How do you measure the impact a single day can have on your life? It’s almost impossible to predict. And yet, there are moments so profound they alter the way we see the world. Travel always carries the potential for transformation — perhaps that’s exactly what I was seeking when I attended Fashion Dreaming for the first time in Copenhagen.

The day began with its share of setbacks—pouring rain, a missed coffee with a friend, and a rush through the city on a bike aiming to arrive on time, which felt like an urgent act that echoed the event’s broader themes: adapting to the unexpected and embracing the need for decisive action. By the time I arrived, soaked but on schedule, I was greeted by hand-written signs that marked the start of something memorable. “Fashion Dreaming” they read, their ink smudged by the rain, but still clear.

Inside, a long table with a pristine white cloth stood ready, complete with perfectly aligned mugs, thermoses of coffee, and jars of milk, their names written in Danish—none of which I could read. Still, the simplicity and care of the setup created a quiet ritual of hospitality. The small details, like the smudged signs and the careful arrangement of jars, grounded me in the moment, easing the tension of a rushed, coffee-less morning.

The event itself was a gathering of minds, each bringing their unique perspective to the table. We were invited to pause, to shift our experience of time, and to dream. It wasn’t about sustainability as a set of rigid rules but about asking deeper questions: What kind of environment do we want to sustain? How can we bridge the gap between our imagination and our actions? It was here that I began to see fashion not just as an industry, but as a habitat—a space where new tales could grow and flourish.

In a closed-door roundtable, the atmosphere of trust and vulnerability allowed for true collaboration. Stories became bridges, connecting fears and hopes, and transforming critique into shared purpose. From my background in fashion design, production, storytelling, and styling—rooted in a deep connection to nature—I found a rare opportunity to integrate every facet of my creative practice into the conversation. It reminded me that no fact can shift cognition as powerfully as an experience. It is easy to forget data, but nearly impossible to forget how something makes you feel.

One idea that particularly stayed with me was the shift from seeing people as “consumers” to “owners.” This subtle change in language underscores responsibility and care, encouraging us to forge deeper relationships with the clothes we wear. It’s about creating new cognitive shifts in how we perceive the world—a transformation that begins not in facts, but in stories and rituals.

By the end of the event, I felt a deep sense of clarity and purpose. Guided more by feeling than thought, I approached the organizers to express my desire to bring Fashion Dreaming to Buenos Aires. “Think global, act local” echoed in my mind as I imagined reinterpreting the experience through a local lens.

Four months later, on December 4, 2024, that vision came to life. The Buenos Aires edition of Fashion Dreaming became an immersive experience that awakened the senses through serene light and atmospheric soundscapes. Here, we continued to ask: What stories do we want to tell? How can we build a future worth sustaining? Artists and designers collaborated to create a habitat where imagination could thrive, weaving together experiences that pointed us toward new ways of being.

The gathering reminded us that transformation is not linear. It’s about finding magic in the in-between spaces and creating rituals that shift our perception of time. It’s about telling tales that close the gap between imagination and action. Most importantly, it’s about asking: where does this experience point me once I exit it? For me, it’s clear—toward a future where stories, collaboration, and care redefine what fashion can be.

This photo essay captures the journey—from Copenhagen to Buenos Aires—a journey of dreaming, creating, and building something transformative, together.

Photos and video from the Fashion Dreaming: Indiana Kohen Lumer.