Upmade in Estonia at Singapore Design Week 25.11.2025
As part of Singapore Design Week (SDW), Scape* hosts the official Estonian design exhibition “Upmade in Estonia,” marking a historic first for Estonia’s participation in SDW. The opening coincides with the appointment of Veikko Kala as Estonia’s ambassador to Singapore, underscoring strengthened cultural and creative ties between the two nations.
A landmark showcase at the heart of SDW
The exhibition is curated by Ilona Gurjanova, President of the Estonian Designers’ Union, and Reet Aus, celebrated designer and sustainability advocate. They have organized the collection into five thematic segments designed to invite visitors to explore, touch, and rethink materials and production. A celebration of sustainable design “Upmade in Estonia” showcases how Estonian design practitioners blend heritage craftsmanship with forward-looking sustainability strategies. The exhibition demonstrates circular design at retail scale, with products and prototypes spanning furniture, textiles, and upcycled material experiments. The aim is to illustrate practical pathways toward responsible consumption and resilient production ecosystems. Reet Aus emphasizes the mission: “My aim is to save the fashion industry from itself and to demonstrate a path away from a disposable culture that causes so much waste and ruin worldwide.” This keynote perspective anchors the exhibition and aligns with SDW’s broader shift toward responsible innovation.
Parallel activities and ongoing dialogues
Like the 2024 launch at NYCxDesign, Singapore hosts parallel talks and encounters featuring Reet Aus, Riina Õuna, Kärt Summatavet, and Ilona Gurjanova at Scape* and the Estonian Embassy. Reet Aus also participates as a speaker at the World Design Business Forum 2025, addressing design profitability and sustainable business models.
Like the 2024 launch at NYCxDesign, Singapore hosts parallel talks and encounters featuring Reet Aus, Riina Õuna, Kärt Summatavet, and Ilona Gurjanova at Scape* and the Estonian Embassy. Reet Aus also participates as a speaker at the World Design Business Forum 2025, addressing design profitability and sustainable business models.
The exhibition brings together a diverse cohort, including but not limited to: 92 Layers, Andres Ansper, Anneli Tammik, By Urmas Lüüs, Cärol Ott, Cervo Volante, DiMa Estonian Academy of Arts (Sandra Luks, Cärol Ott, Reet Aus), Elize Hiiop, Eva Reiska, Filaret, Haeun Kim, Hannah Segerkrantz, HYTI, Ideeklaas, IKIGI, Johanna Ulfsak, Kairi Lentsius, Karlotta, Kärt Summatavet, kelpman textile, K i l l u d, LAURASAKS, LUKS, LUM, Mirjam ja Markus Pärnamets, Myceen, Piret Loog, RAIKU Bio Packaging, Riina O, SileLuik, SJX by Juhan Soomets, Stella Soomlais, Raili Keiv, Tarmo Luisk, Tijn Nelemans, WOH, Woola and many more. The full roster covers approximately 40 Estonian designers and brands, each contributing a unique facet of sustainable design practice.
Why Singapore Design Week matters
SDW is one of Asia’s premier design platforms, offering a stage for cross-cultural exchange and international collaboration. Estonia’s participation aligns with Singapore’s leadership in sustainable design innovation and circular economy practices. The exhibition serves as a bridge for dialogue between Baltic design thinking and Southeast Asian markets, manufacturers, and institutions. The friendship between the two countries began in 2023 when Singaporean designer Darren Yao gave a keynote at the Tallinn Design Festival. We are very happy to host a delegation from Singapore in Tallinn again this September. We hope this is just the beginning of our friendship. Even though we are located far apart, we feel we have many similarities in our mindset and aesthetics.
