Are you a maker interested in selling your products abroad? In this panel discussion on 'International Trade for Independent Swiss Brands', seasoned labels will share insights and talk about their personal experience. The aim of this masterclass is to gain insights into the advantages and hurdles of international trade. There will be room for individual questions.
Why participate – this Masterclass is for you if you…
This Masterclass is for you if you are an independent maker or small brand owner looking to expand internationally, want to learn from the experiences of other successful brands, seek practical advice and strategies for entering foreign markets, have specific questions about international trade and want expert answers, or are interested in networking with other makers and industry professionals.
Get to know our speakers!
Moderation by Katarina Rimarcikova. Katarina operates as a creative and sustainability consultant, mentor and director for start- ups, designer, lecturer and director of ALIGN, creative studio for Sustainable, innovative and creative solutions for fashion education, brands and industry.
Christian Paul Kaegi is the co-founder and Creative Director of the label QWSTION, known for its circular bags made from plants instead of plastic, and its material development Bananatex®.
The label was awarded the German Sustainability Award in 2021 and the Monocle Design Award in 2024. An interest in materials, manufacturing processes, and sustainable resource management, as well as studies in typography and industrial design, form the basis of his holistic design understanding.
Kägi occasionally teaches as a guest lecturer at ECAL in Lausanne.
Felix Doll founded hiss eponymous jewelry label in 2015 in Zurich. The label has gained national and international recognition by focusing on minimalist and timeless pieces with a clear signature style. From the beginning, the design objects have been hand-forged by a team of artisans in Nepal. Felix studied fashion design in Berlin and Paris, gaining valuable experience at renowned labels such as Haider Ackermann, Yohji Yamamoto, Ann Demeulemeester, and Lutz Huelle.
Iris Delruby Ruprecht design practice focuses on the preservation of craftsmanship. As a lecturer, she encourages aspiring fashion designers in sustainability and innovative design practices to rethink the fashion system. At Fashion Revolution Switzerland and The Craft Atlas, her focus is on the cultural heritage of textile craftsmanship and strengthening sustainable and ethical approaches. She passionately invests her knowledge in projects and networks for slow fashion, believing that everything is interconnected and every action impacts the whole.
Kazu Huggler founded her label KAZU in 2002 and has been active internationally as a fashion designer, artist, and cultural mediator. She studied Japanese art history in Tokyo and fashion design in London, where she worked for Vivienne Westwood. Through her fashion and textile works, the Japanese-Swiss designer transforms Japanese art and social history into the present day. Her works have been exhibited in art institutions, including the Rietberg Museum, the Museum of Design in Zurich, and the Nezu Museum in Tokyo, and have been acquired by the Federal Office of Culture. In 2011, Kazu Huggler founded the NPO Three Cranes Association and is committed to supporting vulnerable communities in Japan.
Cost:
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Members FREE
- Non-members CHF 75
- Students CHF 35