Get To Know These Five Finnish Fashion Designers Shaking Up The Scene

Finland is known for many things—the Northern Lights, Santa Claus and beautiful power-white ski slopes—but its fashion isn't exactly top of mind. However, if the works of these five emerging designers are of any indication, things look set to change. Presented during the Finland's Fashion Frontier event, a first-of-its-kind showcase in Singapore that "aims to highlight the nation's burgeoning creativity and design prowess", the designs show off a sophisticated finesse that makes Finland one to keep on the radar.

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Ida-Sofia Tuomisto

Describing her approach as "intuitive", Tuomisto utilises various construction techniques and materials to create garments that challenge the norms of what clothes should look like. Taking her cues from "auto-destructive art", she whipped up tight bandage tops over coats, jackets and pants that all boasted a spray paint effect.

Rolf Ekroth

Ekroth earned the honour of being one of eight Finnish menswear designers to present at Pitti Uomo in January, where he'll debut a collection for his namesake label. Meanwhile, his graduate collection saw him re-edit military garments with rigorous-yet-fluid silhouettes, and unexpected elements such as jacquard and Swarovski crystals,

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Anna Isoniemi

Isoniemi's talent shone through, literally, with a collection that dazzled on the runway. Drawn to the sleek appeal of racing cars, she threw in a '60s futurism slant to the mix. The result? A range of colourful, high-shine dresses and suits with a cool and psychedelic finish.

Sini-Pilvi Kiilunen

The first runner-up of the Designer's Nest Award, Kiilunen impressed with a menswear collection that brought back the romance of fashion. The designer translated the beauty of 19th century oil paintings into a masculine-meets-feminine turnout of pussy-bow tops, frills and flounces, and oversized jackets blossoming with florals.

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Janette Friis

Friis's strengths lie in knitwear design and pattern making, and it's obvious from the collection that she's got a knack for cutting that perfect dress. The masters student from Aalto University proposed a light and ethereal collection that comprised layers of soft draping, ruffles and snug knits dipped in a soothing palette of nudes, blush and muted violets.