Diane von Furstenberg: Generosity is the Best Investment

🇩🇰 Du finder den danske version af denne artikel her.

There was a special energy in the air last week as Zalando and the iconic designer brand Diane von Furstenberg brought together representatives from across Europe in the heart of Berlin.

In an exceptionally elegant venue, history and future merged as the new partnership between the two was unveiled. In short, Zalando and DVF have entered into an agreement that grants Zalando the exclusive rights to distribute Diane von Furstenberg across its 25 European markets.

With this, Zalando takes yet another strategic step in cementing its ambition to become the leading platform for designer brands in Europe, while DVF gains the opportunity to introduce its iconic designs to a new and younger audience.

The legendary Diane von Furstenberg (78) was present in Berlin herself, hosting a talk about her expectations for the partnership, as well as her journey and her mantra, “Woman in charge.” You can read more about that later in this article.

Photo: Diane von Furstenberg

Photo: Lena-Sophie Röper, Zalando

Lena-Sophie Roeper, Vice President Designer at Zalando, shares her thoughts on the collaboration:

“Having worked with DVF for several years, I’m delighted that Diane has now fully entrusted us with her distribution as their Europe-exclusive retail partner. This partnership is a true milestone in our efforts to build an inspiring and elevated assortment, as well as an innovative shopping experience for the next generation of designer customers.”

The undisputed highlight of the evening was the conversation with Diane von Furstenberg, who took the stage alongside Lena-Sophie Röper, Vice President Designer at Zalando, in a discussion moderated by author and director Alexandra Bondi de Antoni.

The conversation revolved around DVF’s legacy, the brand’s new era, and, most importantly, her lifelong mission to empower women.

Diane began by reflecting on a quote from her book Own It – The Secret of Life: “Each of us is the woman on the other side of the room.” She explained: “We see a woman who appears confident and strong, but in reality, she is looking at you and thinking the same. We are all that woman.”

She also shared personal stories about the women who shaped her, especially her mother: “My mother was a great inspiration. She was strong and taught me never to be afraid.” And about Diana Vreeland, the legendary editor-in-chief of Vogue: “When I came to New York, she was incredibly important to me. She believed in me.”

Photo on the left: Magazine cover from 1976
Photo on the right: Diane von Furstenberg & Jon Nedza at the event in Berlin

As the conversation shifted to the new partnership with Zalando, Diane was clear about her vision: “I took full control of my company earlier this year, and it was important to find a digital partner who could support my product and my story. Zalando is only 16 years old, but they do everything right. There is so much we can do together.”

Lena-Sophie Röper followed up with her personal connection to the brand: “When I moved to New York to work in the fashion industry, one of my first purchases was a DVF lavender silk dress. I still have it.” She emphasized how the collaboration is based on shared values: “Diane shares so much with Zalando – we both want to give people confidence through their style.”

The conversation ended with Diane’s four pieces of advice for being a woman in charge: know who you want to be, have confidence, own your story, and remember that kindness is currency. She left the audience with a powerful reminder: “We live in a chaotic world, but more than ever, it is important to be true to ourselves, to be honest, and to be kind. Light will always win over darkness.”

Get dontt.dk’s newsletter for free: You can receive our weekly update for free on culture, branding, entrepreneurship & inspiration, with a focus on Copenhagen.