Here are 14 Icelandic fashion designers who are very successful at blending traditional Icelandic elements with modern aesthetics.
When it comes to fashion, Iceland may not be the first country that comes to mind, but this island nation has a vibrant fashion scene that deserves your attention.
I love how Icelandic fashion designers offer everything from avant-garde apparel to sustainably produced accessories.
Let’s start, and let me unravel the Icelandic fashion scene for you.
You can also check my 22 Icelandic Clothing Brands for Women, Men, and Children.
Further Reading Suggestions, my guides on
- Norwegian Fashion Designers
- Swedish Fashion Designers
- Danish Fashion Designers
- Finnish Fashion Designers
1. Hildur Yeoman
Hildur Yeoman has been selected as the best fashion designer in Iceland numerous times.
A designer with a flair for the eclectic, Hildur Yeoman is known for her vibrant designs and unique fabric choices, which capture attention for its originality and imaginative spirit.
Hildur’s fame is not limited to Iceland, and her customers include famous people like Taylor Swift, Kehlani, Laura from Khruangbin, and Icelandic singer Björk.
Hildur Yeoman’s Boutique womenswear brand with designs feature intricate prints and bold colors and are unapologetically expressive.
Giving importance to ethical values, Hildur Yeoman’s designs are produced in workshops in Estonia with recycled materials or fabrics made from recycled tread.
2. Sruli Recht
Although not originally from Iceland, Sruli Recht has made Reykjavik his home and the Icelandic landscape his muse.
Known for his avant-garde and experimental designs, Recht integrates unconventional materials and cutting-edge technologies into his creations.
He offers pieces that challenge conventional norms between art and fashion.
3. Guðmundur Jörundsson
Guðmundur Jörundsson is the name behind the label JÖR, which has garnered international acclaim for its finely tailored menswear.
Jörundsson combines classic tailoring techniques and quality craftsmanship with a contemporary flair.
His designs often feature muted colors with bold prints, and his brand JÖR offers a wide collection of menswear, womenswear, lingerie, shoes, and accessories.
4. Hugrún Árnadóttir and Magni Þorsteinsson
Hugrún Árnadóttir and Magni Þorsteinsson, a dynamic designer duo, are the force of the Icelandic fashion brand Kronbykronkron.
Hugrún is a fashion designer who graduated from Studio Bercot in Paris, and Magni was an influential hairstylist Magni.
When the two combined, besides love, something unique happened, and they began to express their feeling through fashion.
Their brand Kronkron is timeless and, above all, feminine in design, with collections made to mix and match previous collections.
Magni and Hugrún design shoes, dresses, and accessories but in a unique way. You can see all the colors of the rainbow in their handmade, high-quality creations.
5. Steinunn Sigurðardóttir
With a deep-rooted respect for Icelandic heritage, Steinunn Sigurðardóttir offers designs that celebrate the country’s landscape and traditions.
Her fashion house, STEiNUNN, utilizes local materials like Icelandic wool, and her creations are a blend of functionality and style.
Her knitwear collections, in particular, are highly sought after, both domestically and abroad.
6. Eygló Margrét Lárusdóttir
Another notable name in Icelandic fashion is Eygló Margrét Lárusdóttir, who has impressed critics with her blend of contemporary style and traditional influences.
Currently, she is running her own design studio under the EYGLO fashion label in Reykjavík.
She is known for designs often feature quirky details, and unexpected combinations.
Eygló also founded Kiosk, a fashion boutique that is operated by five local fashion designers., which has been featured in various media, notably Vogue and The New York Times.
Kiosk attracts fashion lovers from all over the world and is one of the top tourist destinations in Reykjavík.
7. Bergthora Gudnadottir
Bergthora Gudnadottir is an Icelandic fashion designer whose name is a distinguished name in the Icelandic fashion industry.
20 years after her creation of “Þórsmörk Arctic parka” which is still a timeless best seller of 66°North, she is now known for her own brand, Farmers Market.
Bergthora Gudnadottir’s Farmers Market has taken the best of old-school rustic Iceland vibes and spun them with a fresh and modern twist.
Bergthora designs take inspiration from Icelandic roots and combine classic Nordic design elements with modern fashion.
8. Helga Lilja
Helga Lilja is a strong advocate for sustainability, designing garments that are not only stylish but also ethical and eco-friendly.
Helga embodies the spirit of responsible fashion by utilizing organic materials to create long-lasting designs.
It’s not just about eco-friendly materials; Helga’s designs prove that ethics and aesthetics can coexist beautifully.
Like many Icelandic designers, Helga draws inspiration from the natural landscapes and cultural heritage of her homeland.
Expect to see local fabrics, traditional patterns, and a color palette inspired by Iceland’s stunning landscapes in her collections.
You can check Helga Lilja’s design by her fashion label Helicopter.
9. Magnea Einarsdóttir
Magnea Einarsdóttir is a fashion designer who graduated from the prestigious Central Saint Martins – University of the Arts London.
Magnea has a deep-rooted appreciation for Icelandic wool, a material she consistently features in her collections.
Through meticulous craftsmanship and material experimentation, Magnea blends this traditional Icelandic wool with unexpected elements ranging from rubber to silk.
The outcome? A collection of garments that encapsulate the very essence of Icelandic craftsmanship.
One of the defining aspects of her fashion label, Magnea, is its collaboration with local manufacturers which promotes sustainability and also allows her to maintain close attention to the materials that she uses.
10. Halldora Sif
The mastermind behind the brand Sif Benedicta, Halldóra Sif brings an unparalleled depth of vision to the world of luxury bags, clutches, and accessories.
Before launching Sif Benedicta, Halldóra gained significant experience by working as an intern for Olympia-Le-tan during Paris Fashion Week and with the Women’s Ready to Wear team at Alexander McQueen in London. ,
This foundation in high-fashion hubs enriched her aesthetic and technical skills, setting the stage for her own venture.
For Halldóra, fashion is an extension of individuality and a medium for self-expression. She believes in making her designs accessible and functional while still being beautiful statement pieces.
This ethos is evident in the brand’s latest collection, ‘Benedicta’s Sketchbook,’ which targets women who want to feel comfortable and glamorous in their everyday lives.
11. Signý Þórhallsdóttir
Established in 2018, Morra designer brand is a testament to Signý’s years of experience in the global fashion capitals of New York and London, where she worked with renowned designers like Vivienne Westwood and Eley Kishimoto.
Morra’s collections stand out for their feminine style imbued with an artistic vision and a “soft sensual touch.”
But what makes Signý’s designs unique is the fusion of global fashion insights with a distinctly Nordic sensibility.
Bright and playful, yet relaxed and elegant, Signý’s designs reflect a harmonious blend of styles.
12. Helene Magnusson
Hélène Magnússon is not your normal fashion designer.
She is a pioneer in Iceland’s knitwear design scene, with an intriguing journey that spans legal offices in Paris to the sheep farms and mountaintops of Iceland.
Hélène’s fascination with textiles eventually led her to delve into the depths of Icelandic knitting traditions.
Her research materialized into two essential pattern books: “Icelandic Intarsia Color Knitting” resurrects the almost-forgotten art of Icelandic intarsia, while “Icelandic Handknits” provides an overview of the country’s knitting techniques from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
In 2010, Hélène founded The Icelandic Knitter, a platform dedicated to the country’s knitting heritage. Her mission is to keep traditional techniques alive by adapting them to contemporary uses.
Today, Hélène continues to design her knitwear while also providing knitting books, soft Icelandic lambswool and lopi yarns, and knitting tours in Iceland.
13. Anita Hirlekar
Anita Hirlekar’s designs stand out for their unique blend of playfulness and elegance inspired by modern art.
The key to her aesthetic is her approach to color and shape, which she executes through meticulous hand-painting.
Abstract floral motifs are her signature, bringing to life the canvases of skirts, dresses, and blouses in a riot of colors.
Each stroke of the brush is a thoughtful placement, resulting in garments that can easily be described as walking art pieces.
14. Anna Thorunn
Shortly after earning her degree in product design from the Iceland University of the Arts in 2007, Anna Thorunn founded her own company, ANNA THORUNN.
The designer focuses on home decor items and her aspiration to create fashion pieces that are not just garments but meaningful artifacts.
My other guides on Icelandic Fashion
You can browse my guides for other fashion guides for Iceland to get more inspiration.
