In her Spring Summer 2026 collection, Anja Gockel embarks on a quest for happiness, which shines in a different colour for everyone. The designer is now considered one of the regulars at Berlin Fashion Week and her label has been a fixture on the show schedule for many years. Her collections are characterized by high wearing comfort, sustainable materials and a strong overall image. Interesting fact: the label will celebrate its 30th Birthday next year. The introduction of her new line was not a traditional fashion show, but rather a creative presentation. The focus was on searching for and finding inner and outer happiness for each individual. Before the fashion show started, the guests were welcomed in her shop in Pariser Straße 44, Berlin, with colouful drinks, special details and strong partners.
Afterwards, the audience was invited to explore the runway location, namely the garden of her studio. Surrounded by greenery, this setting provided a relaxing break during the busy show day. Three different-coloured runway arms streched out across this beautiful green space in Berlin. It should be noted that each colour symbolised a different mood: a vibrant, intense azure blue represented longing; a fresh, vibrant green the hope and a bold, eye-popping orange the joy. Each one ended up in an individual installation – for example, the models and dancers on the catwalk presented the new, sustainable collection in front of transparent chairs stacked on top of each other, which magically reflected the sunlight. Furthermore, large green water tanks and flowers caught the eye, as did reflecting surfaces that played with sunlight and made it dance. This small, green oasis in the middle of the fast-paced city also highlighted the beauty of nature and how much we should protect it.
In keeping with this colourful, lively setting, the designer presented a very feminine line that positively sparkles: it contains a lot of bright, eye-catching nuances, such as azure blue, lemon yellow, scarlet and sky blue. The joie de vivre and lightness expressed by the nuances is also reflected in the casual, loose-fitting cuts of the collection’s pieces. What also caught the eye is a creative play with volume, cut-outs and frills. The garments emphasize the colourful search for happiness – they reflect hope, longing and joie de vivre. They can be worn by any generation. The models’ hairstyles, consisting of braided plaits, underlined the playful overall impression of this line. In addition to that, the make-up remained summery and fresh, with red highlights around the eyes.
At the end of this lively fashion show, the models, dancers, choreographer and designer ran across the three catwalks and seized the moment to dance in their bright-coloured outfits in the sun.
The message of this colourful, expressive collection is that the personal search for happiness can be defined individually by each person and shines in a wide variety of colours. In doing so, we should appreciate the natural environment and preserve it as best as we can, which is emphasized by the beautiful, green venue, but above all by the sustainable choice of fabrics. It also reminds us to enjoy the beautiful moments in life and to savour life to the fullest.
Review by Sussan Zeck for D’SCENE Magazine
Images Courtesy of ©Anja Gockel, Photography by Chris Gonz
