Katri Niskanen, a designer from the first all -time fashion top program, is now celebrating her 15 -year -old fashion brand. This is how he has built a successful business.
– I look like princess Mary, the woman sighs and spins in front of a mirror. The salesman dressed in black brings more dresses to fit.
An ordinary Wednesday in the Katri Niskanen brand is underway. The women head to the Punavuori store in Helsinki to look for something special to be on top of a graduate, Karonkka, dinner – perhaps for an evening dress party. Behind the closed doors, wedding dresses are fitted.
The Katri Niskanen brand is located in Fredrikinkatu, Helsinki. The store has a studio centered on wedding dresses. Pink bröijer
Behind everything is Katri Niskanen, a fashion designer familiar to television, 38. Niskanen was the first Finnish version of all time To the top of fashion -Iti-TV program in 2009. The victory of the competition gave Niskanen a publicity bout. The name and face remained in the minds of the Finns. Feeling on television also gave endurance to the criticism of one’s own work.
After the Fashion Top win and setting up my own brand, it didn’t take long for Stockmann to order Niskanen. At that point, Niskanen’s own words “proper production” started and also included a model master. After that, the brand really started to grow.
Top Katri did everything himself
The Katri Niskanen fashion brand will celebrate its 15th anniversary this spring. According to the designer, the years have gone suddenly. In addition to successful business and spectacular fashion creations, Niskanen has had two children who are now 6 and 10 years old.
This was what Katri Niskanen looked like at the opening of the store and showroom in spring 2010. Pasi Liesimaa/IL
In 2010, Niskanen had a shop and a office in the same. At first, he almost lived there.
Today, life is a balancing between work and family life and work has become more office-time. Both Niskanen and his spouse work in creative areas. Everyday life is designed so that, if necessary, both have working days, so that other family schedules do not press and you can really get to the creative work.
The enthusiasm for the beginning has not disappeared. Niskanen is still excited when the new week starts and she gets to work.
– My own brand and work are gifts for me. It is a privilege to get to work and be at these things. Fortunately, I have somehow avoided burning. I’ve never flipped, even though I’ve done a lot of work, says Niskanen.
At first, he did everything from sewing himself. In 15 years, the team has grown from one to six. In addition, there are familiar regular factors that jump as needed, such as during the Castle Party. Niskanen does not sew much anymore, but is involved in the design of the outfits and even in small details. Sometimes he may focus on the layout of a silky evening dress for hours. Creative work takes you and Niskanen enjoys three-dimensional studio work.
– The first rounds were small and I made everything myself. It was good for me that I was able to do everything myself. I have always worked self -funded.
One of the most popular clothes of Katri Niskanen of all time is the sleeve top, where the fabric slides asymmetrically over Decolte. It has been available in tops, dresses and jumpsuit overalls over the years.
This is one of the most popular styles of all time under the Katri Niskanen brand. Katri Niskanen
More than a hundred suits for a castle party
For many, Niskanen is a familiar fashion designer, especially at the castle party. Autumn, especially November, has a busy time and the years have taught how many costumes can really be planned and manufactured. One month of the arrival of the invitations to the party itself is intense. Even the standard guests of the party, such as MPs, are rarely in time with dress orders. The costume thing is rarely as a priority for a politician, and the fitting moments with the designer’s studio are not a quarter of a quarter.
Sanna Marin’s evening dress at the 2023 Castle party was estimated to be a statement for Ukrainen. Mikko Huisko
Jenni Vartiainen was voted the Queen of the evening at the 2011 Castle Festival. The orange evening dress drew a lot of attention. IL Archive
Niskanen has made more than 100 dresses for a castle party. One of the most talked about creations and Niskanen’s own favorites have been, for example, Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s yellow evening dress in 2023, Jenni Vartiainen’s orange evening dress in 2011 and Teija Vesterbacka The red Angry Birds game also seen on 2011.
-I got a lot of feedback from Angry Birds. I think it was fine and sophisticated.
Teija Vesterbacka’s outfit was hidden at Angry Birds at the 2011 Castle Party. Matti Matikainen,
Niskanen is Haka to schedule and all the outfits are agreed. The spectacular parties are an important part of the year’s tour, but even after them you don’t stop.
– The next project or collection is always waiting to be taken forward.
After Christmas, the gala season begins every year. In addition to Finnish events, Niskanen’s creations have also been seen, for example, in the Nobel and Oscar prize gaps.
The prices of the Castle Party’s unique dresses and unique wedding dresses designed by Niskanen are around € 4,000, although the price varies depending on the outfit and implementation. For example, a lightweight silk suit can hide up to 15 meters of luxurious fabric.
Local production in Estonia
Katri Niskanen’s business and planning at the heart of the business and planning has always been the same: party dressing, custom -made suits and ready -to -wear collection.
– Drapelets, landing fabrics and silk are at the center. The classic style is my own.
Katri Niskanen no longer sews the outfits of his fashion brand himself anymore, but may sometimes be buzzing with creative work for hours. Pink bröijer
Niskanen has always been interested in living everyday life.
– Everyday can be a celebration and it can be added by dressing. A certain kind of versatility has always been important in my clothes. They can be applied and combined with a party to everyday life and vice versa.
Katri Niskanen’s clothing is made in Estonia. There, Niskanen has long -term collaborative sewers and skilled factors to implement plans.
– The making of clothes is really close and I don’t want to take it further. I also like the fact that partners are long -term.
The type of small goals
Niskanen is the CEO of his company, so everyday life also has a lot of administrative work in addition to creative work.
The Katri Niskanen brand warehouses do not full of products from past collections, as the products are made to manufacture and demand overall. The aim is to keep the expenses minimized and the marketing is invested. Although the last 15 years have accommodated both corona and war, quitting has not happened to Niskanen.
Katri Niskanen does not make “five -year plans” or dream of a quick win in the fashion industry. Pink bröijer
– I’m the type of small goals with a strong desire to move forward. I didn’t want to make five or ten years of plans, it doesn’t make sense for me. I just have a vision and a clear direction where my brand is going. It’s really hard for me to imagine doing something else for my job. Fashion design is about me. I am grateful for everything and look at the future with interest.
Niskanen has not run specifically after the trends or dreamed of a quick win anyway.
– This is the work of the heart for me. I am very thoughtful and always pursued moderate growth. My job takes, but also gives a lot.
Bold experiment with interesting street fashion
It has been proven to have a large pollutant in the clothing and textile industry, as it produces about 4-10 % of all climate emissions. In order to make a change towards a more sensible fashion industry, Niskanen believes that consumers’ behavior plays a key role.
“As long as the quick fashion is bought, it is also available,” he recalls.
The Niskanen store is located in a spectacular location in Helsinki, on the borders of Punavuori and Kamppi. Pink bröijer
– It would be worth buying fashion so that you already know that the new product will have plenty of use. Clothing brands should also make products that can withstand use and time and do not support disposable culture.
Niskanen would hope that fashion and textile companies would try to make the best possible choices. For example, getting big warehouses and then getting rid of surplus products is not just sustainable.
For example, Niskanen understands the need for young people to buy fashion.
– Fashion is also about trying and looking for your own style. Many people in their twenties and even younger are still looking for their own style. Bold experiments also create an interesting street style.
Although the success of Suomi fashion has not been able to boast lately, Niskanen’s atmosphere is still positive. According to Niskanen, in the future of the fashion industry, there will be interesting development, for example in materials and innovation. Technology is also becoming even more fashionable. Not all innovations end up being used, but according to Niskanen, they are properly shaken in the industry.
Despite the low pressure of the world, Niskanen is doing well. The corona years and the economic situation in the world have, of course, influenced the everyday life of the Katri Niskanen brand, but generally difficult times have not been just persistent.
– I trust that there are still many success stories.
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Katri Niskanen’s financial situation is good on the basis of the latest financial statements.
From July 2023 to June 2024, the company made EUR 328,000 with a turnover of EUR 1.4 million. Net sales increased by 23 per cent, with a profit of 122 percent.
The company’s equity was EUR 670,000 at the time of the financial statements, which allows for the company’s owners. During the financial year, the company paid the owners of EUR 147,000.
At the end of June 2024, the company had EUR 581,000 in the cashier.