Graduates of Aalto University’s Fashion bachelor’s and master’s programmes have found themselves working for some of fashion’s best brands – Lanvin, Calvin Klein, Balenciaga, Alexander Wang and Saint Laurent. Earlier this month, the Helsinki-based fashion school’s freshest crop presented their graduate collections in a show that saw spaghetti-like veils, sparkly ruffles and spooky scarecrows. 

Highlights included Tiia Siren’s rock ‘n’ roll fusion of florals and patent leather, Jussi-Pekka Ojala and Taneli Ukura’s monastic, beautifully cut shirting and Anna Isoniemi and Janette Friis innovative manipulations of denim. Other standouts were Emilia Kuurila’s glam rock leather suiting and Maija Mero’s ruffle-adorned party dresses. And then there was Hanne Jurmu and Anton Vartiainen’s finale which saw models stumble down the runway in platformed clogs and traveller’s hats, muttering somewhat psychotically to themselves all the while.

That week, the Finnish capital also played host to another runway show, which was staged on an IRL runway at Helsinki airport. Punnily dubbed Match Made in HEL, the show saw seven brands take to the catwalk – Anders Haal, John Lawrence Sullivan by Arashi Yanagawa, Bora Aksu, Hyein Seo, Heikki Salonen, Henrik Vibskov and Shangguan Zhe. Styled and cast by Anna Pesonen (who dressed Anonhi for her Dazed cover story), the event brought together designers who, though different, share an evident passion for their craft.

Head to the gallery above to check out photos from Aalto University’s grad show and the gallery below for photos from the Match Made in HEL show.