SoHo district, a prominent trendsetter in New York City, introduces a slice of Estonian aesthetics.
In the heart of New York City last week, the much-anticipated NYCxDESIGN week commenced with a vibrant party and a captivating catwalk show. The Estonian pavilion, titled UPMADE IN ESTONIA, and a pop-up store by the Estonian Design House were officially inaugurated in SoHo.
For the duration of the week, visitors can immerse themselves in the creations of 30 Estonian designers at the newly established gallery, The Canvas in SoHo. This year, the Estonian Design House is participating in the festival for the second consecutive time, offering an exceptional platform to showcase Estonia's narrative of sustainable design success.
The exhibition, UPMADE IN ESTONIA, features a miniature edition of the international touring exhibition, demonstrating the art of breathing new life into old objects. The exhibition's showpieces include Angela Orgusaare's jewelry crafted from shattered auto glass, Urmas Luüs' enamel pot-based brooches, Laura Saks' earrings fashioned from eggshells, Sandra Luksi's denim lace clothing, WOH's textile waste-based clothes hangers, and Raili Keivi's concrete and porcelain tableware. These pieces epitomize the ingenuity and creativity of Estonian designers.
The grand opening ceremony of the showroom was accompanied by Latin American rhythms, curated by local photographer Mauricio Zelaya and DJ Tiburon. Surya Vanka, president of the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), was present, and a collaborative agreement between the two nations was signed during the event. Furthermore, over the weekend, the Scandinavian House in New York hosted the "Baltic Design Exhibition," which celebrated its 25th anniversary in collaboration with Lithuanian designers. Guests were invited to partake in textile workshops led by Reet Aus and leatherwork sessions with Eva-Karlotta Tatar.
Madli-Liis Parts, the Estonian Republic's cultural attaché in the USA, attended the event, her continued support contributing to design diplomacy extending beyond the festival. Event organizer Ilona Gurjanova highlighted the benefit derived by designers from foreign market feedback and collaboration opportunities. The NYCxDESIGN festival offers Estonian designers a valuable platform to exhibit their design philosophy and foster international relations.
Reet Aus, a researcher and designer at EKA, underscored the significance of the newly forged ties with New York universities such as Parsons, Pace, and NYU. These collaborations will continue with research partnerships and student invitations to Estonia during the fall at the Tallinn Design Festival, Disainiöö.
Participating designers include Reet Aus, Xenia Joost, Kirill Safonov, Stella Soomlais, Cärol Ott, Oksana Tandit, Karlotta, Sandra Luks, HYTI, Franz Raver, No(N)s, Luxe Hapsal, Helena Tikunova, Alpaka Design, Nordhale, TUUB, Tie & Apron, and Sokisahtel.
Although the Enrichment Data mentions the Estonian Design House's participation in NYCxDESIGN in 2025, further details about the 2022 exhibition could not be found. It may be advisable to consult past event reports or official announcements for more specific information about the 2022 exhibition.
- Visitors to the NYCxDESIGN week can explore a gallery dedicated to Estonian design, The Canvas in SoHo, where they will find a variety of home-and-garden and lifestyle items, such as Laura Saks' earrings fashioned from eggshells and Sandra Luksi's denim lace clothing.
- During the grand opening of the Estonian Design House pop-up shop, Latin American rhythms filled the air, while designers like Reet Aus and Xenia Joost showcased their lifestyle and home-and-garden products, such as textile waste-based clothes hangers and concrete and porcelain tableware.
