Welcome to the opening event of Threads of Connection!

Welcome to the opening event of Threads of Connection at the Nordic House on May 8th!

Fashion and textile design take over the Nordic House during DesignMarch, transforming it into a vibrant venue for fashion and conversation. The theme of DesignMarch 2026 is Connections: “How do we connect through fashion, traditions, customs, and craftsmanship?”

Threads of Connection aims to create meaningful conversations about fashion and textile design, culture, and society, while also strengthening the value of the works on display. Emphasis is placed on local talent, education, and fostering an international perspective rooted in Icelandic craftsmanship and tradition.

Opening Program, May 8th

17:00 – Doors open and the Kvæðakórinn choir performs a few songs out on the pier
17:10 – Short speeches:
• Helga Ólafsdóttir, Director of DesignMarch
• Anna Clausen, Artistic Director of Threads of Connection
17:20 – Festive toast
17:20–17:40 – Suskin fashion performance
20:00 – Doors close

Plantan Bistro will offer drink specials at the bar and delicious food for purchase.

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 a calming tea ceremony on Friday the 08th of May from kl. 09:00-09:30 in Plantan Bistro. The event is open for all guests, inviting them to pause and enjoy Japanese teas such as sencha, houjicha, oolong, and matcha. In collaboration with Plantan, Testund will also co-host a dinner on Wednesday the 6th of May, pairing tea with the 5-course dinner. The dinner needs to be pre-booked and will be announced on Plantan’s Facebook and Dineout.

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 – Fashion Performance

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 – Extinction Event

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 Event challenges assumptions about progress, survival, and the interconnectedness of all species.

Guided tours: Friday 8th of May 17 – 20

Workshop: Sunday 10th of May 12-17

Creative director: Anna Clausen

More information about the designers, events and map can be found here

Accessibilty information for the Nordic House is found here.