15 July 2025  Masterful Threads of MemorySeven young designers were honored at the European Fashion Award FASH 2025, one of Europe's most prestigious prizes for fashion students. The awards were handed out on July 3 during Berlin Fashion Week at the iconic Atrium Tower on Potsdamer Platz. Organized by the German Fashion Industry Foundation 'Stiftung der Deutschen Bekleidungsindustrie' (SDBI), the award is supported by Messe München and creative partners including Iris von Arnim, Deeken HR, Parcel Broker, and Neo.Fashion.A highlight this year was the Sonderpreis Strick (Special Award Knitwear), awarded to Finnish designer Minerva Skyttä for her sculptural collection "Monin terveisin isäsi" ("Many Greetings from Your Father"). The award, dedicated to excellence in knitwear, was sponsored by Iris von Arnim—a German luxury knitwear label often referred to as the "queen of cashmere." Founded in the mid-1970s and celebrated for its timeless craftsmanship, the brand expanded into Austria in November 2022 with its first store outside of Germany, located at Neuer Markt 9 in the heart of Vienna. The boutique combines Nordic elegance and natural stone over 120 square meters. Skyttä created the collection as part of her master's degree in Fashion, Clothing and Textile Design at Aalto University in Espoo. Her award-winning collection draws on over 100-year-old letters and photographs from her family archive, especially those of her great-great-great-grandfather Hannes Sjöblom, a missionary in early 20th-century China. Images of Chinese ships with white sails served as a key visual inspiration. Using paper and cotton yarns, Skyttä crafted one-of-a-kind knitwear pieces on a Stoll Gauge 12 machine, manipulating the knits across various directions to form floating, architectural silhouettes. The result is a tactile, poetic interpretation of memory and migration—fashion as narrative and artifact. A Platform for Responsible DesignThe jury emphasized that this year's winning designs distinguished themselves through a pronounced commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. Many collections skillfully bridged the gap between tradition and innovation, blending artisanal techniques with digital tools to create garments rich in depth, character, and durability. In an era defined by rapid technological shifts, the designers' focus on tactile materials, craft, and narrative emerged as a thoughtful counterbalance—highlighting fashion's ability to forge meaningful connections between maker, wearer, and viewer. The prize not only celebrates aesthetics but also aims to foster design that resonates beyond fleeting trends.The broader context and guiding values of the award are articulated in the press release through a chapter titled "A Glimpse into the Future of Fashion", which reflects on enduring questions about the role of fashion today. Who is it designed for—an exclusive elite or the wider public? Can heritage techniques and modern technologies coexist meaningfully? The 2025 award winners offered compelling responses through collections grounded in sustainability, social awareness, and artisanal skill. Their designs fused historical narratives, cutting-edge techniques, and experimental materials—reflecting a holistic understanding of fashion as both cultural artifact and contemporary statement. The European Fashion Award FASH is known for promoting meaningful fashion—work that outlasts seasonal cycles and engages with social, economic, cultural, and political processes. In this sense, the award functions as a seismograph for emerging ideas and directions in the industry. It captures the signals of a changing fashion landscape by mapping the values and visions of the next generation. Image: The picture shows knitwear designer Minerva Skyttä, winner of the Special Award Knitwear at the European Fashion Award FASH 2025, surrounded by models wearing pieces from her collection 'Monin terveisin isäsi' (Many Greetings from Your Father). Photo courtesy of European Fashion Award – FASH 2025 der Stiftung der Deutschen Bekleidungsindustrie, © Nordfriisk Photography by Stefan Heesch @Nordfriisk. The full list of winners is published on Instagram @FASHberlin. |