Studio Stories gathers the moments that have shaped Butterflies & Feathers beyond the product page: collaborations, exhibitions, prototypes, and purpose-led projects that reveal how the house thinks, creates, and contributes.
The Rising Voices Award
Butterflies & Feathers took part in the 2022 Rising Voices Award, organised by Fashion Council Germany and UGG Europe. The house proudly secured second place, along with prize money that later supported the growth of the associated foundation.
The initiative was created to champion sustainable practice and emerging talent, supporting the next generation of German designers who are imagining a more responsible future for fashion while still embracing bold and expressive design.
Under Nicole's leadership, the team presented the "Work Me Out Classic UGG Mini" prototype. The concept used aluminium scrap to build a unique mould that allowed the wearer to insert weights of different sizes into grooves on the sole. The first sole experiment was developed from wood chippings, sawdust, bamboo, and plant-based glue from the rubber tree. To ensure durability, that concept evolved into a recycled plastic sole attached seamlessly to the UGG Mini base. The upper part of the boot was finished with Ghanaian Kente cloth, a handwoven cotton textile whose patterns carry both craft and cultural memory.
Prototypes from all ten finalists were exhibited at the Berliner Salon in the Kulturforum from September 5 to September 7, 2022. The group exhibition, curated by Christiane Arp, Chairwoman of Fashion Council Germany and former Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Germany, opened Berlin Fashion Week and drew more than 350 industry insiders. Among those present were figures from design, retail, publishing, and film, including André Maeder, Anita Tillmann, Heike Makatsch, Kerstin Schneider, Leyla Piedayesh, and Matthias Schweighöfer.
The second-place finish remains a meaningful chapter in the B&F story. The prize money was dedicated to supporting prison inmates who had been wrongly convicted in Ghana, reaffirming the house's long-standing belief that design can be both expressive and socially useful.
Read more about the Rising Voices Award.
B&F x Narkus
B&F x Narkus brings together Butterflies & Feathers and the Ghana-based bespoke fashion brand Narkus, founded by Austin Nortey. Narkus is rooted in sustainable reinvention, turning previously used fabrics into pieces with renewed identity while holding closely to the richness of African cultural expression.
This collaboration fuses European and African textiles into garments that speak to cultural exchange, elegance, and purpose. Rather than treating sustainability as an afterthought, the collection approaches it as part of the design language itself: beauty shaped through reinvention, memory, and craft.
A portion of proceeds from the B&F x Narkus collection supports teenagers living with sickle cell anaemia who cannot afford life-saving treatment because of poverty. The project is deeply connected to Nicole's personal experience. Through her aid work, she formed a bond with a courageous 17-year-old boy living with sickle cell anaemia. He passed away in June 2023 before enough funds could be raised for his treatment. This collaboration honours his memory while extending care to others facing the same hardship.
Store Opening & Foundation Spotlight
The Butterflies & Feathers Store Opening on December 3rd, 2022 was more than just a celebration of fashion, art and creativity. It was a powerful platform to showcase the mission and impact of the Butterflies & Feathers Foundation (B&F Foundation).
Held at KTS Kino Geesthacht, the opening ceremony featured a dedicated segment highlighting the work of the Foundation (www.butterfliesandfeathers.org).
To learn more about the wider initiative and its impact, visit bnffoundation.com.