Oh Stockholm, how we love thee. As I write this I’m sitting in the Stockholm City Library, looking around at the walls of books and the many beautiful faces of this city. There’s a lot of them.
We’re in Stockholm for Fashion Week, 24th – 26th August, and the program is a great mix of beloved Swedish brands and emerging designers.
If you’re looking to update your Scandi style or just want a primer on what’s happening in Stockholm, here are the names to know:
Established Brands
Filippa K
An absolute must-know to have a sense of what Swedish, and specifically Stockholm, fashion is all about. This is clean lines and impeccable tailoring. It’s deep colors with a monochrome base. It’s practical and beautiful; workwear that turns to nightwear that can be used as daywear. Filippa K has both a Man and Woman line, and both are true to this vision.
Photo credit: Kristian Löveborg
Ida Sjöstedt
If you’re looking for the Sweden in which everyone wears flower crowns year round, London-educated Swedish designer Ida Sjöstedt is for you. With romantic dresses and hints of sparkle, Sjöstedt has remained a major fixture in Swedish fashion since she launched her line in 2000. Her romanticism isn’t serious, though; there’s a playfulness in the clothes as well, exemplified through edgy prints and oversize silhouettes.
BACK
As opposed to the formality of Filippa K, BACK is all about cheeky branding and funky cuts. here’s a lot of asymmetrical draping, flashes of unexpected color and stylish boundary-pushing. Head designer Ann Sofie Back is creating daywear that’s comfortable and fashion-forward.
Photo credit: Kristian Löveborg
Up & Coming Brands
ATP Atelier
ATP stands for “All Tomorrow’s Parties,” which was reason enough for us to take a closer look at this shoe brand. Handcrafted and sourced in Italy, these shoes and handbags are minimalist works of art. If you’re looking for a perfect capsule collection of accessories, this is a great place to start.
By the No.
This is only By the No.’s (a.k.a. By the Number) second season, but the brand has already developed a strong and interesting visual world. The key idea behind this brand is collaborative creativity, which is why internationally renowned choreographer Kenneth Kvarnström to co-create the SS16 collection.
Photo credit: Kristian Löveborg
STAND
Generations of family in the leather business made Nellie Kamras the right person to launch this brand in 2014. These leather jackets and separates are simple and well-made, with modern and textural takes on classic silhouettes.
Photo credit: Philip Messmann
See the full program for Stockholm Berns Fashion Week.
Do you have a favourite Swedish designer at Fashion Week? Let us know in the comments.