On June 12, Tartu will kick off the Estonian Fashion Festival — one of the most significant events for emerging designers. The festival will open with the vibrant Mood-Performance-Tants fashion show, organized by Pallas University of Applied Sciences, held in a unique setting: the Samelin footwear factory. Each year, the organizers surprise attendees with fresh ideas and unconventional venues, and 2025 will be no exception.
Pallas University of Applied Sciences is a distinctive institution specializing in three main areas: design, conservation/restoration, and the arts. Students can pursue applied arts education in eight fields: photography, conservation and restoration, painting, media and advertisement design, interior product design, leather product design and technology, sculpture and textile.
At the Mood-Performance-Tants show, students from Pallas University of Applied Sciences will present their final collections, which will be evaluated by a professional jury. The designers showcasing their work include:
Brigitte Mihkelson
Hanna-Maria Org
Helen Vetik
India Kiisler
Janika Autor
Jana Hanikova
Kristiin Kuuslap
Lisette Sivard ja Karl Joonas Alamaa
Mari Lemet
Marite Rikkas
Marleen Afanasjev
Merilin Kask
Regita Lepla
The show will take place in the production workshop of the Samelin factory, an area typically accessible only to employees. Samelin, one of Estonia’s oldest footwear manufacturers, has been operating since 1945. The factory produces a variety of footwear, from work and hiking boots to everyday shoes, with the majority of its output fulfilling orders for work footwear from Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
Surrounded by factory equipment and machinery, models will present the collections in an unconventional performance format. “What could be more evocative than bringing a fashion show into an environment where an active garment industry still operates today? As a director, the challenge lies in transforming this unique and authentic space into one that supports and enhances the fashion show,” shared Jaanus Tepomees, the director of Mood-Performance-Tants.
Tickets for the Estonian Fashion Festival are available on the Fienta platform. Join Mood-Performance-Tants and witness the birth of new fashion ideas in the heart of an industrial setting!
