The aim of Estonian Fashion Festival is to support the professional development of designers and help Estonian fashion reach the international stage. In addition to showcasing their creations on the festival’s runways, designers have the opportunity to compete for awards that offer international visibility, mentorship, new collaboration opportunities, and professional growth. In 2026, the festival will present three international awards as well as several special awards from its partners.
In 2026, Estonian Fashion Festival will present three international awards that offer designers international visibility, professional development, and the opportunity to showcase their work beyond Estonia.
In collaboration with Goethe-Institut Tallinn and the CCI Contact Desk, Estonian Fashion Festival is recognising, for the third consecutive year, a designer who stands out through conscious sustainable choices, an innovative approach, and responsible fashion creation.
The aim of the award is to highlight creative professionals whose work contributes to making the fashion industry more sustainable and who serve as role models for the field. The winner will travel to Berlin Fashion Week in July 2026, where, in addition to attending one of the world's leading fashion events, they will receive personal mentorship from designer Natascha von Hirschhausen.
Natascha von Hirschhausen is an internationally recognised German designer whose work combines fashion, design, and research. At the core of her practice lies the question of how garments can be created without generating unnecessary waste. Through innovative cutting techniques, she has succeeded in reducing production waste from the industry average of around 20 percent to less than one percent, transforming sustainability from a limitation into a source of creativity.
Her work has been honoured with Germany’s prestigious Bundespreis Ecodesign, exhibited at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Berlin, and she has served as a visiting lecturer at Parsons – The New School in New York. Since 2024, she has been Professor of Fashion Management at mdh Berlin.
The award recipient will be selected by an international jury of industry professionals, including Reet Aus, Piret Puppart, Cärol Ott, Karl Joonas Alamaa, and Natascha von Hirschhausen. The winner will be announced on 12 June at the conclusion of the Antonius Fashion Show at the Estonian National Museum.
in collaboration with Fashion in Helsinki
In collaboration with the Fashion in Helsinki team, this award recognises a designer whose work stands out through a distinctive creative vision, professional execution, and international potential. The award provides an opportunity to present their work within the Fashion in Helsinki programme in May 2027 and to build valuable connections within the Nordic fashion industry.
in collaboration with Sustainable Fashion Week Vilnius
In collaboration with the Sustainable Fashion Week Vilnius team, this award recognises a designer whose work embodies the values of contemporary and responsible fashion. The award offers an opportunity to participate in the Sustainable Fashion Week Vilnius programme and showcase their work to an international audience on one of the Baltic region’s leading platforms for sustainable fashion.
in collaboration with Pandora
As part of the collaboration between Estonian Fashion Festival and Pandora, the Danish jewellery brand—ranked among the world’s 100 most sustainable companies—will recognise five designers for their creativity, distinctive vision, and contribution to shaping a more sustainable future for fashion. The selected designers will receive a special gift from Pandora in recognition of their work and achievements.
In addition to the international awards, Estonian Fashion Festival presents a range of special partner awards during its fashion shows, supporting designers’ professional development, visibility, and entrepreneurial growth.
OmaMood designers are recognised by organisations and companies that value Estonian craftsmanship, cultural heritage, and local creative talent.
Fashion-Performance-Dance brings together fashion, movement, and contemporary artistic expression. The programme’s award partners actively support bold ideas and distinctive creative voices.
The Antonius Fashion Show showcases the leading names in contemporary Estonian fashion design. Its special awards recognise professional excellence, innovation, and a strong creative signature.