Future Stars Of Fashion
Maria Suomalainen
TEXT BY KENDAL MCINNIS
PHOTOGRAPH BY SARA RIIKONEN
Maria Suomalainen was this year’s third place winner in the
Designers’ Nest Competition in Copenhagen—a rightfully
earned title, as her work demanded the attention of not only
the judges, but onlookers and competing designers as well.
Having received her Bachelor’s degree from the Aalto
University School of Arts, Design, and Architecture, Suomalainen
has transformed her raw talent into statement art and striking
found the perfect balance between weight, shape, and color. The
juxtaposition of exotic shape, and controlled movement of her
pieces effortlessly combine a calm, neutral palette with refreshing twists on staple dresses, jackets and two-piece sets. At just
twenty-six, Suomalainen currently resides in France working as
an Intern Design Assistant at prestigious fashion house, Lanvin.
Her collection shown in Copenhagen reflects the daring
attitude Suomalainen possesses. Her understanding of basic
technique allows her to create clothing that can be worn comfortably, yet disturbs the ideas of common style. Although
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Suomalainen draws her inspiration from darker artists such
as Asger Carlsen, and Michaël Borremans, she creates pieces
that are full of life and finds it most intriguing to see how differently other people can perceive her garments. Before her
success competing in Copenhagen, she was stirring up conversation at Stockholm’s Fashion Week. Her collections displayed
there brought fresh flavor and noteworthy talent to the show.
Suomalainen finds her latest collection afforded her the opportunity to refine her own skills and aesthetic. By looking back on
past work, and doing some thorough research, she was able to
create a clear evolution through her collections.
Though Suomalainen has only given us a small taste of her
talent and capabilities, her work up to this point has been an
alluring introduction for what we can only assume will be even
more scintillating work to come. As she continues to develop
her brand, Maria Suomalainen promises to be someone worthy
of our attention.