30/05/2026
We were invited to take part in , and what we found was a city where innovation runs alongside a real attention to craftsmanship and tradition, the two blended into a clear sense of what comes next. Over a few days we moved through local brands, art galleries, ateliers and showrooms.
At Aalto University, students presented their collections. a public research university in the Helsinki metropolitan area, in Espoo, established in 2010 and known internationally for the way it brings together science, art, business and technology.
opened its headquarters and production departments to us, a chance to see the work up close and in real time. It was a rare look at process, and at the new collaborations the house is preparing. They have just turned 75.
We also visited the showroom and atelier of , the independent European eyewear brand founded in 2022 by Finnish designer Mika Matikainen and Canadian designer Alexis Perron-Corriveau, a high-end design studio dedicated to rethinking eyewear.
, which stocked copies of our Issue 1, gave us time in their store and workspace. VAIN is an interdisciplinary fashion label founded by artist and creative director Jimi Vain and CEO Roope Reinola.
of hosted a panel with , the Paris-based label founded in 2023 by designer Alain Paul and his husband Luis Philippe, joined in conversation by Taylore Scarabelli and Alexis Djouahra .djhr
We also spent time with , a Finnish knitwear designer and Aalto graduate based in Helsinki, whose practice moves between slow fashion, q***r theory and craft.
The closing night belonged to the Finnish Fashion Awards, where the prizes went to the houses, brands and innovators leading the field.
Helsinki gave us its best across innovation, fashion, music and food, experimental wherever it could be and openly invested in younger generations, which matters now more than ever. All of it set in an environment of remarkable natural beauty.