Âé¶¹´«Ã½

News

Member of Parliament Veronika Honkasalo’s independence day dress reflects feminism and ecological values

Aalto University FaCT MA student Heidi Karjalainen has designed MP Veronika Honkasalo’s (Left Alliance) dress for the President’s Independence Day Reception 2019.
Veronika Honkasalon puku
Photo: Heidi Karjalainen

The design is inspired by zero waste principles, focusing on waste prevention every step of the design process. The dress is of classic style, is easily modified and thus should have a long life in good use.  

The concept combines feminism and ecological values. It can even be seen as a statement for feminist politics.

"What one wears is always a message and tells something about the person herself.  The colour reflects Honkasalo’s feminism and left-wing ideology. Also, equality in the fashion world is still quite far away, for example there are very few women at the top of the greatest fashion houses in the world.  The fashion world is definitely in need of feminist shaking up", says Karjalainen.

Veronika Honkasalo is getting ready for her first President’s Independence Day Reception, and she wants to point out the value of Finnish design.  

"I’m proud to be able to wear a dress designed by a young, Finnish talent. I want to emphasize the work of fashion designers in Finland. Fashion and craftmanship are art forms that are endangered in an age of cheap mass production", Honkasalo says.

Veronika Honkasalo’s dress fabric is fuchsia coloured silk satin, and the design is based on Heidi Karjalainen’s graduate collection. The project has been coordinated by Adjunct Professor of Fashion Research at Aalto University Annamari Vänskä.

For more information:

Veronika Honkasalo, 040 555 9409, veronika.honkasalo@eduskunta.fi
Heidi Karjalalainen, 040 413 8876, heidi.c.karjalainen@aalto.fi

  • Updated:
  • Published:
Share
URL copied!

Read more news

Primary pupils sit spaced at wooden desks in a bright classroom, facing the teacher at the front.
Cooperation, Research & Art Published:

The Educational Partnership project is moving forward in Espoo – cooperation between guardians and schools is being developed through participatory methods

The two-year project explores and develops cooperation between guardians and schools using service design methods.
Kolme ihmistä katsoo jotain kannettavan tietokoneen näytöltä hymyillen.
Cooperation, Studies, University Published:

Enhance your skills for free with FITech’s summer courses

In summer 2026, FITech's course offering includes plenty of courses related to sustainability, cybersecurity, and future technologies. The application period for summer courses starts on 14 April.
kestävällä tiellä
Campus, Cooperation, University Published:

The theme month promotes sustainable mobility

In May, there will be a variety of events and campaigns in Otaniemi to remind people about making sustainable choices in mobility.
Studies Published:

Tongji University in Shanghai invites Aalto University students to an international summer school in August 2026!

European students in design, engineering, architecture and business are invited to join a cross-cultural learning experience bringing European and Chinese students together at Tongji University, one of China’s leading universities in Shanghai.