Aalto University students reap international fashion success
29.04.2014
Aalto University’s students in the Degree Programme in Fashion and Collection Design have once again succeeded well in international competitions.
In the Habitus Baltija contest held in April in Latvia, student Anna Alanko won the Grand Prix prize for best designer with her master’s thesis-based collection. Ms Alanko and bachelor’s programme student Antti Peltoniemi jointly won the best fashion school award for the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture as well. A total of 53 young fashion designers from 12 countries participated in the competition.
Ilona Hackenberg, studying for her master’s degree, ranked third in the Apolda European Design Award 2014 contest which took place in April in Germany. Arranged for the eighth time, participation in the competition reached a total of 32 entries from 16 European schools in ten nations. Well-respected European fashion schools were invited to take part in the event, and its goal is to support and encourage promising young European designers.
Sophie Sälekari, working towards her bachelor’s degree, likewise finished amongst the group of eight finalists at the H&M Design Award competition arranged by the retail clothing giant in London. All in the group came from internationally renowned fashion schools. Aged 22, Ms Sälekari was also the youngest finalist. An overall total of 32 fashion schools took part in the contest from both Europe and the United States. Finland and Aalto University were included in the invitation for the first time. Launched in 2012, the target of the competition is to support the creativity of young designers and to encourage them to build a career in the fashion world.
‘The world’s leading companies and top-level media in design have discovered our promising young candidates. Leading international fashion firms are asking for more information about our students and will be coming to our spring fashion show with recruiting in mind as well. We are proud of our successful young people and the fact that our school is also gaining more recognition at the same time,’ says a delighted Pirjo Hirvonen, who is head of the Department of Design.
Put Näytös14 into your calendar!
The new collections designed by the students in the Degree Programme in Fashion and Collection Design at the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture shall be presented to the audience attending the Näytös14 Fashion Show on Friday, 23 May 2013 at 18.00h in Suvilahti (Kattilahalli). The International Aalto ARTS Fashion Seminar, accompanied by celebrity guests, will be held the day before, on 22 May.
For further information, contact:
- Head of Department, Professor (fashion design) Pirjo Hirvonen, Aalto University’s Department of Design,+358 (0)50 3636 011, pirjo.hirvonen [at] aalto [dot] fi
- Näytös14: Tuomas Laitinen, Lecturer (collection design and costume art), Aalto University’s Department of Design,+358 (0)9 470 30357, +358 (0)40 9526 024, tuomas.p.laitinen [at] aalto [dot] fi
- Habitus Baltija competition: bt1.lv/habitus/?link=10100020&subid=3798, video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk2TmCGoAXY&feature=youtu.be
- Apolda European Design Award 2014: http://www.apolda-design-award.de/index.php/en/news/108-aktuelles-eng/268-the-award-winners-2014-more
- H&M Design Award Competition: hm.com/press