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The design is inspired by zero waste principles, focusing on waste prevention every step of the design process. The dress is of classic style, is easily modified and thus should have a long life in good use.  

The concept combines feminism and ecological values. It can even be seen as a statement for feminist politics.

"What one wears is always a message and tells something about the person herself.  The colour reflects Honkasalo’s feminism and left-wing ideology. Also, equality in the fashion world is still quite far away, for example there are very few women at the top of the greatest fashion houses in the world.  The fashion world is definitely in need of feminist shaking up", says Karjalainen.

Veronika Honkasalo is getting ready for her first President’s Independence Day Reception, and she wants to point out the value of Finnish design.  

"I’m proud to be able to wear a dress designed by a young, Finnish talent. I want to emphasize the work of fashion designers in Finland. Fashion and craftmanship are art forms that are endangered in an age of cheap mass production", Honkasalo says.

Veronika Honkasalo’s dress fabric is fuchsia coloured silk satin, and the design is based on Heidi Karjalainen’s graduate collection. The project has been coordinated by Adjunct Professor of Fashion Research at Aalto University Annamari Vänskä.

For more information:

Veronika Honkasalo, 040 555 9409, veronika.honkasalo@eduskunta.fi
Heidi Karjalalainen, 040 413 8876, heidi.c.karjalainen@aalto.fi