On the very first day of FashionTEX at Chemnitz’s ‘fabrik’, Barbara Klepsch got an impression of the great innovative power of this international industry gathering. Saxony’s Minister of State for Culture and Tourism emphasised her enthusiasm for the innovative power of the fashion industry in Saxony as well: ‘Of course, as a woman, I am also interested in the topic on a personal level, but for me as a minister, the Capital of Culture Chemnitz is the topic that is mainly on our minds this year, and I am incredibly proud of how Chemnitz and the region have managed to bring topics to the catwalk this year that are bold, innovative and also look a little way into the future.’

Barbara Klepsch expressed her admiration for the creative ideas of the 24 students from eleven universities across Europe. They had gathered at the Makerspace at the Schneeberg University of Applied Sciences in September to bring their creations to life. ‘When you see how naturally the students work with AI and avatars, you wonder where the whole journey is going,’ said the minister thoughtfully. ‘On the other hand, we should look to the future with optimism. Innovation and new technologies have always helped us move forward. It’s never wrong to reflect and pause for thought, but we should always be open to technological developments. And Chemnitz speaks for itself in this regard.‘

Photos: Michael Schmidt