The 25th anniversary of Swedish ELLE has given us a perfect reason to look at Swedish fashion. 
As a very hearty birthday present, 15 Swedish designers have all designed and donated their very own look to ELLE, which are now on view and for sale at Bukowskis. All of the proceeds will go to the World Childhood Foundation working for children who are at risk for abuse and exploitation. Among these designers there are hot names like Ann-Sofie Back, V Ave Shoe Repair, Minimarket as well as Carin Wester (Editor’s favourite) and Dagmar.
We in Asia may not be the target for the auction, yet still – it has given us a perfect reason to look at what Swedish fashion scene has to offer. Click the images to read more about these designers.
This costume jewellery is the latest piece by Bea Szenfeld, a brand that has long been favoured by Bjork.
Born in 1972, the Swedish designer and Beckmans College of Design graduate often uses old fabrics or materials from second hand clothing for her renowned vintage collections. Her bold art-fashion gained her an H&M Design Award. 
The skirt and top are from Altewai Samoe’s SS12 Collection. Founded in 2009, ALTEWAISAOME is a fashion brand that offers an eclectic mix of Scandinavian simplicity and international high fashion. Behind the brand are the two Swedish born designers Natalia Altewai and Randa Saome. During the years leading up to starting altewaisaome the founders spent several years studying and working for different fashion houses in Italy. ALTEWAISAOME combines clean lines and monochrome colors with unique details and mixed fabrics in a stylistic and international character.
Delicately crocheted is this dress by Sandra Backlund, one of the many prominent graduates from Beckmans College of Design in Stockholm. Backlund founded the label in 2004 and soon got immense support from some of the most editors and exhibition curators worldwide. Backlund won the Grand Prix of Festival International de Mode & Photographie in Hyeres, France, in 2007.
The tulle and chiffon evening dress is from the Spring 2013 collection of Ida Sjöstedt. Swedish fashion designer Ida Sjöstedt graduated from London’s University of Westminster in the year 2000, and set up her own label in Stockholm the following year. Since then she has become one of Sweden’s most popular designers, combining ready to wear collections with couture dresses for private clients, and with an ever growing following crowd who love her signature style of tasteful kitsch.
A cotton coat by The Local Firm spring-2013. The Local Firm is a Swedish based fashion jeans brand with a distinctive design code that combines high fashion with innovative jeans design. The first collection hit the market in fall 2008. The Local Firm´s core concept is inspired by the European Industrial age and German Bauhaus movement in the beginning of the 20th century. The Bauhaus movement represented a school of thought that promoted functionalism and minimalism through fundamental materials, shapes and colours.
Editor’s favourite – Carin Wester has her secret to make sculptural but incredibly wearable dresses. Created in 2003, the brand quickly became noticed by high profiled stores because of its androgynous shapes and urban, playful expressions. Today, the collection consists of a female line only, with a wide choice of styles and colorways.The collections are sold in 15 countries all over the world. Since the launching of the brand, Carin has been awarded “Newcomer of the year” by Swedish Elle Mafgazine (2004), was nominated “designer of the year” (2005) by Elle magazine, as well as becomming one of the finalists in Ernst & Young´s “Female starlet of the Year 2008″. In August 2009, she won the prestigious prize “Guldknappen” from Swedish magazine Damernas Värld.
A name not to be missed when it comes to Swedish fashion – Ann-Sofie Back, who runs two lines, mainline Ann-Sofie Back Atelje and BACK. Ann-Sofie Back is one of Sweden’s original bad-boys when it comes to breaking the conventions of fashion. Luckily the bad-boy grew up and is now running Sweden’s most interesting fashion house together with business partner Jennie Rosen. 
Rodebjer is a progressive international fashion brand defining effortless elegance for progressive women. Its owner Carin Rdoebjer was born and raised on the Swedish island Gotland where she grew up on a farm far away from fashion. Her deep interest of clothes and sewing were always a natural part of her life because of her mothers love of textile crafts. Rdoebjer now lives in New York.
Rodebjer is a progressive international fashion brand defining effortless elegance for progressive women. Its owner Carin Rdoebjer was born and raised on the Swedish island Gotland where she grew up on a farm far away from fashion. Her deep interest of clothes and sewing were always a natural part of her life because of her mothers love of textile crafts. Rdoebjer now lives in New York.
This is Diana Orving, a Swedish based fashion brand and has been a women’s wear label since the year of 2000. This completely autodidact designer started selling one-off garments at the age of fifteen and the first complete collection was successfully launched in the spring of 2007. Since then the collections have been presented at national and international fashion shows and exhibitions.
Theatrics are made spectacular by V Ave Shoe Repair, Swedish fashion label founded in 2004 by Astrid Olsson and Lee Cotter. In January 2009 the label received the “Designer of the Year” at the Swedish Elle Style Awards. The label carries two lines, a ready to wear line as well as a couture inspired line that goes under the name “By the no”. V AVE SHOE REPAIR finds inspiration in conserving tradition as well as breaking those same norms. Classic tailoring, pattern making and authentic knowledge always stays a priority and a necessity in the collections.
Matched with the Minimarket outfit is a women´s hat by Malinda Damgaard spring-2013. Malinda Damgaard grew up in Gothenburg, Sweden, were she studied millinery at Tillskärarakademin (Academy of Cutting & Tailoring). In 2005 she was presented with the Journeyman´s certificate and the Crafts Council reward medal. In 2006 Malinda moved to London to work for hat designer Philip Treacy were she was mainly working with haute couture hats. While working for Philip, Malinda created hats for some of the biggest names in fashion design, such as Valentino, Alexander McQueen, Ralph Lauren and Donna Karan. Her hats has been worn by top celebrities like Grace Jones, Lady Gaga, Sarah Jessica Parker and Camilla Parker Bowles amongst many others.
Today, Malinda is living back in Sweden and started her own hat label. She continues to focus on handcraft, high quality workmanship and the best materials.
An evening dress with lace by Dagmar prêt à couture collection 2013. The design is unconventional and sophisticated. Dagmar’s garments stand out with their unique combination of high quality, contemporary feeling and sensual design. The collections unite glamour and tailoring with the finest materials. The feeling, the colours and the patterns derive primarily from the Art Deco period of the 20s and 30s. Motion pictures, architecture, art and music inspire their decadent air. Many of the garments are hand-knitted or have hand-made details. Safeguarding craftsmanship and making use of the valued traditions of the past are important elements of our creative process and in developing the collections. The sisters’ principal source of inspiration and muse is their late grandmother, Dagmar. She was a tailor and inspired the sisters to pursue their interest in fabric and design at a young age.
This loop dress is from the Spring 2013 collection of Vietnamese-born and Stockholm-based Nhu Duong. Born in Ho Chi Minh City as daughter of a Kung-Fu Master and a tailoress, Nhu Duong Immigrated to Sweden at the age of 7. After studying fashion in Florence, she graduated in 2008 from BECKMANS COLLEGE OF DESIGN in Stockholm and became the first recipient of the MERCEDES BENZ YOUNG FASHION INDUSTRY AWARDS in Sweden, debuting at Stockholm Fashionweek the following year.Through the progressive use of materials and appropriation of traditional craftsmanship, Nhu Duong creates assemblages that play with both perception and functionality of clothing. Through numerous collaborations and independent art projects, she explores the edges of commercial fashion, creating collections that favor openness and interaction. In 2010, Nhu Duong received a H&M Scholarship as Emerging Talent of the Year at the Swedish ELLE AWARDS. Since 2011 Nhu Duong is Head of Design for NOWHERE – a commercial fashion brand in collaboration with ELIN KLING.
Nhu currently lives and works between Stockholm and Berlin.
A set of a tunic, trousers, a pair of pumps and a handbag by Minimarket 2013.The designers behind the brand call themselves ‘short, a bit curly haired and usually easy-going women who believe everything is possible’. From an independent designer shop in 2006, Minimarket has established itself as an international brand producing clothing, footwear and accessories, and the winner of Newcomer of the Year 2007 and Designer of the Year 2010 by Elle Magazine.
This costume jewellery is the latest piece by Bea Szenfeld, a brand that has long been favoured by Bjork.
Born in 1972, the Swedish designer and Beckmans College of Design graduate often uses old fabrics or materials from second hand clothing for her renowned vintage collections. Her bold art-fashion gained her an H&M Design Award.
The skirt and top are from Altewai Samoe’s SS12 Collection. Founded in 2009, ALTEWAISAOME is a fashion brand that offers an eclectic mix of Scandinavian simplicity and international high fashion. Behind the brand are the two Swedish born designers Natalia Altewai and Randa Saome. During the years leading up to starting altewaisaome the founders spent several years studying and working for different fashion houses in Italy. ALTEWAISAOME combines clean lines and monochrome colors with unique details and mixed fabrics in a stylistic and international character.
Delicately crocheted is this dress by Sandra Backlund, one of the many prominent graduates from Beckmans College of Design in Stockholm. Backlund founded the label in 2004 and soon got immense support from some of the most editors and exhibition curators worldwide. Backlund won the Grand Prix of Festival International de Mode & Photographie in Hyeres, France, in 2007.
The tulle and chiffon evening dress is from the Spring 2013 collection of Ida Sjöstedt. Swedish fashion designer Ida Sjöstedt graduated from London’s University of Westminster in the year 2000, and set up her own label in Stockholm the following year. Since then she has become one of Sweden’s most popular designers, combining ready to wear collections with couture dresses for private clients, and with an ever growing following crowd who love her signature style of tasteful kitsch.
A cotton coat by The Local Firm spring-2013. The Local Firm is a Swedish based fashion jeans brand with a distinctive design code that combines high fashion with innovative jeans design. The first collection hit the market in fall 2008. The Local Firm´s core concept is inspired by the European Industrial age and German Bauhaus movement in the beginning of the 20th century. The Bauhaus movement represented a school of thought that promoted functionalism and minimalism through fundamental materials, shapes and colours.
Editor’s favourite – Carin Wester has her secret to make sculptural but incredibly wearable dresses. Created in 2003, the brand quickly became noticed by high profiled stores because of its androgynous shapes and urban, playful expressions. Today, the collection consists of a female line only, with a wide choice of styles and colorways.The collections are sold in 15 countries all over the world. Since the launching of the brand, Carin has been awarded “Newcomer of the year” by Swedish Elle Mafgazine (2004), was nominated “designer of the year” (2005) by Elle magazine, as well as becomming one of the finalists in Ernst & Young´s “Female starlet of the Year 2008″. In August 2009, she won the prestigious prize “Guldknappen” from Swedish magazine Damernas Värld.
A name not to be missed when it comes to Swedish fashion – Ann-Sofie Back, who runs two lines, mainline Ann-Sofie Back Atelje and BACK. Ann-Sofie Back is one of Sweden’s original bad-boys when it comes to breaking the conventions of fashion. Luckily the bad-boy grew up and is now running Sweden’s most interesting fashion house together with business partner Jennie Rosen.
Rodebjer is a progressive international fashion brand defining effortless elegance for progressive women. Its owner Carin Rdoebjer was born and raised on the Swedish island Gotland where she grew up on a farm far away from fashion. Her deep interest of clothes and sewing were always a natural part of her life because of her mothers love of textile crafts. Rdoebjer now lives in New York.
Rodebjer is a progressive international fashion brand defining effortless elegance for progressive women. Its owner Carin Rdoebjer was born and raised on the Swedish island Gotland where she grew up on a farm far away from fashion. Her deep interest of clothes and sewing were always a natural part of her life because of her mothers love of textile crafts. Rdoebjer now lives in New York.
This is Diana Orving, a Swedish based fashion brand and has been a women’s wear label since the year of 2000. This completely autodidact designer started selling one-off garments at the age of fifteen and the first complete collection was successfully launched in the spring of 2007. Since then the collections have been presented at national and international fashion shows and exhibitions.
Theatrics are made spectacular by V Ave Shoe Repair, Swedish fashion label founded in 2004 by Astrid Olsson and Lee Cotter. In January 2009 the label received the “Designer of the Year” at the Swedish Elle Style Awards. The label carries two lines, a ready to wear line as well as a couture inspired line that goes under the name “By the no”. V AVE SHOE REPAIR finds inspiration in conserving tradition as well as breaking those same norms. Classic tailoring, pattern making and authentic knowledge always stays a priority and a necessity in the collections.
Matched with the Minimarket outfit is a women´s hat by Malinda Damgaard spring-2013. Malinda Damgaard grew up in Gothenburg, Sweden, were she studied millinery at Tillskärarakademin (Academy of Cutting & Tailoring). In 2005 she was presented with the Journeyman´s certificate and the Crafts Council reward medal. In 2006 Malinda moved to London to work for hat designer Philip Treacy were she was mainly working with haute couture hats. While working for Philip, Malinda created hats for some of the biggest names in fashion design, such as Valentino, Alexander McQueen, Ralph Lauren and Donna Karan. Her hats has been worn by top celebrities like Grace Jones, Lady Gaga, Sarah Jessica Parker and Camilla Parker Bowles amongst many others.
Today, Malinda is living back in Sweden and started her own hat label. She continues to focus on handcraft, high quality workmanship and the best materials.
An evening dress with lace by Dagmar prêt à couture collection 2013. The design is unconventional and sophisticated. Dagmar’s garments stand out with their unique combination of high quality, contemporary feeling and sensual design. The collections unite glamour and tailoring with the finest materials. The feeling, the colours and the patterns derive primarily from the Art Deco period of the 20s and 30s. Motion pictures, architecture, art and music inspire their decadent air. Many of the garments are hand-knitted or have hand-made details. Safeguarding craftsmanship and making use of the valued traditions of the past are important elements of our creative process and in developing the collections. The sisters’ principal source of inspiration and muse is their late grandmother, Dagmar. She was a tailor and inspired the sisters to pursue their interest in fabric and design at a young age.
This loop dress is from the Spring 2013 collection of Vietnamese-born and Stockholm-based Nhu Duong. Born in Ho Chi Minh City as daughter of a Kung-Fu Master and a tailoress, Nhu Duong Immigrated to Sweden at the age of 7. After studying fashion in Florence, she graduated in 2008 from BECKMANS COLLEGE OF DESIGN in Stockholm and became the first recipient of the MERCEDES BENZ YOUNG FASHION INDUSTRY AWARDS in Sweden, debuting at Stockholm Fashionweek the following year.Through the progressive use of materials and appropriation of traditional craftsmanship, Nhu Duong creates assemblages that play with both perception and functionality of clothing. Through numerous collaborations and independent art projects, she explores the edges of commercial fashion, creating collections that favor openness and interaction. In 2010, Nhu Duong received a H&M Scholarship as Emerging Talent of the Year at the Swedish ELLE AWARDS. Since 2011 Nhu Duong is Head of Design for NOWHERE – a commercial fashion brand in collaboration with ELIN KLING.
Nhu currently lives and works between Stockholm and Berlin.
A set of a tunic, trousers, a pair of pumps and a handbag by Minimarket 2013.The designers behind the brand call themselves ‘short, a bit curly haired and usually easy-going women who believe everything is possible’. From an independent designer shop in 2006, Minimarket has established itself as an international brand producing clothing, footwear and accessories, and the winner of Newcomer of the Year 2007 and Designer of the Year 2010 by Elle Magazine.
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