Threads of Connection
Fashion design takes over the Nordic House during DesignMarch, transforming the venue into a vibrant platform for fashion and conversation.
The theme of DesignMarch festival 2026 is Connections. “How do we connect through fashion, tradition, rituals and craftsmanship?”
Open to all, the Nordic House will host a curated series of showrooms featuring both emerging and established designers, alongside panel talks, presentations, a dance performance, a textile installation, photography exhibition, a revisiting of the Icelandic fashion archive, a pop-up store, workshops, and tea ceremonies, all presented within a calm Nordic setting.
Threads of Connection, aims to foster meaningful conversations about fashion, culture and community, while enhancing the value of showcased design. The initiative emphasises local talent, education and promotes a global perspective rooted in Icelandic craftsmanship and tradition.
The opening will take place on Friday, May 8, from 17:00–20:00.
Featured Designers & Projects:
ALPHA Seminar: Cultural Heritage, Craft and Fashion
In collaboration with ALPHA, the Nordic House hosts a half‑day seminar exploring how emerging designers engage with cultural heritage, and how craft and dress connect past and present. The event concludes with an open knitting workshop led by teachers and students from the Fashion Design Department at the Iceland University of the Arts.
Participants: Maibritt Marjunardóttir, Ása Bríet Brattaberg, Arnar Már Jónsson and Ane Lynge‑Jorlén.
Seminar: Friday 8th of May 09:30-11:00
Workshop: Friday 8th of May 11:30-13:00
Ása Bríet Brattaberg – The Situation
Ása Bríet’s collection tells a story of love, loss, and preservation. Inspired by the relationship between an Icelandic woman and a U.S. soldier, the garments reflect themes of deconstruction and repair. Military‑inspired pieces unravel and are reassembled through delicate knitwear techniques, echoing the emotional process of mending what remains when love becomes a memory.
Craft Club Reykjavík – Workshop with Juha Vehmaanperä
Knitwear artist Juha Vehmaanperä brings Craft Club HEL to the Nordic House for a hands‑on workshop exploring wave patterns and tuck‑stitch techniques. Their practice centers on slow fashion, queer theory, and meticulous craftsmanship.
Internationally recognized and celebrated with multiple awards, Juha shares their passion for knitting and material experimentation with participants of all skill levels.
Workshop: Saturday 9th of May 11-14
Guðjón Andri Þorvarðarson – Structure Interactions
Guðjón Andri showcases machine‑knitted wall hangings that explore the interplay of colour, structure, and material. Using advanced knitting techniques, the works shift in appearance depending on perspective, revealing the depth and complexity of textile construction. His practice bridges traditional craft and cutting‑edge 3D knitting technologies.
Icelandic Fashion Council – Remember Me?
The Icelandic Fashion Council presents Remember Me?, an exhibition in the Vault of the Nordic House, featuring photographs, videos, clippings, and garments from 2000–2015. The archive‑in‑progress invites visitors to revisit moments, trends, and memories that shaped Icelandic fashion at the turn of the century, offering a quiet space for reflection on how style, culture, and personal history intertwine.
Kristín Ferrell – Woven in Stone
Kristín Ferrell presents a collection where garment construction and woven textiles develop in tandem. Her work explores how memory becomes embedded in material, resulting in garments where structure and fabric are inseparable. Through weaving and draping, she investigates the intimate dialogue between textile and form.
MAGNEA – WINTER/SUMMER, SPRING/FALL
Magnea Einarsdóttir introduces her pre‑spring 2027 collection, expanding her signature approach to contemporary knitwear. Inspired by the fluidity of Icelandic seasons, the collection blends innovative textiles, unexpected material combinations, and local wool traditions. MAGNEA continues to explore contrast, balance, and the evolving possibilities of knitwear.
Sigmundur Páll Freysteinsson – Tea ceremony
Testund will host calming tea ceremonies in Plantan Bistro, where guests can pause and enjoy Japanese teas such as sencha, houjicha, oolong, and matcha. Founded by designer Sigmundur Páll Freysteinsson, Testund focuses on quality, origin, and the ritual of tea, drawing inspiration from Sigmundur’s time living and studying in Kyoto. For DesignMarch, he also presents textile works that shape the atmosphere around the tea ceremony, blending craft, contemplation, and material sensitivity.
Sóley Jóhannsdóttir – Daydreaming
Icelandic designer Sóley Jóhannsdóttir presents Daydreaming, a continuation of her acclaimed debut Sleepwalker. Known for her dreamlike yet structured visual language, she reveals her new collection alongside an open‑studio process and exhibition at the Nordic House. Produced in collaboration with Riccitelli Milano, the work reflects her growing international presence and her commitment to craftsmanship rooted in both Icelandic and global contexts.
Suskin presents a performance where dance and design meet. Two dancers move through life’s stages with Suskin leather bags as constant companions; objects that gather memories, age with the body, and become extensions of self. The work reflects Suskin’s philosophy of creating timeless pieces that evolve alongside their owners. For Design March, Suskin will have a pop-up store during the Nordic House opening hours.
Fashion Performance: Friday 8th of May 17:20-17:40
Theo Ike invites visitors on a speculative journey through time, examining humanity’s place in the fossil record and our relationship to the planet’s deep history. Through garments, interactive excavation sites, and a participatory time capsule, Extinction Eventchallenges assumptions about progress, survival, and the interconnectedness of all species.
Workshop: Saturday 9th of May 11-15 & Saturday 10th of May 11-16
Creative director: Anna Clausen
Accessibility information can be found by clicking here.
