Talent News: ALPHA Awards

Congratulations to NOOF talent Ruusa Vuori! She is the winner of this year's ALPHA Award and was also awarded the Exhibition Prize! Among the nominees was another NOOF talent: Kelly Konings.

A look by Ruusa on the catwalk

‘Managing to translate life’s most complex concepts and emotions into minimal and sensitive designs is one of the hardest things for a designer to do and Ruusa achieved just that. Her body-centric practice uses fashion-making as a tool for artistic exploration and this methodology lead to original and experimental, yet subtle garments that feel grandiose, confessing their strong and multi-layered foundations’, the jury stated.

As a part of her price package, Ruusa received 50.000 DKK ( close to 7.000 Euro) along with a study trip to UEDA College of Fashion in Osaka and a unique trophy created by artist Karl Monies.

Her collection - of which two looks were on show during the 2023 NOOF exhibition Regeneration - is inspired by her background in dance. The collection explores the perception of self and personal space, where garments can both liberate and constrict. The result is a line of sculpture-like and gravity-defying garments; one forcing the model to walk backwards, two fastening the arms to the torso, another extending at the hip, freeing the legs and taking up the width of the runway - products of her sensory relationship with movement and materials.

ALPHA Award (formerly Designers’ Nest) is a competition for BA and MA graduates from invited Nordic design schools. Each year 10 finalists are selected to present their graduate work at the joint ALPHA Award show at Copenhagen Fashion Week. Awarded designers receive mentorships, internships, study trips and support to produce a commercial collection.