The Fashion Week began at the LED Unit Virtual Production Studio with an unforgettable opening event dedicated to the work of costume designer Sandra Sila. Paying tribute to her contribution to the development of Latvian cinema, the runway showcased costumes from legendary films — “Rūdolfa mantojums” (“Rudolfs’ Inheritance”), “Rīgas sargi” (“Defenders of Riga”), “Sapņu komanda 1935” (“Dream Team 1935”), “Nameja gredzens” (“The Ring of Namejs”), “Dvēseļu putenis” (“Blizzard of Souls”), as well as from the upcoming film “Tīklā. TTT leģendas dzimšana” (“In the Net. The Birth of TTT Legends”), which will premiere in November. In the show directed by actress Ieva Florence-Vīksne, the costumes were presented by actors whose on-screen characters once wore these very outfits: Zane Jančevska, Rēzija Kalniņa, Agnese Budovska, Inga Alsiņa, Māris Grigalis, Mārtiņš Počs, Raimonds Celms, Kristīne Beļicka, Jānis Āmanis, Ieva Aleksandrova, Marta Lovisa Jančevska, Jānis Elsts, Ģirts Krūmiņš, Oto Brantevics, Grēta Trušiņa, Artūrs Putniņš and others.
The subsequent RFW events took place across three main venues: Hanzas Perons, the Zunda Towers , and Latvian Design Stories, the latter serving as a space for capsule presentations and creative workshops.
On the main runway of the capital, audiences saw collections from both established international brands — Szczygiel (Poland), Moel Bosh (Uzbekistan), and Pohjanheimo (Estonia) — and names new to Riga, including Nora Isle and Embassy of Fashion Atelier, which featured three Tallinn-based designers: Aldo Järvsoo, Riina Põldroos, and Ketlin Bachmann. For the first time within RFW, renowned Lithuanian stylist Kęstas Rimdžius presented his signature show in collaboration with Kukla Beauty Box. Two more newcomers to Riga were the Uzbek brand Mursak, celebrating the value of artisanal traditions, and the recently established Belgian label Yevseyev.
Latvian brands also surprised this season. Alongside the Baltic region’s established names — BAÉ by Katya Shehurina, Natalija Jansone, and Amelii — as many as seven Latvian debuts took place during this RFW. Designer Megija-Luīze Pudāne, a graduate of a Paris fashion school, staged a major show for her label Studio MX. The brand Karina Kelle presented a collection of hand-painted kimonos, while Treimane Studio unveiled a capsule line created from recycled clothing and home textiles.
Two more brand presentations took place at Latvian Design Stories — Tribal Hotel by designer Simone Veilande and Zaiga Brutāne Studio. Both brands have been on the market for several years, but appeared at RFW for the first time. Former NOLO designer Viktorija Joniene opened her first solo painting exhibition titled “Crimson Current” during RFW, simultaneously presenting a T-shirt collection featuring prints of her own artworks. After several years of creative silence, stylist Sergej Hatanzeyskiy introduced his new project SVIESTS in collaboration with SEXYSTYLE, transforming the runway into a theatrical performance filled with elements of provocation and unexpected artistic expression.
This season, Riga Fashion Week expanded the geography of international media that came to cover the shows: Vogue Adria, Vogue Turkey, Title Magazine, 10 Magazine Deutsch, ELLE Spain, Schön! Magazine (UK), VEIN Magazine (Spain), Jana Luxury Magazine, Panele, Delfi Estonia, Lifestyle Baltic, as well as TV journalists from TV3 Estonia и German Public Broadcaster ARD. The presence of international experts and editors of such caliber marks an important step toward promoting not only Latvia’s fashion industry but the country as a whole. RFW shows were attended by Latvia’s Minister of Culture Agnese Lāce, as well as the ambassadors of Uzbekistan, the UAE, Poland, Kazakhstan, and other countries.
In addition to the shows, a series of educational initiatives dedicated to the topic of sustainable development took place, along with exhibitions at the intersection of fashion and contemporary art.
Fashion parties, which have already become an integral part of RFW, were held this season at Brasserie Vivien Riga, Tribe Riga City Centre, and Pullman Riga Old Town. After the final show, guests enjoyed a lively party lasting until morning at the official RFW club Coyote Fly. The Fashion Week concluded with an exclusive closing event and an awards ceremony honoring the most in-demand models, held at ICON Cocktail & Hookah Lounge in the same ExPorto complex.
Main partners of Riga Fashion Week: State Culture Capital Foundation, Riga City Council, and the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia.
Stay tuned for Riga Fashion Week updates on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and the official website www.rfw.lv.
