Estonian Design House presents a cross-section of contemporary Baltic fashion through a live editorial combining runway presentation, photography and sustainable design.

Estonian fashion took the international stage in Toronto this August, where Estonian Design House presented a selection of designers reflecting the country’s distinctive approach to circular design, craftsmanship and contemporary Baltic aesthetics.

photo: Mauricio Zelaya

photo: Mauricio Zelaya

photo: Mauricio Zelaya

The presentation was part of UPMADE IN.EE, an international platform dedicated to introducing Estonian circular and sustainable design to audiences abroad. Developed by Estonian Design House in collaboration with the Estonian Association of Designers and local partners, the Toronto event took the form of Circular Threads, a live fashion presentation that combined a runway-style display with editorial photography.

photo: Mauricio Zelaya

photo: Mauricio Zelaya

photo: Mauricio Zelaya

Rather than following the conventional format of a fashion show, the event unfolded as a live editorial shoot. Models moved through the space while photographer Mauricio Zelaya photographed the collections in real time. The format allowed visitors to experience both the presentation of the garments and the process through which the final editorial images were created.

photo: Mauricio Zelaya

photo: Mauricio Zelaya

The participating designers included CAROLXOTT, Tijn Nelemans, Oksana Tandit, Reet Aus, Studio Luks, Karlotta Design, Studio Annreal, Lentsius, Liina Viira, Eve Hanson Design, Anneli Tammik Jewellery, Piret Loog, Miurio, Kirill Safonov and Nons Barefoot. Together, their work offered a broad view of Estonia’s contemporary fashion landscape, spanning upcycled and reconstructed garments, experimental silhouettes, knitwear, silk, jewellery, leather accessories and footwear.

photo: Mauricio Zelaya

photo: Mauricio Zelaya

A common thread across the presentation was an understanding of sustainability as an integral part of the design process rather than a separate aesthetic or market trend. Reuse, material innovation, craftsmanship, durability and responsible production are increasingly embedded in the practices represented by Estonian Design House.

photo: Mauricio Zelaya

The emphasis on circularity also reflects the broader objectives of UPMADE IN.EE, which has previously brought Estonian design to New York, Singapore and Caen, France. Toronto marks the latest stop in the platform’s international expansion, creating opportunities for Estonian designers to engage with new markets and audiences beyond their relatively small domestic scene.

photo: Mauricio Zelaya

Estonian Design House plays a central role in this international outreach. The organisation promotes contemporary Estonian design across fashion, accessories, jewellery, product design and lifestyle, with an emphasis on strong authorship and quality alongside more sustainable approaches to production. Its international projects function not only as showcases but also as connections between Estonian designers and overseas media, creative professionals, markets and audiences.

photo: Mauricio Zelaya

In Toronto, that role extended into cultural exchange. The project was developed in collaboration with KESKUS International Estonian Centre, linking the presentation to the wider cultural relationship between Estonia and Canada and positioning design as a contemporary form of cultural diplomacy.

Photography became an important part of that exchange. Zelaya’s images, produced during the Toronto presentation, will continue the project beyond the event itself. The resulting photographs are scheduled to be presented in Tallinn during Tallinn Design Festival / Disainiöö 2026, bringing the Toronto project back to Estonia and establishing a visual dialogue between the two cities.

The circulation between international destinations and Estonia is central to Estonian Design House’s approach: expanding opportunities for local designers while retaining the individuality, material awareness and creative independence associated with the country’s design culture.

Seen in this context, the Toronto presentation was more than a showcase of fashion. It offered a snapshot of an evolving design ecosystem in which circularity, experimentation and individual authorship intersect—and through which Estonia is building a more visible presence on the international design stage.