Designs for a Cooler Planet
Aalto University’s biggest annual exhibition showcases interdisciplinary experiments from our researchers and students. Designs for a Cooler Planet open 1 September - 30 October 2026.
Tomorrow's wardrobe & fashion futuring
We need a fashion futuring approach and a new mindset—how we design and manufacture, and how we understand fashion—and this seminar aims to offer that.
When
–
Where
Aalto University, Oulu Central library Saari
&
Online
Registration period:
–
Event language(s)
English
In this seminar, we will present different viewpoints linked to the Tomorrow’s Wardrobe exhibition at the Oulu Art Museum, curated by Artist professor, costume designer Pasi Räbinä. The seminar will create a dialogue between fashion design, fashion research, and fashion futuring. As we live in an era of unsustainability, uncertainty, and unpredictability, we need examples, positive innovation, collaboration, and bold thinking about how to do things differently. How can we be changemakers and statement-makers, offering a look into the future? We need a fashion futuring approach and a new mindset—how we design and manufacture, and how we understand fashion—and this seminar aims to offer that.
Clarice Carvalho Garcia, 2023“Fashion Futuring - a methodological approach that intertwines speculative design, material culture, and foresight as a more expanded, systemic, and values-driven futures-thinking strategy for fashion. Fashion Futuring explores collaboration and cultural values embedded into fictional artefacts as drivers to bridge imagination and reflection for planning transitions towards sustainability.”
Venues
This event is simultaneously organised in Espoo, Oulu and online. You can pick which event you want to attend in the registration form. See program for each event below.
- In Espoo: Aalto University, Marsio building, Otakaari 2, hosted by Professor Kirsi Niinimäki
- In Oulu: Central library Saari, Kaarlenväylä 3, hosted by New Materials Specialist Pirjo Kääriäinen and Artist Professor Pasi Räbinä
- Online: link will be added to the website
Registration by 10.9.
13.15 Welcome words by Professor Kirsi Niinimäki, Aalto University, and the Curator Pasi Räbinä from Oulu
13.20 Talks
- Fashion designer Yuima Nakazato, Japan
- Fashion designer Krista Virtanen
- Senior Director of EU Business Operations Kirsi Roine, Accelerating circularity Org
14.25 Short break
14.45 Talks
- Professor of Practice Ervin Latimer, Aalto University
- Professor Julia Körner, UCLA, USA
- Senior Lecturer Heli Salomaa, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
- Professor Kirsi Niinimäki, Aalto university
16.00 Online event ends
16.00-16.30 Panel discussion in Espoo
Panelists: Ervin Latimer, Krista Virtanen, Kirsi Roine, Yuima Nakazato
13.00 Opening words in Oulu by the Curator, Artist Professor Pasi Räbinä and New Materials Specialist Pirjo Kääriäinen
13.15 Welcome words by Professor Kirsi Niinimäki, Aalto University, and the Curator Pasi Räbinä from Oulu
13.20 Talks
- Fashion designer Yuima Nakazato, Japan
- Fashion designer Krista Virtanen
- Senior Director of EU Business Operations Kirsi Roine, Accelerating circularity Org
14.25 Short break
14.45 Talks
- Professor of Practice Ervin Latimer, Aalto University
- Professor Julia Körner, UCLA, USA
- Senior Lecturer Heli Salomaa, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
- Professor Kirsi Niinimäki, Aalto university
16.00-16.30 Panel discussion in Oulu
Panelists: Pasi Räbinä, Pirjo Kääriäinen, Sofia Ilmonen
Additional activity in Oulu: Visit to the exhibition
You can participate in the exhibition presentation in Oulu Art museum at 10.00 or 17.00
Teacher: If you come with a student group, please contact selina.valiheikki@ouka.fi
Presenters
Fashion designer Yuima Nakazato
The Oulu Art Museum presents a solo exhibition by esteemed Japanese couture fashion designer and photographer Yuima Nakazato. Nakazato’s creations represent the forefront of textile technology — working alongside industry experts and researchers pushing the very boundaries of innovation — interwoven with Japanese traditional craftsmanship.
The exhibition showcases three of Nakazato’s collections, each conceived through his field work across the globe. This GLACIER collection is exhibited at the Oulu Art Museum together with two earlier collections, FADE and INHERIT — each subtly impelling viewers to engage with thought-provoking questions about fragility, climate change and pollution, which demand our collective attention in today’s world.
Julia Koerner
Julia Koerner is an award-winning Austrian designer working at the convergence of architecture, product and fashion design, specialized in 3D-printing. She is founder of JK Design and the JK3D lable and is a faculty member at UCLA. Her recent collaborations include 3D-Printed Haute Couture and Academy Award winning costumes for Hollywood blockbuster Black Panther and Wakanda Forever.
Designer Krista Virtanen
Krista Virtanen is a fashion designer and material researcher working at the intersection of biomaterials, sustainability, and artistic practice. Her work explores the potential of future bio-based materials in fashion, with a focus on regenerative processes and circular design. In addition to her creative practice, she has also worked as a teacher at ChemArts at Aalto University.
Designer Ervin Latimer
Ervin Latimer is an award-winning fashion designer, textile artist and Professor of Practice in Fashion at Aalto University. His creative practice examines gender, Brownness, and social sustainability through fashion. He is the founder of ready-to-wear label Latimmier and also serves in several positions of trust as a board member, jury member, and expert within Finland’s culture and design sectors.
Senior Director Kirsi Roine
Kirsi Roine is the Senior Director of Business Operations at Accelerating Circularity, driving system‑level change towards textile‑to‑textile circularity. With a background in chemistry and deep experience across the fiber and fashion value chain, she brings sharp strategic clarity to the commercial realities industry faces as they move from ambition to action. Kirsi has guided global teams through circular innovation, helping them cut through complexity, align quickly, and accelerate execution with confidence. She is known for her energy, directness, and ability to inspire brands to move toward scalable, high‑impact circular solutions.
Professor Kirsi Niinimäki
Kirsi Niinimäki is a Professor of Fashion Research in Aalto University and a leading scholar in the field of sustainable fashion. She has been involved in several research projects which focused on sustainable transition in the textile and fashion industry through circular- or bio-economy approaches. She leads a research group called Fashion/Textile Futures in Aalto University.
Contact
Kirsi Niinimäki
Professor and the leader of the Fashion/Textiles Futures research group
