Dezeen School Shows: hand-painted silk clothing inspired by robins is among the projects from Häme University of Applied Sciences.

Also featured is a fashion collection that takes its shape from architect Alvar Aalto's work and a dress made from recycled jeans.

Häme University of Applied Sciences

Course: Smart and Sustainable Design

School statement:

"Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) is shaping the next generation of material‑driven designers in our Smart and Sustainable Design bachelor's degree programme, where forward‑looking experimentation, craft heritage and contemporary design thinking meet.

"Rooted in Finland's long tradition of material innovation, our programme encourages students to push the boundaries of form, technique and sustainable making.

"This selection presents emerging designers and their work from our fashion programme. It showcases a wide range of approaches within the discipline, from traditional handcraft and material manipulation and experimentation, to functional fashion design and innovative, forward-thinking approaches.

"Each project expresses a unique design voice and demonstrates a strong interest in exploring new directions in fashion through sustainability and new technology.

"Supported by dedicated fashion design studios and a wide range of materials, tools and technologies for experimentation, our emerging designers are guided by experienced staff as they develop, prototype and produce their own fashion designs.

"Through practical making and innovative design processes, they are empowered to become creative changemakers and contribute to a more sustainable future for fashion."

The Light of Silhouettes by Elsa Babkova

"The collection is an embrace of complexity within simplicity, inspired by how light forms silhouettes of buildings and defines its spotlight.

"Here, light is translated into lines. A silver and gold gradient that moves from dense areas to gradually wider spacing. The lines create a pattern that runs across the front, side and back of the garments.

"A specific sewing system was developed for the skirt. It involved extensive testing to find the right threads, colours and attachment methods. In total, the process took more than 400 hours of work.

"The skirt can also be worn in different orientations, allowing either the silver or gold side to be positioned at the front or the back.

"This creates a shifting visual composition and adds transformability to the piece, changing its appearance depending on how it is worn."

Student: Elsa Babkova
Course: Collaboration Project 3
Email: elzababkova[at]gmail.com

Oodi Collection, Kajo (shirt) and Halla (skirt) by Marjo Nieminen

"The Kajo shirt is a reversible woven half-sleeve shirt paired with the Halla skirt, a long A-line woven skirt, both made from vibrant taffeta.

"Both are part of the Oodi collection, inspired by Alvar Aalto's architecture and object design. The collection captures forms and lines from his design, transforming them into garments.

"Designed for women who appreciate clarity, comfort and versatility, the Oodi collection is created using zero waste methods and monomaterial for recyclability.

"The footwear in the photo is by Lauri Leino."

Student: Marjo Nieminen
Course: Collaboration Project 3
Email: marjo.nieminen[at]student.hamk.fi

Shifting Sands Collection by Roosa Lundström

"Shifting Sands is a 3D garment collection developed entirely in VStitcher. It draws inspiration from the natural patterns and tones of sand and water. The process started with physical textile experiments and sketching.

"These were translated into digital garments by building patterns, creating custom 3D fabrics and testing material behaviour.

"Hand-dyed textiles and crochet samples were digitised through pattern repeats and fabric scanning.

"Working in 3D made it possible to adjust fit, proportion and surface in real time, reducing the need for physical samples while supporting an iterative design process."

Student: Roosa Lundström
Course: Collaboration Project 3
Email: roosa.lundstrom[at]gmail.com

Fragments of Blue Denim Dress by Serine Turan

"The product is a long dress made from old denim jeans. The design combines layering, raw edges, and vertical forms that create movement and depth.

"The garment has an unfinished aesthetic while emphasising the reuse of materials and a unique, personal style. The footwear in the photo is by Senja Kaukonen."

Student: Serine Turan
Course: Basics of Fashion 1
Email: serineadla[at]gmail.com

Emerging Spring by Saara Kaarla

"This outfit was developed as part of a project-course. The research focused on the use of glass in fashion, exploring both glass-based elements and ways to recreate the material's transparency and texture through natural fibres.

"Inspired by Tiffany stained glass and traditional lamp-making techniques, I experimented with cotton organza to capture the qualities of glass while maintaining a natural-material approach.

"The collection, Emerging Spring, reflects the transition from winter to spring, drawing inspiration from melting ice and the first signs of awakening nature.

"The designs express a sense of transparency, lightness and anticipation of the season to come. The footwear in the photo is by Selma Repo."

Student: Saara Kaarla
Course: Multidisciplinary Project
Email: saara.kaarla[at]gmail.com

Närästys by Jing Yu

"Närästys is a wearable art piece crafted from discarded plastic bags. It is inspired by the burning sensation of heartburn and the visual chaos of erupting volcanoes.

"The sculptural silhouette echoes pulsating blood vessels, combining organic texture with dramatic form. Plastic waste is cut, layered and heat-shaped using a heat gun.

"As a result, refused material is transformed into an expressive red-carpet garment. This work challenges fast fashion's environmental destruction by revealing the aesthetic potential of waste.

"It merges my passion for design with a commitment to sustainability, provoking a critical rethinking of how we create and consume fashion – proving that even discarded materials can become emotionally powerful and visually stunning.

"The footwear in the photo is by Jing Yu."

Student: Jing Yu
Course: Thesis Project
Email: jjfish0122[at]gmail.com

Knitwear Collection by Roosa Siirtola

"This collection was created using surplus production materials. The aim was to research the possibilities of reusing yarn materials for knitwear and view the interpretation of various knitwear surfaces through garments.

"There were two collections. The first collection's inspiration was based on Space, more specifically the surface of the moon. The second collection focused on organic textures, such as skin folds and the surfaces of moon rocks.

"These elements can be seen as three-dimensional structures in the knitwear.

"The sustainable perspective to the design process was based on the idea of exploring reused materials and finding new ways to give them new forms. The knitwear collections were produced using knitting machines."

Student: Roosa Siirtola
Course: Collaboration Project 3
Email: roosa[at]siirtola.fi

Timeless Threads by Laura Jukola, Milda Ramanauskiene, Jing Yu, Annika Koivula, Heli Sahanen and Olga Saukonoja

"The assignment was to design unisex workwear for artists and designers. The outfit consists of a structured blazer, relaxed fit trousers, and a belt bag with a pouch.

"This workwear outfit allows the wearer to blur the lines between feminine and masculine. Each piece was made from recycled textile leftovers.

"The textiles were dyed tone-on-tone to give the impression of artistic spirit. As a result, the textiles have a new purpose as a stunning workwear set.

"We also aimed to create a jacket that would replace a bag as a fitting solution. Through our research, we concluded that designers' need for workwear depends on the occasion.

"We wanted to tackle another aspect of working life  – one where a designer's tools are specifically designed to be easily portable."

Students: Laura Jukola, Milda Ramanauskiene, Jing Yu, Annika Koivula, Heli Sahanen and Olga Saukonoja
Course: Collaboration Project 2

Robin Collection by Mari Heiskanen and Susanna Hyvärinen

"The Robin collection celebrates craftsmanship and blurs the boundaries between contemporary fashion, art and costume design.

"At its core is the robin bird: a symbol, rooted in folklore, of a messenger between the living and those who have passed.

"The collection embodies a balance of strength and fragility, designed to evoke deep emotions. The primary materials are vivid dupion silk and delicate silk-cotton blends.

"Each garment in the collection is a unique work of art. The luxurious fabrics are hand-painted or dyed in small, intricate patches, and every piece is made to order."

Students: Mari Heiskanen and Susanna Hyvärinen
Course: Collaboration Project 3
Email: s.hyvarinen[at]outlook.com

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and Häme University of Applied Sciences. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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