Suomi-ilmiöitä

The Suomi-ilmiöitä exhibition was organised by Fashion Community Helsinki to present the collections of the Finnish finalists of Festival Hyères 2022, as part of Helsinki Design Week.

The exhibition took its name from the so-called “Finnish phenomenon” (Suomi-ilmiö), a term coined by the French press in response to the recurring presence of Finnish talent in the finals of the Festival International de Mode & de Photographie Hyères. In 2022, four of the ten finalists were from Finland, underscoring the strength of Finnish fashion design on the international stage.

The exhibition brought together the work of five designers: Jenny Hytönen, Priss Niinikoski, Sini Saavala, and Juha Vehmaanperä, alongside Linda Kokkonen, a Festival Hyères alumna from 2018. Together, their collections offered a cross-section of contemporary Finnish fashion: bold, experimental, and grounded in distinct individual vision.

Held at Sepänkatu 19 in Helsinki from 2–7 September 2022, the exhibition invited visitors to experience the designers’ work up close.

Festival International de Mode & de Photographie Hyères is an internationally esteemed competition supporting and promoting the work of young creators in fashion, photography, and accessories. The 2022 edition took place 13–16 October at Villa Noailles on the French Riviera. The jury, made up of leading figures in the international fashion field, was headed by Glenn Martens, creative director of Y/Project. The competition’s main sponsors are Chanel and Mercedes-Benz.