The Swedish School of Textiles (SST)’s “Textile & Fashion Future” full-day event focused on next-generation design and textile innovation in the exploration of fashion’s future landscape, according to the Swedish Fashion Council.
The Borås-based event, held on May 27, also unveiled “the UN Collection,” born from a collaboration that saw 20 students at the SST—an educational and research institution within the University of Borås—design workwear for 25 of the global organization’s New York City tour guides, to be seen by some 250,000 tour-takers every year.
Related Stories
In the works since last March, the cornflower blue capsule collection debuted at the UN’s New York headquarters on April 22, marking a “significant milestone” for fashion functionality and cooperative innovation. The project highlighted “how young creative voices are shaping the future fashion solutions for global institutions,” the SST said.
Attendees were also invited to industry-insider tête-à-têtes.
The LVMH Prize for Young Designers’ 2024 winner—Swedish fashion designer Ellen Hodakova Larsson, founder and creative director of the namesake brand based on sustainability and utilitarianism—held her first public talk at her alma mater, sharing insights gleaned post-graduation. In conversation with creative strategy consultant Alban Adam, Larsson “traced her path” from Hodakova’s early days through its evolution and international recognition.
[Sustainability] is not just a buzzword; it has to be at the core of a brand,” Larsson said in a conversation with Adam. “Embrace it as a practice, making it the new normal that shapes every conversation and action.”
The SST’s BFA and MFA students’ final graduation “Exit25” collection of 17 looks hit the runway as well.
For reference, graduation shows have been an annual tradition at the university since 1985—aka, when the former Swedish Textile Institute’s programs were piecemealed into the University of Borås: a newly established institution and its inaugural textile education offering. The same year (1985) also marked the first graduation show: a joint presentation by the graduate class of the Textile Institute, the organization said. Since 2002, they’ve been titled “Exit:” a name chosen by the students to “represent their transition from education to the professional world,” per the SST.
“In an industry that often leaves one with more questions than answers, the class of 2025 is tackling the immense task of redefining what it means to be a young designer today,” reads the running order for Exit25. “Through the pure touch of the hand strengthened by the artistic use of new technologies, the works reflect themes of identity, memories and imperfection—in search of defining one’s own design methods and culture of aesthetics.”
As part of the event, the University of Fashion & Textiles held its annual award ceremony, honoring five graduate students from the SST. Jonas Gustavsson, Zuzana Vrabelov, Kristian Falden, Ida Romme and Wictor Ljunggren were named this year’s winners.
“Recipients from the design program and another from the textile education were awarded for the recognition of their creativity and innovation,” according to the SST. “The award aims to provide support to emerging talents, enabling them to further develop their work in innovative textile and design.”
