Helsinki Design Week 2026: a look back on Crafted Connections
From intimate tea ceremonies at the Stockmann window to fashion creations at the French Institute, here’s a glimpse on what Crafted Connections brought us!
First things first – the Stockmann takeover
The residency kicked off with a bang as our Finnish and French designers took over the Stockmann display window on Aleksanterinkatu, Helsinki. Overnight, the space was transformed into an imaginary artist’s studio, bringing together textile work, marquetry, ceramics and basketry before the eyes of around 9,000 daily pedestrians. The exhibition was unveiled to the public on August 27, welcoming around 80 guests, from Helsinki’s art circles to everyday design enthusiasts.
Once the exhibition opened, one of the programme’s artists, Merileena Reunanen, took the idea of crafting connections one step further by hosting one-to-one tea ceremonies inside the exhibition space. The intimate encounters, booked out almost immediately, offered a rare moment to slow down, connect with new people and step away from the everyday hustle.
French and Finnish Fashion from the Hyères Festival
Alongside the interior design pieces, the Crafted Connections exhibition featured five fashion pieces by French and Finnish designers, all finalists of the internationally renowned Hyères Festival in France. Like the interior design objects, these pieces showcase the high level of craftsmanship found among the two countries’ emerging generations of designers.
In connection with these pieces, the French Institute hosted a discussion, “Crafted Connections in Fashion Design,” featuring Magalie Guérin, Deputy Director of Villa Noailles and Artistic Director of the Hyères Festival; Julia Valle Noronha, Professor of Fashion Design at Aalto University; and two competition finalists, Sini Saavala and Clara Daguin. Together, they explored the links between craftsmanship, fashion and design, as well as their role in major international fashion competitions.
Lasting Franco-Finnish design collaborations
For the residency artists, this project was only the beginning of potential long-term collaborations.
Beyond this one-to-one design collaboration, French programme artist Cécile Gray also had the opportunity to exchange ideas with Marimekko’s Creative Director Laura Väinölä during the Design Diplomacy event at the French Embassy, gaining valuable insight into Finland’s design scene.
Crafted Connections is a design residency programme created by the French Institute of Finland. The programme seeks to strengthen creative collaboration in the design field between the two countries. The programme is produced in collaboration with Manufactures Nationales – Sèvres & Mobilier National.
