner Kühl at the presentation of the Wessel & Vett Fashion Prize 2026, held yesterday in Copenhagen. «More than that, it's a reminder that you don't have to be the loudest voice in the room to make an impact. It means a lot that the jury recognised the craftsmanship, the expertise, and all the hard work and dedication that goes into every single product we create», he added.
Founded in 2012 by the Wessel & Vett Foundation, the prize has spent over a decade seeking out and supporting the most promising Danish designers, championing a new vision of fashion in which creativity, innovation, responsible production and entrepreneurial ability become the tools for building the future of local fashion design. For the 2026 edition, Berner Kühl was selected from four finalists, which included Bonnetje, Caro Editions and O. Files.
In addition to the prestigious accolade, the designer will receive a prize of 300,000 Danish kroner (approximately €40,000), intended to support the growth and development of his brand. For the first time, the prize introduced a new evaluation format: at the beginning of the year, the four finalists welcomed jury members into their studios to showcase their respective creative processes, working methods and long-term ambitions. This phase was complemented by public presentations and shows held during Copenhagen Fashion Week.
Winner Berner Kühl also received a work created by Danish artist Esben Weile Kjær, whose internationally recognised multidisciplinary practice explores themes of identity, transformation and contemporary culture. The other finalists were also acknowledged for their journey: each received a participation grant of 75,000 Danish kroner (approximately €10,000), along with a mentoring programme and industry support.
During Copenhagen Fashion Week, the four finalists' collections were presented through a selection of looks in the windows of Magasin du Nord at Kongens Nytorv. The exhibition, on view from 3 to 30 August 2026, represents a symbolic return to the prize's origins: the department store was founded more than a century ago by Theodor Wessel and Emil Vett, whose legacy lives on today through the Wessel & Vett Foundation and the Fashion Prize.