Profile: Guðrún Ísafold Hilmarsdóttir – Only Natural Design Competitions

Guðrún Ísafold Hilmarsdóttir

Iceland University of the Arts

Fashion Design BA

My name is Guðrún Ísafold, but you can call me Gísa. As an innovative fashion designer, I am committed to creating timeless, sustainable garments that celebrate and protect the natural world. I recently graduated with a BA in Fashion Design from the Iceland University of the Arts, where I focused my projects on sustainability, ensuring that my work reflects my dedication to eco-friendly practices. My journey into design began with a unique blend of innovation and environmental consciousness. In 2020, I participated in the MEMA (Menntamaskína) competition in Iceland, where my team and I developed acoustic panels from cardboard and newspaper pulp, materials that are not recycled locally but are typically incinerated in Sweden. This early project highlighted my ability to transform waste into something both useful and environmentally friendly. Nature and culture are the primary inspirations behind my designs. I focus on using sustainable, pure materials and minimizing waste, drawing from the natural world to create both the aesthetic and functional aspects of my work. My latest collection, which I am entering into this competition, draws inspiration from the ocean and combines elements of streetwear with sustainability and local resources at its core. This collection, which opened the graduation fashion show at Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavik, showcases my commitment to using natural materials, including locally sourced wool, 100% silk, and cotton, with no plastic elements, ensuring the collection is entirely natural. One of the standout features of my work is my innovative use of traditional techniques. In my current collection, I employ a unique felting technique that eliminates the need for sewing in my wool garments, demonstrating my commitment to craftsmanship and sustainability. I aspire to revive the concept of slow fashion by creating garments made from high-quality, natural materials that ensure longevity. My vision is to craft personal, timeless pieces that can withstand the test of time both in terms of style and durability, and that can return to nature at the end of their lifecycle. I am passionate about sustainability and aim to influence the fashion industry towards more eco-conscious practices. I believe that fashion can be both beautiful and sustainable, and I am dedicated to proving that true style honors the earth from which it draws its inspiration.

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90% ull (90% wool)

Category: Apparel

Competitions: Fashion

As a child, I spent my summers in the highlands, surrounded by nature, where I felt a profound sense of belonging. Those simple days with my family and our Icelandic shepherd shaped my deep connection to nature. Wool, a staple of our highland attire, became my favorite material, embodying warmth and comfort. Through fashion design, I've found a way to extend this feeling. My collection aims to bridge the gap between nature and fashion, allowing the wearer to feel connected to nature wherever they go. Whether in a bustling city or at home, these garments make nature a part of us. My childhood experiences in the highlands, dressed in wool from head to toe, deeply influenced my design approach. I combined this natural inspiration with streetwear, which reflects my urban surroundings. Streetwear’s power to express individuality captivated me, and merging it with nature became my goal. Using shapes from nature, I created garments with unconventional materials and techniques, like crocheting corkscrew spirals from plötulopi yarn and felting wool with bubble wrap. The color palette, featuring turquoise and purple, brought harmony to the collection. Deadstock silk and Icelandic wool symbolized the merging of different worlds, reinforcing the collection’s theme. Experiments like crocheting wool onto quilted nylon fabric and creating multi-functional garments, such as a convertible bomber jacket that transforms into a dress, pushed traditional design boundaries. These designs highlighted the symbiotic relationship between nature and streetwear. To integrate natural fibers more seamlessly, I focused on wool, a sustainable and culturally significant material in Iceland. Using techniques like felting, I created seamless wool garments, shaping them with a steamer and iron. Natural dyeing aligned with my vision for sustainability, and I plan to fully embrace this in future projects. Importantly, the outcome of this collection is made entirely from natural materials, underscoring my commitment to eco-friendly fashion. This collection is just the beginning. I envision incorporating wool into everyday garments and streetwear, highlighting its sustainability and suitability for Iceland's climate. By blending familiar streetwear forms with elements of nature, I aim to design garments that immerse the body in nature, fostering a deeper connection to the environment. Through my designs, I hope to challenge traditional fashion norms and inspire others to rethink their relationship with the world around them. Nature is not only a source of inspiration but a fundamental part of who I am as a designer. I want my collection to reflect my values and commitment to the environment, making fashion both beautiful and meaningful. Hand in hand with nature, I plan to design garments that bring nature closer to the body, blending streetwear forms with natural elements. This collection allows garments to become an extension of the natural world, creating a deeper, more meaningful connection to nature.