Estonian Fashion & Design Days in Washington, DC 2016 by Estonian Design House

ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS WASHINGTON, DC

ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS WASHINGTON, DC 21-25 SEPTEMBER 2016

ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS / WASHINGTON, DC

HIGHLIGHT EVENTS The greatest collection of Estonian fashion and product design brands ever jointly presented in the world is now in Washington D.C – Nordic design handwriting combined with our unique twist and innovative solutions, often connected to our country’s famous digital success story.

SEPTEMBER 21 Estonian Fashion Brands Association presents: Estonian Fashion Design Exhibition @ opening of DC Fashion Week.

Estonian Fashion & Design Week in Washington, D.C. runs from September 21-25, showcasing the strongest and most export-ready Estonian fashion and design brands to the US market with the aim of creating long-term sales, marketing and co-operation networks for design entrepreneurs in one of the world’s biggest export markets and further boosting the sector’s e-commerce and export potential. For the first time, Estonian Fashion Brands Association (EFBA) and the Estonian Association of Designers (EDL) are uniting 22 Estonian fashion and design brands under one unique umbrella concept, targeting design-savvy customers in Washington business and political circles, fashion and trade media, and fashion and trade industry contacts.

SEPTEMBER 22-23 Estonian Fashion & Design Showroom & Pop-up Store @ Estonian Embassy in Washington. Customers, fashion industry, media welcome.

SEPTEMBER 25 “EFBA presents: The Best of Estonian Fashion Design” Estonian Fashion Show with more than 100 looks on the catwalk @ DC FW International Designers Couture Show, Carnegie Library. .

Concept & Styling: Oksana Tandit, EFBA PR & Communication: Evelin Ojamets, EFBA ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS / WASHINGTON, DC

Highlights include “EFBA Presents – The Best of Estonian Fashion Design“ on September 25 at 6 pm @ Carnegie Library as part of the DCFW official programme, a joint showroom & pop-up shop of Estonian fashion and design brands taking place on September 22-23 from 11 am – 5 pm @ the Estonian Embassy in Washington, and media and business networking meetings. These and other events will be sure to leave a sustainable footprint of Estonian fashion & design on the US market and open the door for future beneficial business interactions between the US and Estonia.

kristinaviirpalu.com Kristina Viirpalu is a feminine and entirely unique label that presents the hand-knitted couture creations as one of its highlights. Her collections have drawn inspiration from the embroidery of Estonian national costumes and the delicate patterns of the knitted Haapsalu shawl. Stylizing these patterns, Kristina has created a collection of abundantly detailed pieces of art. Kristina also emphasizes that although functionality is not the primary characteristic of a couture dress, her designs are wearable, comfortable and can be worn many different ways. Adding a luxurious skirt to a bikini style top creates a sumptuous wedding dress. Some dresses can even be fitted into a small handbag.

ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS / WASHINGTON, DC

tiinatalumees.ee Tiina Talumees is a 1997 graduate of the Estonian Academy of Arts and has been running her own fashion brand and studio for almost 20 years. She has a very feminine signature, a good eye for details and passion for 1930s style. Tiina Talumees started out with bespoke customer orders and a bridal line. Her main focus is now couture collection, but for the past three years she has been developing a new brand of jersey wrap dresses for the pret-a-porter market.

ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS / WASHINGTON, DC

birgitskolimowski.com Birgit Skolimowski is born in Tallinn in 1977. She studied at the Department of Jewellery at the Estonian Academy of Arts, and since graduating, she has worked as a freelance artist, designer and the owner of her own jewellery brand â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Birgit Skolimowski Jewellery. She has taken part in many different international exhibitions and held several solo exhibitions, the last one in August 2016, in Tallinn. Birgit is a valued collaborator for many fashion brands and designers in Estonia.

ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS / WASHINGTON, DC

MARE KELPMAN marekelpman.eu The kelpman textile brand offers high quality interior and garment accessories. The key words are quality and long-lasting materials, limited quantities, unisex and vintage. The studio has a regional ethos and sources materials directly from local European producers where textiles are woven using old-school industrial weaving machines. Scarves and blankets are mostly made of 100% wool. Thick silk, thin linen and glowing high-tech materials are also woven. Most of the items are unisex, many have a vintage touch and many are inspired by childhood. Design and colour combinations are available in limited quantities. All fabric and product designs are developed by Mare Kelpman. The owner and designer of the studio, Mare Kelpman, has been teaching as a professor for many years, taking part in many international exhibitions and winning prestigious awards.

ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS / WASHINGTON, DC

oksanatandit.ee OKSANA TANDIT is a noted premium fashion brand in the Baltics, offering high quality European style collections of women’s clothing. The brand occupies a relatively new product niche - affordable luxury, producing two seasonal collections per year. The Oksana Tandit style is characterized by a new approach to interpreting classics – luxurious fabrics, precision cutting and clear silhouettes. It’s a brand for women with a strong sense of unique style and personality. Oksana Tandit’s Concept Store is situated right in the heart of Tallinn’s business centre. Welcome!

ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS / WASHINGTON, DC

STELLA SOOMLAIS stellasoomlais.com Stella Soomlais bags combine functionality with minimalist aesthetics. Accessories are designed with high quality materials in mind and in a way that allows details (e.g. handles and pockets) to be easily restored or replaced when they have worn out or the person wants something different in function or decor. When the bag is done serving its owner, the material can be reused for a new product – after all, quality leather ages beautifully and becomes even more original over time. Thanks to smart blueprinting and material selection, all this is possible with very little loss in resources. Stella Soomlais is a young designer of leather and accessories designer, part of a wave of new artisans and fashion designers who have emerged over the last few years in Estonia. Since starting her own studio in 2011, Stella has quickly built a distinct brand – she tailors unique bags for customers with specific requests. In addition, a collection of weekend bags, handbags, wallets, credit card holders and armlets are meant for those who prefer ready-made accessories. Stella’s products are produced in her studio in Tallinn with the help of her artisans.

ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS / WASHINGTON, DC

monton.andmorefashion.com Monton is an exciting quality fashion brand interpreting global trends in its own unique way, offering a fashionable and smart cosmopolitan look for self-confident men and women who dare to be quirky and playful in their fast-paced life. The essence of Monton collection is the stylish City Smart look, characterized by distinctive and modern tailoring, recognizable handwriting and good quality. The most important global fashion trends are presented in the collection with a twist of Montonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own signature style. This uniqueness is carried through quirky playful details in prints, cuts, and decorations. The quality is well proved by the excellent fit and practicality of the garment design. Since 2004, Monton has designed the Olympic uniform for Estonian athletes.

ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS / WASHINGTON, DC

KA RL ANNUS framedbykarl.com Framed by Karl is an Estonian trademark of wooden spectacles by designer and craftsman Karl Annus. A great cinematographer once said that life is all about frames. The people at Framed by Karl couldn’t agree more. Frames define your view, what you see and even how you look. Frames are not to be taken lightly. Framed by Karl has been making wooden frames for over six years. These long years of experience have given them the confidence to call themselves true framesmiths. By now, they know every detail about every possible wood type, head size and frame design there is. But it isn’t only experience and quality. Every single frame FBK produces is unique, tailor-made to the client’s preferences. And not only the obvious selections like wood and glasses, but every detail from size to hinges. Because every head is unique and deserves a personal frame. Framed by Karl’s wooden spectacles have caught many people’s eyes throughout the years,– designers, actors and ministers of the government have been seen sporting them. Happy clients keep them going, but from time to time, it’s nice to receive formal recognition as well: in 2012 Framed by Karl won the Honourable Mention from the Estonian Design Awards and in 2013 the Emerging Talent Award from London Fashion Showcase. This year, Karl Annus was nominated for the Estonian Young Designer Award, SÄSI.

ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS / WASHINGTON, DC

ELMET TREIER estoniandesignhouse.ee Forever experimenting, Elmet Treier has given his heart to timber. His friendship with the material started when he was studying to become a shop teacher at the Tallinn Pedagogical Institute. He gained additional experience in the Netherlands and Sweden, where he created solutions for timber structures. In Estonia, he has worked as a furniture designer for Natureld for a long time. In previous years, he was busy at Z-Module, producing timber building modules and developing a new solution for building a solid wood wall easily and quickly without special tools and steel joints. He created three innovative parquets for the well-regarded parquet producer Snakefloor. No recent design contest passes without a new item from him. His new interest is designing wooden accessories like minimalistic laptop cases and unrefined-looking wooden watches. The latest fruits of his inventiveness are synergistic combinations of wood and leather. And itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just the beginning of his experimentation with new and different materials.

ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS / WASHINGTON, DC

nvbyk.com “New Vintage by Kriss” is a jewellery brand that creates cool, gorgeous and wearable jewellery. From the beginning, our aim has been to empower women to live lives fully, to dream big and to act bold, to forget about the rules and follow their own path. We also LOVE beautiful stones, especially those that look a little rough around the edges! All “New Vintage by Kriss” pieces are designed by Kriss Eglite and handcrafted in her studio in Estonia. We use only semi-precious stones, cultured pearls, 925 silver, gold-filled and other quality materials. That is why our jewellery is non-allergic and, if tended to properly, will shine beautifully for decades. Each design has a story behind it, something that moved, encouraged or touched us. NVbyK pieces are classic enough to never go out of style, while always having a little something offbeat and wonderfully quirky to make it fun and special. Just like the women who wear NVbyK – classic, but with a twist. Our inspiration is a woman who is a daughter, a mother, a rock-chick, a die-hard romantic, a world traveller, a little devil and a goddess – all rolled into one. These necklaces, earrings and bracelets are created for a woman who wears jewellery for herself and values the beauty of simplicity. We look forward to the day that “New Vintage by Kriss” is considered the real vintage. NV Girls Rule The World!

ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS / WASHINGTON, DC

reetaus.com Reet Aus started working as a fashion designer in 1997 and since 2002 all her collections have followed the principles of upcycling. Her doctoral thesis (Trash to Trend – Using Upcycling in Fashion Design) opens the possibilities of implementing upcycling in the fashion industry and mass production. According to her conclusion, it would be possible to make 15 percent more clothes using the scraps of fabric that get thrown away. Since 2012, Reet Aus has been developing an upcycling collection together with Beximco – one of the biggest apparel manufacturers in Bangladesh. The collections were created by implementing upcycling in early stages of the mass production process. This has improved effectiveness and reduced environmental impacts – each item produced in this way uses an average of 70% less water and 88% less energy than regular products. The upcycling method production line was UPMADE® certified in December 2014.

ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS / WASHINGTON, DC

kadrikruus.com Kadri Kruus is one of the emerging designers who won at the Best International Fashion Showcase 2013, competing against 110 designers from 27 countries. The designer follows a contemporary style while preserving the functionality of each item, and achieving high quality by passionately following traditional craftsmanship methods. The style of these leather accessories can be controversial, just like a true female spirit. Trained in leather art at the Estonian Academy of Arts, Kruus teaches at her alma mater as a professor, passing her know-how to the next generation of craftsmen. Kruus says: “…my work is a passion and a hobby for me. The handbag preparation process is what I enjoy most. I’m fascinated by the material - leather. I like that leather can be exclusive, strong and gentle all at the same time. Leather to me is a living material, which is to say, I like to give leather a new valuable life.”

ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS / WASHINGTON, DC

ivonikkolo.andmorefashion.com Ivo Nikkolo is a design brand that delivers aesthetic and architecturally inspired Northern European shapes with disruptive detailing. Ivo Nikkolo was founded in Estonia in 1994 by a man with a dream, a dream of luxury in a time when Estonia was still starting out on its way to prosperity. This man was Ivo Nikkolo. Coming from an architectural background, his view on design as a concept, as a whole, has shaped the brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s handwriting from the beginning. The architectural aesthetic allows rebellion, organized disruption of forms and layers, giving the creator freedom to design something genuinely sculptural - fine-tuned to the very last detail and moulded into elegant and classy fashion clothing. The aim of the design is to create a balanced sharp aesthetic with clean cuts celebrating the essence of power in a feminine style. Ivo Nikkolo designers are three-time winners of Estoniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most important fashion design award, the Golden Needle. In 1997 the prize was awarded to Ivo Nikkolo himself, and in 2005 and in 2009 it went to Eve Hanson.

ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS / WASHINGTON, DC

PIRET LOOG piretloog.wix.com/piretloog Piret Loog is a Tallinn-based designer of leather accessories. Trained in leather design at the Estonian Academy of Arts, she has worked as a teacher of handbag and footwear design at the academy’s Department of Leather Art and Department of Fashion Design. Loog has been developing her own brand of leather accessories since 1998. She designs leather handbags, backpacks and shoulder bags in a minimalist and timeless Nordic style for the contemporary urbanite lifestyle, functional and universal for everyday use. She tries to find a balance between function, clear style and the beauty of leather as a material – in the case of Loog’s collections, the finest calf leather. The leather has an important role in the design process, the material is the main inspiration for the collection. The items are handcrafted only in limited-run series.

ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS / WASHINGTON, DC

ANDRES LABI tieapron.com As the name suggests, Tie&Apron is an apron with a necktie. A necktie, originally a symbol of status, is purely decorative. At the same time, there’s nothing as functional as a decent apron. Tie&Apron combines the distinction of a tie with the utility of an apron. Whether you are cooking, serving or just enjoying food, Tie&Apron turns every dinner into an extravagant moment, a sophisticated ritual that you won’t forget. A knotted tie not only makes you look smart, it is perfectly adjustable and there’s no chance of accidentally dipping your tie in the soup. It is the garment for a person whose passion is not only cooking, but also refined dressing. Disclaimer: Tie&Apron is not only for men – it can be worn by anyone with style.

ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS / WASHINGTON, DC

facebook.com/theunclepaul Uncle Paul is a line of athletic urban style shoes for both men and women, founded in 2013. A good shoe is more than just a shoe. Shoes that catch your eye can tell you a tale about an individual. Uncle Paul is an Estonian shoe brand with true character.

ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS / WASHINGTON, DC

baltman.andmorefashion.com The first Baltman suit was made 25 years ago, and we’ve made hundreds of thousands since then. Thanks to the special fabrics used, Baltman suits are impervious to wrinkles, unafraid of long flights, even cell phone radiation. Our suits are just like you and your business. Born fearless. Already for 25 years. As a premium menswear brand, Baltman is elegant and stylish, classic yet modern, always staying in touch with the zeitgeist. We draw on our tailoring heritage spanning eight decades and the best fabrics in Europe from renowned producers such as Loro Piana and Cloth Dormeuil to offer our clients only the best. Baltman designers have won Estonia’s most important fashion design award, the Golden Needle, three times. In 1996 the prize went to Marika Siska, in 1998 to Tarvo Jaansoo and in 2013 to Aivar Antonio Lätt.

ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS / WASHINGTON, DC

riinapoldroos.com Riina Põldroos is an award-winning Estonian fashion designer with a dreamy airy style and a soft yet edgy design. The brand is known for evening wear and small handbags with a new jewellery line set to be launched this autumn. The most recognizable Põldroos dresses are made with unique hand-cut velvet appliqués. Each design is separately cut with scissors, pinned down and sewn to tulle. Every single item is a unique wearable piece of art, made with dedication and pure love for creation. Her designs are inspired by nature, deep forests, emptiness and the movements of birds, gracefully stretching their wings to start to fly. Every woman is a goddess, every dress is a dancer.

ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS / WASHINGTON, DC

tvj.ee Tanel Veenre lives and works in Tallinn, Estonia. Veenre was educated as a jewellery artist (MA) at the Estonian Academy of Arts (1995-2005) and Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam (1997-98). He has exhibited since 1996, includes jewellery, photography and fashion shows. Since 2012, he has taught as a professor in the Faculty of Design at the Estonian Academy of Arts. With more than 150 solo and group exhibitions around the world to his name, Veenre has also given lectures/workshops in Estonia, Brazil, China, Scotland, Finland, Portugal, Spain, Norway, Israel, Sweden, Chile, Taiwan, Thailand, Mexico and Germany. Veenre is represented by galleries in Sweden, the US, Holland, Turkey, Latvia and Brazil. Since 2013, he has operated a jewellery brand called TVJ, which can be found in several design stores. Veenre is a happy man.

ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS / WASHINGTON, DC

pohjanheimo.com POHJANHEIMO provides a refined collage of garments that seamlessly transition from day to night while striking a fine balance between work and play. The studio proposes a selection of independent, chic and confident elements for modern cosmopolitans. POHJANHEIMO handpicks only the finest sleek wool, comfy cashmere, soft linen, breezy cotton and lush silk. The collections are part of an ongoing aesthetic dialogue, always carefully in tune with the seasonal shift. Such crafty construction is conducted by hand in the atelier, with respect for traditional techniques and luxury fabrics.

ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS / WASHINGTON, DC

gvido.eu Gvido is an Estonian jeweller who works with precious metals and stones, and has over 30 years of hands-on experience. Curiosity for alternative materials has led him to metals like Damascus steel, titanium and bronze. With a sharp eye for details, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always looking for perfect shapes and proportions. All products are flawlessly crafted by Gvido himself, from idea to the casting, grinding and stone fixing stages. This direct connection to all levels defines the quality and integrity that this brand values. It`s just like paying attention to your appearance and putting effort into the details. By presenting the best version of yourself, you give other people a compliment!

ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS / WASHINGTON, DC

KRISTIINA NURK

MONIKA JÄRG

IGOR VOLKOV

UITPUIT

KRISTIINA NURK

TARMO LUISK

ESTONIAN DESIGN HOUSE POP-UP SHOP

KÄRT OJAVEE

GO WORLD

estoniandesignhouse.ee ESTONIAN DESIGN HOUSE (EDH) is a platform for promotion and export of Estonian design. This citizen-initiated environment for designers in the old fishing port in Tallinn houses a design shop, several design studios, the Estonian Association of Designers (EDL), the office of the Tallinn Design Festival (DISAINIÖÖ) and a design café. The trademark Estonian Design House was created by EDL and it represents distinctive Estonian product design ranging from interior accessories to fashion. The aim of EDL is to make Estonian design more visible, give designers trading channels and the motivation for new creative ideas. EDH acts as a platform for Estonian designers and creators by helping to promote products both in Estonia and abroad. EDH also has an online shop.

ÖÖLOOM SLEEPING MASK

IGOR VOLKOV

The Estonian Design House is becoming a venue that connects designers from different fields and with different competencies, offers solutions for ideas for products with a flair for service design and initiates product development processes where the designers and entrepreneurs get together. More than 100 designers are represented at Estonian Design House gallery. Estonian Design House pop-up shops have been appeared in several cities in Finland, Brussels, London, St Petersburg, San Francisco, Milan, Vienna, Stockholm and in places all over Estonia.

MARIA RÄSTA

ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS / WASHINGTON, DC

KÄRT PÕLDMANN

ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS / WASHINGTON, DC

ESTONIAN FASHION BRANDS ASSOCIATION www.efba-fashion.com Estonian Fashion Brands Association (EFBA) is a voice and platform uniting the best Estonian fashion & design brands. Each of them has a clear signature style and is ready for export markets. Our mission is to let them make that leap, based on unique export concepts and choosing the appropriate entering & marketing strategies for each priority market. EFBA also works closely together with other fashion and design industry umbrella organizations and state institutions in Estonia and internationally, in order to improve the competitiveness and export readiness of the Estonian fashion and design sector, to create sustainable and realistic business opportunities for Estonian fashion and design brands in export markets and to shape the domestic and international image of Estonian fashion and design sector. OKSANA TANDIT Estonian Fashion Brands Association (EFBA) Board member, creative concept & style e-mail: oksana.tandit@efba-fashion.com mobile: + 372 515 3401

EVELIN OJAMETS Estonian Fashion Brands Association (EFBA) Board member, communication & marketing e-mail: evelin.ojamets@efba-fashion.com mobile: + 372 521 2890

MAIRE MILDER Estonian Fashion Brands Association (EFBA) Board member, branding & retail concept e-mail: maire.milder@efba-fashion.com mobile: + 372 502 6585

T H E E S T O N I A N A S S O C I A T I O N O F D E S I G N E R S ( E A D ) www.edl.ee EAD’s 150 members represent fields such as product, textile, fashion and graphic design. EAD promotes Estonian design in its home country as well as abroad, initiated the development of a national design policy, and participates in creating the means for developing design and increasing demand and supply. EAD regularly organizes educational seminars, workshops and competitions. EAD participates in the work of larger design organizations and has been a member of the board of various organizations (ICSID, BEDA, EIDD Design For All Europe), collaborating on projects focused on issues like inclusive design, health care design, design management. EAD also initiated the Tallinn For All project, which received the DME award. It was also behind the European Innovation Festival IF... in Tallinn and hosted the DME gala in 2011. EAD presents the BRUNO product design award (as one part of the Estonian Design Awards), which is handed out every other year. It has organized the Tallinn Design Night Festival (tallinndesignfestival.com) since 2006, and won a European quality label EFFE for its efforts. A brainchild of the EAD is the Estonian Design House – the home of the Estonian design showroom and designers’ studios. (www.estoniandesignhouse.ee) Ilona Gurjanova has served as the association’s head for 11 years. ILONA GURJANOVA Estonian Association of Designers, chair e-mail: leart@estpak.ee mobile: +372 555 73682

The font used in this publication is A D A M , created by Estonian designer Anton Koovit. 12 styles in 2 subfamilies Adam is believed to be the first typeface made in Estonia specially for setting continuous text. It has a Pro set of glyphs, supporting most of the languages which use the Latin alphabet. An original typeface influenced by both grotesque and humanist sans-serifs, Adam is the first typeface published by Anton Koovit. It was started as his graduation project at TypeMedia in The Hague, with the idea to develop a typeface for art manifestos. Adam is made of twelve styles, four of which are stencil “Cut” styles. All come with a wide character set and small caps. A Cyrillic version is also available upon request.

European Union European Regional Development Fund

ESTONIAN FASHION & DESIGN DAYS / WASHINGTON, DC

Investing in your future

“DESIGN CREATES CULTURE. CULTURE SHAPES VALUES. VALUES DETERMINE THE FUTURE.” R O BERT L . P ET ERS