A WALK INSIDE CIFF 2025 WITH DIRECTOR SOFIE DOLVA
editor ELIANA CASA
Last week, we hopped on a flight to Denmark and headed straight to the Copenhagen International Fashion Fair during fashion week. CIFF’s director, Sofie Dolva, welcomed us on day one and offered us a personal tour of the fair — luckily for us, considering the 20,000 square meters of showrooms spread across the first and second floors of the Bella Center.
photography by TUE BLICHFELDT
As we made our way through the space, we had the pleasure of chatting with Sofie and discussing everything CIFF. For those unfamiliar, CIFF is Europe’s leading and most inspirational trade platform, bringing together nearly 500 brands and buyers from around the world. In Sofie’s words, instead: “It’s a form of Tinder within the fashion industry — our goal is to find the perfect match between buyers and brands.” She added with a smile: “We also try to be the Coachella of fashion, bringing in festival energy — fun, networking, and inspiration.”
Sofie’s journey at CIFF began three years ago when she left the corporate beauty world to start a new chapter in the trade industry. As we walked toward the womenswear room (our editor’s favorite — no surprise there), she told us about her transition and how she’s working to reshape the platform. This season’s theme was ‘A Walk In The Park’ — and it felt quite literal. Rooms were decorated with what looked like a carpet of red poppies, evoking a dreamy, natural escape. When we asked Sofie about it, her answer was refreshingly simple: “After almost half a decade of challenges the industry has faced, creativity should feel like a walk in the park. It needs to be inspirational because we see a tremendous growth potential going forward.” In many ways, CIFF reconnected us with what truly matters: a return to essentiality and the spark of new, meaningful conversations.
photography by JEREMY FRENCH
What others may view as obstacles, CIFF sees as opportunities for growth — through initiative, adaptability, and creativity. According to Sofie, one of the biggest challenges brands face in improving their ethical supply chains is the lack of financial growth and resources. CIFF aims to bridge that gap by providing brands with more know-how and strategic insights. This year, they launched an exciting new feature - CIFF MEDIA: a new all video of conversations between industry leaders and market insights were displayed across the fair through a combination of physical and digital formats.
photography by JEREMY FRENCH
Among this season’s standout moments, Diesel and G-Star brought immersive rooms all the way from Italy and the Netherlands, showcasing one of the most talked-about trends of the year: denim. CIFF’s long-standing collaboration with Copenhagen Fashion Week also continued, once again spotlighting emerging talent through dedicated showrooms that highlighted fresh Danish voices.
Of course, we couldn’t leave without asking Sofie about one of the industry's most pressing topics: mass-produced seasonal trends and their environmental impact. She noted that many brands — particularly those based in the Nordics — are shifting toward carry-over pieces and quieter luxury, resulting in more thoughtful production and less waste.
As we wrapped up our tour, we asked Sofie what she hopes visitors take away from CIFF. Her answer? “I hope they leave with renewed energy, lots of inspiration, and hopefully discover new brands they hadn’t heard of before.” We certainly did — and we can’t wait to return next year to meet more fresh talent and uncover new rooms for creativity and connection.