To the management of the fashion house and to the pages of Vogue – These top factors have emerged from the Suomen Muodi huipuille program!

The “Fashion to the top” program made a return to TV this spring. The most recent season was won by a Helsinki native Pali Albin.

History has proven that, in a competition format, ranking doesn’t really matter how successful you are in the fashion industry. We found out where the designers who competed in previous seasons are now and who have literally jumped to the top of fashion.

Katri Niskanen

Katri Niskanen won Finland’s first Fashion to the top competition in 2009. Niskanen’s beautifully flowing sculptural outfits already garnered praise from the judges of the competition and the designer has continued his own line.

– The competition was definitely a good springboard and winning the competition brought a lot of visibility to my collection, Niskanen says now.

Niskanen founded the company that bears his name in 2010. The brand’s flagship store is located near the center of Helsinki, but the designer’s collections have retailers all over Finland and a few in the world as well.

Niskanen has been designing custom-made wedding dresses for over ten years, and since 2017 she has had a Bridal collection.

Niskas has become a trusted designer for many, and his creations have been seen at Linna’s parties and other red carpets.

– I am currently planning my summer 2024 collection, Niskanen says.

Mert Otsamo

Mert Otsamo tried his wings in the first season of the program in 2009. Otsamo, who finished third in his season, told Iltalehte in February that the format provided an important springboard for his career.

– Of course, it is not a given. It takes hard work to get that springboard. It is important to be able to use the moment to your advantage, Otsamo said.

– I was somehow present where it happened and actively did something new. In the beginning, the media is really interested, and when the media highlights your work, customers can find you. I then started receiving the first orders for Linna parties and gala dresses. Through that, it automatically started spinning. It has grown every year.

Galas and Linna’s parties still keep Otsamo busy. In addition, he designs performance and representation outfits for many artists.

– The castle party was a real success. I also had a show in Bangkok late last year. The first wedding dresses of the summer are already being made, the designer said.

Linda Sipilä

Linda Sipilä won the Muodin huipulle competition in 2011. Around the same time, Sipilä launched her own fashion brand bearing her last name. The TV visibility was useful.

– Our store was in Seinäjoki, but people came there from all over Finland, Sipilä says.

In 2015, Sipilä moved to Paris and is still on that path. Sipilä has worked for several fashion houses and learned a lot. His employers have included, among others, Aalto International, Rick Owens, Y/Project and Paco Rabanne.

Sipilä worked at Y/Project for five years as a collection manager. Now he does the same work for the AZ Factory brand. As a collection manager, Sipilä holds many threads in her hands and her task is, among other things, to decide how an idea is refined into a product.

– I’ve had a really good time in Paris. For work, this is an environment with enough challenges for me. I haven’t had any thoughts of moving here, although sometimes I miss Finland’s silence, nature and clean air, Sipilä says and says that he often visits Finland.

During the fashion weeks, Sipilä has done round-the-clock days.

– I remember when I went to the Y/Project show, and I hadn’t slept a wink. After that I slept, Sipilä laughs.

– Not that the tempo here is slow anyway. Normally, the duration of a working day is nine hours, but I have always done more, says Sipilä.

According to Sipilä, the stressful and fast-paced “Moodin huipule” format gave an indication of what work in the fashion world can be.

Anne-Mari Pahkala

Anne-Mari Pahkala is an influential fashion creator who has also been seen on the format of Fashion’s Peak. Pahkala, who took part in the TV competition in 2011, was written as a pre-favorite, and therefore his fall in fourth place was reported as a shock decision.

Now Pahkala works as the chief designer of the design brand Samuji. He started in January 2022.

– The work of the head designer includes many things that are meaningful to me, such as working with responsible fashion, sustainable design, aesthetics, timelessness and storytelling, as well as their development, says Pahkala.

Numerous Pahkala creations have been seen over the years, for example at Linna’s parties.

– Before my new role as Samuj’s chief designer, I worked as an entrepreneur in the fashion industry for 15 years. During my career, I have worked with both visual costume design and commercial and exclusive fashion design, says Pahkala.

– I feel that I have already lived many of my dreams during my career so far, but my goals and eyes are always uncompromisingly in the future.

Mari Koppanen

Mari Koppanen were seen in the second season of the Muodin huipulle program in 2011. At that time, Koppanen was the youngest participant in the competition: he was 20 years old and studied the clothing industry for the second year.

Koppanen made it far in the competition, but not quite in the final three. The TV show brought him orders from private customers.

– When I finished my degree in clothing, I moved to Stockholm in 2012. I first worked there in a small design store, but I decided to study for a bachelor’s degree in furniture design, says Koppanen.

Koppanen’s path continued to Norway, where he went on to get a master’s degree. Koppanen soon found his calling.

– I gravitated towards sponge-based materials. I am doing a dissertation on them here (in Norway), says Koppanen, who has worked with the material for six years.

He has used the material for both the furniture and accessories he has designed.

The furniture collection designed by Koppanen was presented last fall at Habitare and it has also attracted international media. Koppanen’s work has been featured in Forbes, Elle and Vogue, among others.

Mirkka Metsola

Mirkka Metsola was also seen in the Muodin huipuille program in 2009. Metsola was starting a brand bearing her own name even without the program, but the format gave it an impetus.

– It was a decisive factor in the early stages of my career. We lived in a time before Instagram, so publicity was useful for making one’s work visible, Metsola reasons.

In 2009, a lot happened in Metsola’s career. In addition to starting his own company, Metsola graduated from the University of Applied Sciences.

– I launched my first clothing line at the same time as the Fashion Peak program came in 2009 and at the same time we also opened our own shop and showroom in Helsinki. Everything was done with a really fast cycle, says Metsola.

At the moment, Metsola’s own brand is on a creative break.

– Currently, I work as a technical designer at Finlayson and as a B2B chief designer at Manna & Co, Metsola says.

In the spring of 2024, he will publish his own collection again. Metsola is excited about that.

– I feel that it is important to listen to your body and believe intuitively in creation. The freedom to design and create is important to me, says Metsola.

Achilles Ion Gabriel

Achilles Ion Gabriel participated in the format in 2011. At that time, the 21-year-old Gabriel’s path in the competition ended in the first few meters, but today he has created a career in an international company.

Achilles Ion Gabriel has become the creative director of the Spanish shoe brand Camper. He is responsible for the entire visual look and product design of the shoe brand founded in 1975.

To the top of fashion on Thursdays on MTV Katsomo and the MTV3 channel. See all TV programs and broadcast times in Telku’s TV guide.