Idaliina Friman’s work springs from her family’s migration history during the Second World War, when parts of Finland were surrendered to Russia. To understand the theme of fleeing, the MA graduate of Aalto has examined the items and clothing her grandparents took with them when having to leave their homes abruptly. The objects chosen for the journey were carried, stitched and hidden inside the garments. The pattern-making experimentation of the collection is based on the principle of hiding. Pearls, jewellery and accessories are attached into the clothing, and the weight of these objects transform the silhouettes unexpectedly. Recycled and surplus materials are combined with new and modern materials. Second-hand shearlings and surplus wools are accompanied with recycled glass pearls and hand-knitted embroidered knits and silk tulles hand dyed to match the faded colours of worn-out clothing. The materials of the series of dresses, coats, skirts and shirts reflect Friman’s own memories and her emotional bond to specific physical things. By drawing on the interpretation of her grandparents' experiences as well as examining how these themes still, after generations, resonate, the collection traces the ways in which the family history is central to Friman’s own self-identity through feelings of rootlessness and emotional attachment to objects and materials.
