Following its premiere two years ago, the team behind the Pensionist*innenklubs took things a step further this year. On 15 September, they presented their collection FENWOMENAL at VIENNA FASHION WEEK. 34 women designed and made the pieces, with 30 of them also walking the runway themselves. The result: 57 one-of-a-kind looks made from discarded clothing and treasured personal garments – somewhere between art and couture.
A Wardrobe Full of Memories
It all started with a wardrobe. The textile legacy of a loved one, filled with cashmere, linen and silk – far too precious to simply throw away. Madlena Komitova, head of Vienna’s Pensionist*innenklubs, wanted to give these pieces a second life. Together with Irena Reichel from Klub+ Atelier, the idea developed into Fashion Reloaded.
The project goes back to 2019, when master tailor Magdalena Neschkovski began introducing senior women to the art of sewing. What started as a workshop gradually grew into a fashion project combining upcycling with participation and empowerment. Women who had often put their own talents and ambitions aside for their families were given a stage to rediscover their creativity and show what they could do.
And their presence is not limited to the runway. On @haeuser.zum.leben, the women have long been sharing their style and showing just how naturally confidence and experience go together.
Three Acts, 57 Stories
Even before the music started, the room itself had become a fashion statement. The audience was packed with expressive outfits, setting the mood for what was to come.
The show opened with tailoring – but with a twist. Puff sleeves, fur-trimmed blazers and a jacket made entirely from ties challenged familiar ideas of menswear and womenswear. The looks were all about confidence and breaking with convention.
Then the atmosphere softened. Two women moved in sync in long dresses, while jewellery took centre stage and added its own quiet drama.
The third act brought mythical female figures to the runway. With I am the Consequence, Sonni Schwarz presented a black corset – an ode to anger as a response to violence against women. Other striking creations included a capsule dress made from coffee capsules and a fishing net transformed into a train. The finale of this act was the Phoenix Woman by Margit Sedlak Emperer, an allegory of rebirth.
Footlose then celebrated womanhood itself, without rivalry or competition. The audience joined in with applause.
Experience Has Its Own Kind of Style
What made the show particularly special was the tension between opulence and coolness. Past and present did not compete with one another – they belonged together. The collection felt like a wardrobe that had grown over an entire lifetime, filled with unusual, bold and deeply personal pieces.
For the finale, the women wore elaborate headpieces, a symbol of women having a say and taking their place in positions of influence. The host summed up the energy in the room with a simple question: “Did you feel that energy? Take it with you.”
After the show, the atmosphere continued outside the venue: photos, compliments, conversations and women celebrating one another. One student spoke enthusiastically about the courage and confidence she had witnessed.
FENWOMENAL created a space for women with experience – women who enjoy dressing up, expressing themselves, discovering new sides of their creativity and connecting with others.
An important show. And an inspiring one.
