Because of their dedication to mindful design and sustainable fashion, Estonian fashion designers are becoming well-known throughout Europe.
Fashion designers such as Xenia Joost, whose clothes draw inspiration from the Nordic Sea, and Reet Aus, who has created over 150,000 shirts using leftover textiles from the hotel industry, are examples of this. Together, they have prevented over 30,000 kg of fabric from ending up in the trash.
The Canvas NYC Flagship is located in the Westfield World Trade Center in New York City for individuals who are unable to travel to the Baltic Sea.
In collaboration with the Estonian Design House, The Canvas Flagship and The Canvas 3.0 digital art gallery are organizing a week-long popup of sustainable Estonian design during New York Fashion Week. This year, 17 brands were selected to represent the Estonian fashion scene, and they will be on display until September 14 (many of them will remain at the flagship store until the end of the year).
Among them is the sustainable jewelry and apparel line Lent Sius, founded by Kairi Lentsius in Estonia, that offers “a more environmentally friendly alternative to modern everyday jewelry and clothing." They repurpose wood, metal, and military fabrics (such as tents) to create goods.
It also features high-end labels like Iris Janvier, which specializes in women's clothing, coats, and accessories; glass jewelry designed by Kallim Sein; and Egg brand, created by Laura Saks, which crafts jewelry using eggshells.
Pieces from HYTI, a glass company started by Anne-Liis Leht, and Killud, which creates items from unusual found objects, should be expected. There are items from the footwear line Juhan Soomets and the upcycling of jeans into haute fashion clothing brand Luks by Sandra Luks.
Additionally, Estonian brands like August, Karlotta, Piret Loog, a leather handbag company, Sile Luik, Igor Volkov, Tarmo Luisk, and Kairi Lentsius are displayed on The Canvas.
The aim is to present the top eco-friendly designers from Estonia, whether they are creating jewelry, accessories, menswear, or womenswear. “These designers and their techniques represent the emerging talent of Estonia and are testament to how advanced and forward thinking Estonian design and society is,” said Devin Gilmartin, CEO and co-founder of The Canvas. "We hope that this marks the beginning of a long-term partnership and serves as a model for future private-public partnerships."
Marilin Tammsaar, an Estonian fashion executive who assisted in coordinating the collaboration, co-curated the selection of designers. "The project presents an exceptional chance to emphasize interpersonal relationships while building a sustainable world," the spokesperson stated.