The Cool Drop: Do the Nordics Do It Better?
If you aren't obsessed with at least one Nordic-based brand, I fear you are missing out.
The Nordics have long lived in my mind as a place of surreal beauty and enviable culture (see: Sommarøy, Norway’s petition to abolish clocks). But in recent years, the region has also earned a new title — fashion’s quiet powerhouse.
Copenhagen Fashion Week has now joined the Big Four (New York, Milan, Paris, London) as the industry’s unofficial fifth. Even cooler? It’s the only one leading with sustainability, enforcing strict environmental standards for participating designers.
This week, I wanted to highlight a few brands that I’ve had my eye on and that each share an ethos of sustainability and timelessness.
Almada Label
Founded in Helsinki five years ago, Alexa Dagmar and Linda Juhola have built a label that perfectly balances luxury and ease. Each piece, produced between Italy, Portugal, and Mongolia, is crafted with longevity in mind. Almada is refreshingly transparent too, openly sharing details on product costs, factory partners, and material origins. A rare combination of beauty, integrity, and intention: quality over hype, purpose over profit.
Trine Tuxen
Allow me introduce you to Copenhagen-based designer Trine Tuxen, a creative force with 20 years of experience crafting jewelry that speaks softly but leaves a mark. Her pieces live at the intersection of minimalism and statement. I love that her earrings are sold individually, encouraging you to mix and match according to your personal taste. Beyond jewelry, Tuxen collaborates with local artisans on limited homeware pieces, available exclusively in her Copenhagen studio. The kind of heirloom you tell stories about.
The Garment
Another Copenhagen favorite, The Garment was founded in 2020 by Charlotte Eskildsen with a focus on impeccable knitwear and architectural tailoring. The brand celebrates “the enduring beauty of modernist simplicity,” seen in timeless silhouettes like this Hazelnut Suede Jacket. Beyond aesthetics, The Garment backs its values with action, partnering with the See Trees Foundation to plant over 4,000 mangrove trees in Indonesia and supporting Bee:Wild to protect pollinators. Minimalism meets meaning.
House of Dagmar
Founded in 2005 by Swedish sisters Karin Söderlind, Sofia Wallenstam, and Kristina Tjäder, House of Dagmar takes its name from their grandmother, a tailor whose legacy of craftsmanship lives on in every piece. True to the Scandi way, the brand is rooted in timeless design — luxurious yet grounded, feminine yet functional. Think The Row, but make it European.
The Nordics remind us that cool isn’t about excess, but rather, essence.
From the clothes we wear to the way we create, it’s a call to slow down, choose thoughtfully, and lead with intention.
Speak soon,
Kelly