Sofia Ilmonen (Q9176)

Sofia Ilmonen opened Berlin Fashion Week. The winner of the Mercedes-Benz Sustainability Prize at the Festival d’Hyères, Ilmonen was already known to many visitors for her recognizable designs, which consist of connected, angular fabric modules that can be seamlessly fitted to a wide variety of body shapes and silhouettes. Hers is a very modern and inclusive approach that is increasingly finding a permanent place in the conception of collections by other designers.But it wasn’t just the endless possibilities of shape-shifting, a technique the designer developed during her master’s studies at Aalto University, that made this collection a promising start of the week. After a minute of silence for the victims of the ongoing Ukraine war, look after look unfolded a very colorful vision, which stood even more for freedom than the collection with which she so impressed in Hyères. Long sleeves and high collars gave way to vibrant pieces that exuded genuine optimism. A range of dresses, sometimes with cutouts, sometimes floor-length, have potential to become real darlings in closets around the world.