History
Started in 2000 as the Midnight Sun Fashion Festival, Founder Kolla Aðalsteinsdóttir began the event as an way for her to showcase the talent of local Icelandic designers as well as her agency, Icelandic Models. Within a very short period of time she realized that the festival could be an forum for up and coming designers from around the globe. By 2002 she had designers coming from as far away as Japan, Canada and the U.S.A. to participate in the shows. In 2003, Ms. Adelsteinsdottir and her by then partner, Andrew Lockhart, formally changed the name to Iceland Fashion Week, which has since grown into an international fashion event.
Past years of Iceland Fashion Week have brought designers from all across the globe. They have come from England, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Norway, Sweden, the U.S. and many others to showcase their work, everything from pretacouture to sportswear to ready to wear lines.
Iceland Fashion Week also draws on unique Icelandic components of location and climate. The initial name of Midnight Sun Fashion Festival was given to represent the climate, time of year and extended daylight hours that Iceland receives at this time of year. The Midnight Sun is a natural anomaly in which countries close to the North Pole receive upwards of 23 hours of sunlight or darkness, depending on the time of year. A fashion show held at midnight with the sun directly overhead as though it was noontime is always an interesting experience for those who have never experienced it before.
In addition, Iceland itself is a unique country and its broad range of topography fosters a dynamic country with inspiration taken from the majesty of the land. As a result, one of the most intriguing facets of Iceland Fashion Week is the awe inspiring locations that are chosen each year.
Midnight Sun 2000 was held on Vatnajokull, Europe’s largest glacier. In 2001, it was held on Vestmannayer Island. In 2002 it was held at Thinvellir, Iceland's Parliament Plains and site of the oldest parliament house in the world, dating back as far as 1000 A.D. In 2003, the producers held the shows on a catwalk made of black ash on a mountain in Landmanulaugur, a volcanic mountain range on the interior of the country set the stage and backdrop for the presentations. In 2004, Iceland Fashion Week was held at the Crossroads, a popular downtown shopping district in 101 Reykjavik, Iceland's most popular destination. In 2005, Iceland's Electric Plant (Reyjkavik Energy House) was the site for the show. From 2006 through 2008, the producers took a leave of absence and are now ready to rekindle the flame in 2009.
Past years of Iceland Fashion Week have brought designers from all across the globe. They have come from England, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Norway, Sweden, the U.S. and many others to showcase their work, everything from pretacouture to sportswear to ready to wear lines.
Iceland Fashion Week also draws on unique Icelandic components of location and climate. The initial name of Midnight Sun Fashion Festival was given to represent the climate, time of year and extended daylight hours that Iceland receives at this time of year. The Midnight Sun is a natural anomaly in which countries close to the North Pole receive upwards of 23 hours of sunlight or darkness, depending on the time of year. A fashion show held at midnight with the sun directly overhead as though it was noontime is always an interesting experience for those who have never experienced it before.
In addition, Iceland itself is a unique country and its broad range of topography fosters a dynamic country with inspiration taken from the majesty of the land. As a result, one of the most intriguing facets of Iceland Fashion Week is the awe inspiring locations that are chosen each year.
Midnight Sun 2000 was held on Vatnajokull, Europe’s largest glacier. In 2001, it was held on Vestmannayer Island. In 2002 it was held at Thinvellir, Iceland's Parliament Plains and site of the oldest parliament house in the world, dating back as far as 1000 A.D. In 2003, the producers held the shows on a catwalk made of black ash on a mountain in Landmanulaugur, a volcanic mountain range on the interior of the country set the stage and backdrop for the presentations. In 2004, Iceland Fashion Week was held at the Crossroads, a popular downtown shopping district in 101 Reykjavik, Iceland's most popular destination. In 2005, Iceland's Electric Plant (Reyjkavik Energy House) was the site for the show. From 2006 through 2008, the producers took a leave of absence and are now ready to rekindle the flame in 2009.