I'm in. Encounters at Yes!con

Berlin. May 2025. We're right in the middle of it, in a gasometer full of stories, questions, glances, tears, and strength. YES!CON has kept its promise: to be a space for people who are affected. Directly. Indirectly. Intensely. Quietly. Unmistakably. Here, it's tangible: one in five people is affected by cancer.

For us at finally, it was our first time at this fair. And yet, much of it felt familiar. Perhaps because we research and work with fragility and know it from our own experience. Perhaps because the silence surrounding illness in many places annoys us. Perhaps because we believe that design can build bridges when words fail, perhaps because we advocate the view that people find support through consciously designed things, especially when they feel weak and lack strength.

At YES!CON, we were pleased to present our new care wear collection "Inbetween" for discussion. These textile companions for therapies are garments for people undergoing chemotherapy, recovering from surgery, in the transition between hospital and everyday life, and in the transition between curative and palliative care. Clothing designed to not only cover but also protect. Not only warm but also provide support. Not only look good but also provide functional support during treatment. Clothing that doesn't pose a hurdle for the wearer or the treating professionals – because zippers and Velcro fasteners occasionally expose body parts that require radiation, examination, and care. Soft materials and sophisticated cuts take into account what people feel when confronted with scars, pain, and exhaustion. And there is a need for dignity on all sides.

It was moving to see how many people stopped and immediately understood what it was all about: “Yes, exactly,” said those affected and professionals alike, “that’s exactly what I or we need – for myself or for treating people.” Why had no one thought of that before? It was impressive to see how much knowledge and stories emerged as people touched the new designs, looked at the cuts, and suddenly started talking about their own health experiences, talking about naked bodies, about shivering, about old towels that had been thrown over them because there weren’t any suitable textiles. They spoke of the cold in the chemotherapy room, about their private sphere, which sometimes simply disappears in the hospital. About the wish not to have to undress just to be examined. They thanked us, some with tears in their eyes, for these new designs, which had also made their path easier, and for the fact that we as designers also pay attention to ensuring that people with cancer are not only seen as patients, but also as people who simply want to live their everyday lives despite their illness, with humor, joy, and style.

We've spoken with people currently in the middle of treatment. With those who, due to their metastasis, didn't know whether they'd be able to participate next time or even see the production of our new collection. We've been in contact with people who have lost someone or cared for someone, who are now activismally advocating for a different approach to cancer, and with people who provide professional support—in nursing, palliative care, and therapy. And one phrase came up again and again: "It makes a difference whether I feel seen, whether I feel comfortable. Why hasn't anyone thought of that before?"

That we found our way to YES!CON , that we are now making this difference, that we have explicitly dedicated ourselves to the disease of cancer – for this we would like to thank Alessandra Finazzi, who contacted us as a cancer sufferer, angry and disappointed that there was nothing available for people in her situation. We sat together to create the Care Wear, we did the photo shoot together, and together we are going even further. finally is not just a platform for products, but also a place for participation. Changing the world of health together is our shared stance. Because we are not the only ones who believe that everyone has the right to feel comfortable in their own skin – even when body, mind, and soul are changing and vulnerable. Even when the skin bears scars, even when the body aches from head to toe. And we believe, like many affected people, that design can help alleviate certain pains – be they social, psychological, physical, or spiritual. Design as a means of care, design as a silent companion on a path to health that can rarely be planned.

For us, YES!CON was more than just a trade fair appearance. It was a shared opportunity to learn, reflect, and pause. We thank YES!CON for inviting us and are happy for all the conversations, the hugs, the feedback, the many encouragements to keep going, and the offers to support us in our mission and vision.

Because living with cancer isn't a marginal issue. It affects many people. And it deserves space, dignity, and beauty. This makes it all the more difficult for us to understand that we have so few allies in the design world.

finally. – For fragile times. For your path.