Nordic Fashion & You
Photo: Kerstin Alm, courtesy of Nordic Heritage Museum
A menswear look from the line Moods of Norway at the 2010 Arctic Summer Nordic Fashion Show at the Nordic Heritage Museum
If you like any of the following things, read the entire post: Seattle, indie fashion, Nordic folks, sustainability, Reykjavik or Dianne Von Furstenburg. Interest piqued? Keep reading the info hijacked from our sister blog Seattle Met’s Wear What When.
In conjunction with the Nordic House in Reykjavik, Iceland, the Ballard institute’s Nordic Heritage Museum is hosting the first American iteration of the Nordic Fashion Biennale. It’s because of a successful program last year, Nordic Heritage’s 2010 Arctic Summer Fashion Show, that Ballard, and Seattle, got that honor. Reps from the Icelandic organization were here to see the 2010 show; they were impressed, and decided Seattle should start the stateside party.
The celebration of style and global design runs from September 30 through November 13 and will consist of three elements: a street fashion photo exhibit from the Nordic capitals, contemporary fashion from the five Nordic Countries shown with traditional customs from the Museum’s archives, and a sort of all-encompassing, genre-skipping exhibit of Nordic design to be installed in various formats throughout the Museum.
And, then there’s the design competition.
Open to fashion design students who live and create in the West Coast states (Portland that is you!), the Biennale’s fashion competition, NxNW, counts the creative director of Diane Von Furstenberg, Denmark’s leading skin care expert, and Icelandic designer Steinunn among its judges.
A two-day symposium focusing on sustainability, slow fashion, cultural heritage, and current trends in the marketplace presents another opportunity for the Northwest’s up-and-coming designers to get face time with global leaders. This aspect of the biennale is curated by New York-based Icelandic artist Hrafnhildur Arnardottir, also known as Shoplifter—also known as, let’s be honest, A Pretty Big Deal. Having collaborated with VPL, dressed Bjork, and been given page of praise in the New York Times, Shoplifter in Seattle is something to pay attention to.
The biennale, in general, is definitely something to pay attention to. Tell every up-and-coming dress designer and thing-maker you know to check out the guidelines and information on the Nordic Heritage Museum’s website. Deadline for entries is July 25; winners will receive round-trip airfare from Seattle to Reykjavik, three night’s accommodations, and entry to events during the 2012 Reykjavik Fashion Week.
