The designer and winner of last year’s sustainability award at the Festival de Mode de Hyères focuses on a sustainable approach to fashion. Her designs display and celebrate different forms of femininity. 

Sofia Ilmonen created a unique form of tailoring: Her designs are created by attaching squared modules to each other. Surprisingly, this technique offers endless variations and possibilities to transform a garment. Today she opened the MBFW AW 2022. 

This year, the Finnish designer was inspired by an urgent feeling of hope, which her collection embodies in every way. It sparks optimism and playfulness to its fullest—a warmly welcomed escape from the daily news these past weeks and months. 

Romantic dresses have become the signature look for Sofia Ilmonen. This season she started to play with colours: Next to classic white, silver, and black options, versions of her square modules are presented in petrol, purple, a dusky pink, and yellow. Her new collection is made from the same squares as last season’s designs, arranging them in new ways. She is proving how versatile her unique and sustainable approach to design is. 

She converted her squared modules into a light, flowy version this season, opting for more transparency. The collection’s highlight was the monochrome yellow look with voluminous sleeves and a body-hugging waist. The transparent, straight skirt gave the top enough room to shine. Some of the dresses shapes from last season have received an upgrade by adding volants or asymmetrical skirts. A dramatic total black look came with a train and cutouts around the waist.

The looks were completed by colour matching mules or sandals, monochrome handbags, and golden accessories appearing like tiny sunglasses with a golden frame missing its glasses. A welcoming contrast to the romantic look of the dresses, shoes, and handbags. Sofia Ilmonen opted for a bright eye shadow and nail polish matching the dresses’ colour for the make-up.

Once again, the Finnish designer proved how versatile and refreshing sustainable fashion can look. Her dresses translated the hope that inspired her and was well received.

For more updates from this seasons MBFW Berlin follow mbfw.berlin on Instagram.

Words by Lea Egerer