Camilla Naukkarinen is the Young Designer of the Year
In her work, Camilla Naukkarinen combines historical craft techniques with a striking design language to create a whole that challenges the viewer to look at familiar things from a new perspective.
“I’m interested in things you don’t expect. It could be a new technique, a surprising material, or a detail that makes you look at something familiar in a new way”, Naukkarinen explains.
The competition jury was impressed by the well-thought-out and surprising idea. The Finnish Fair Foundation awarded Naukkarinen a 5,000 euro scholarship.
The surface of the garment designed by Naukkarinen is made up of hand-woven hair flowers crafted from hair fibers and metal wire. Each flower is sewn by hand onto the base fabric.
“Many things can be surprising, so when I pondered the theme, I started with humor and wondered what wouldn’t be surprising in fashion. Flowers came to mind – they’re a timeless and frequently recurring source of inspiration in designers’ collections. The idea quickly turned to whether they could be something unexpected, like flowers of hair. While researching different crafting techniques, I came across a Victorian-era tradition in which flowers were made from the hair of loved ones and assembled into memorial wreaths”, Naukkarinen explains.
The starting points for the competition entry are also linked to Naukkarinen’s own background. Through her mother and grandmother, who worked as hairdressers, hair-related themes have been a part of her life since childhood, and she has also explored the subject in her master’s studies.
The theme of this year’s Young Designer of the Year 2026 competition was “What a surprise.” The competition, aimed at fashion design students, was held for the 32nd time.
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