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Rikke Vigander von Hirsch moved to Copenhagen and began her studies at the Scandinavian Academy of Fashion Design in 2020. It was here that her dream truly started to take shape, and shortly after enrolling, she founded her own clothing brand, “Rikke Vigander.”

Since 2020, she has been designing and producing her own garments, with her pieces being worn by several well-known fashion influencers. Among them are the Vollan twins, Petra Henriette, Katarina Krebs, and the music group Undergrunn.

In 2023, she started an internship at GANNI, and today, she works as an Assistant Designer for the brand. One of the dresses she created for GANNI was seen on rapper Ice Spice at the Roskilde Festival in the summer of 2024. Additionally, she had the opportunity to showcase her work at Paris Fashion Week in 2024, marking a significant milestone in her career.

Rikke reflects on her childhood as a time filled with creativity. Creating has always been an essential part of her life, and those around her encouraged her passion.

“My grandmother was a textile artist and taught me from an early age how to weave, knit, embroider, and sew. I loved accompanying her to the weaving studio—it was such a special experience.”

“She has been my greatest inspiration and has played a crucial role in my creative development.”

Before the pandemic, Rikke had not sewn many garments, but COVID-19 gave her the time to experiment with her passion. She started with simple wrap dresses for friends, but soon, more people began reaching out, requesting custom-made pieces.

“Suddenly, I had a lot to do, and my skills evolved into creating more complex silhouettes. My living room floor was constantly covered with fabrics and patterns, and I spent days and nights at the sewing machine.”

One of the garments that holds the most sentimental value for Rikke is a denim top she wove during her second year at school. For the project, she repurposed leftover scraps that her classmates were about to discard.

“I wove it during a weekend visit to my grandmother, and it was the last project we shared before she passed away a few months later. That assignment also sparked my deep interest in upcycling.”

The creative process behind a garment varies every time. Where does one begin, and how does one arrive at the final product? Rikke explains that she rarely has a strict plan — which is what makes the process exciting.

“I love working with materials that one might not immediately consider suitable for clothing.”

For Rikke, the process often starts with an idea about a material, but each project is different.

“Sometimes, I have a limited amount of fabric, a vintage garment that needs a new life, or an unconventional material that I want to turn into something wearable. Some projects involve lots of experimentation, while in others, I know exactly what I want from the start.”

“The more restrictions I have, the more creative I feel.”

Her unconventional material choices are also influenced by accessibility. High-quality textiles are often limited when working on a small scale, and they can be expensive — a challenge for an emerging designer.

“Being a small, independent designer and trying to be as sustainable as possible can be tough. I do my best by focusing on upcycling and constantly seeking innovative ways to minimize waste.”

Sustainability in the fashion industry is a pressing issue. Rikke acknowledges that discussions around environmental responsibility in fashion can sometimes weigh heavily on her.

“It’s probably what troubles me the most. At times, I feel guilty for working in this industry, but at the same time, I’m proud to be part of GANNI. We are transparent about our goals and actively innovate in material choices.”

GANNI emphasizes education about areas that need improvement and provides concrete data to show the impact of design choices. For Rikke, this is a major source of motivation.

“I do my best to use existing materials in my designs and hope that, in the future, I will have the resources to make a significant difference.”

“My goal is never to create yet another brand that contributes to overproduction. If I ever feel that’s the direction I’m heading, I would rather switch industries to something more meaningful.”

For Rikke, the greatest recognition comes from people who reach out wanting to collaborate — especially when they are individuals she admires.

How does it feel to see someone wearing clothes you designed?

“It’s incredibly inspiring, and even more exciting if I see it in real life! I remember my very first Copenhagen Fashion Week in 2023 when I randomly spotted Petra Henriette Rufi wearing a corset I had made from old cowboy boots. She was being photographed by numerous photographers across the street—it was such an amazing moment!”

In the summer of 2024, Rikke had the opportunity to design outfits for the music group Undergrunn for their festival tour.

“I’m really impressed by what they have achieved, which made working with them even more exciting.”

Rikke worked closely with the band members and their fashion director, Nathalie Rosenborg, creating a series of upcycled garments made from vintage clothing and deadstock fabrics.

“The most important thing for me is that people feel comfortable in my designs.”

“I want my designs to be both visually captivating and functional for everyday wear.”

Rikke believes that clothing should be both admired and worn. She acknowledges that even in her own wardrobe, she has pieces she finds beautiful but doesn’t feel entirely comfortable in—so they stay untouched.

On a Thursday morning in Vingårdstræde, outside Magasin’s staff entrance, we meet Mads Barfod, casually strolling in his own recognizable designs. His latest collection, created in collaboration with Magasin, is deeply rooted in his school experiences, an inspiration that manifests in every piece.

“The idea behind the designs is that the color, for example, is one that I have always used and will be featured across various styles in the collection, including a down jacket. So, the color is a recurring theme throughout. The silhouette itself is inspired by a school janitor. As for the trousers, they are a fusion of classic suit pants mixed with a ’70s-’80s sports pant, reminiscent of Kappa, with snap buttons,” Mads explains.

Mads designs clothes for himself, fully aware that this might come off as somewhat self-centered. However, this is how his journey began. When asked about his style and how it is reflected in the collection, he responds:

“This is something I would wear every day. I started designing my own clothes simply because I couldn’t afford the pieces I wanted, so I had to teach myself how to sew. Now, I just hope others think I have good enough style for them to wear it too,” Mads says with a smile as we take the escalator up to Magasin’s design studio, where he has been working for the past few months.

Heidi Lundehøj, Head of Style, Design, and Sourcing at Magasin, saw potential in Mads’ craftsmanship, precision, and discipline. Together with Danish fashion icon Mads Nørgaard, she decided to invest in his designs, offering DKK 200,000 for purchases, mentoring with Magasin’s design team, and a media package.

Mads’ passion for fashion started at the age of 13-14 when he became fascinated by high-end fashion pieces he couldn’t afford.

“I remember it so clearly. It all started when I saw a Gucci sweater that I obviously couldn’t afford. So, I wanted to try sewing it myself. The original had knitted edges, and since I couldn’t knit, I asked my mom to do it for me. That was when I realized there was something I was actually good at— something I could sit still for.”

As we step into Magasin’s design studio, Mads explains that each outfit in his new collection is inspired by teachers or moments from his school years that left a lasting impression.

“I don’t have many good memories from school, but the first outfit is inspired by the janitor at my school. He was someone who could do everything, and I have always admired people like that. The trousers I’m wearing are inspired by P.E. classes, my favorite subject. Another outfit is based on my two favorite teachers—one always wore denim, and the other wool—so I created a half-denim, half-wool suit. The final outfit is inspired by school field trips, one of the few moments I enjoyed in school. The whole collection is an attempt to find something positive in a school experience that I otherwise remember as quite negative.”

Mads also shares how being diagnosed with ADD gave him some clarity.

“I had no idea why I couldn’t sit still. Eventually, I was diagnosed with ADD, which helped me understand myself better. At least I had an explanation for my behavior.”

Participating in Danmarks Næste Tøjdesigner has given Mads a newfound understanding of himself and his work.

“For two months, I worked non-stop from 6 AM to midnight, sewing to ensure everything was exactly how I envisioned it. I’ve realized that I can accomplish far more than I thought and that my first instincts are usually the right ones.”

When discussing the functionality of his designs, Mads emphasizes comfort and fit.

“I like feeling comfortable in what I wear. There’s nothing worse than clothes that don’t fit properly. My goal is for my pieces to feel like a natural extension of the body.”

Regarding his logo, Mads prefers subtle branding.

“I don’t think every garment needs a name on it. My surname is Barfod, and my logo consists of six squares representing the letters in Barfod. These squares can be used individually or together. To me, they also symbolize a picture frame, where I can insert a print or design element.”

As for the future, Mads remains focused on the present.

“I don’t anticipate either struggles or successes ahead of time. That’s something I learned early on—it makes things easier. It’s a way of protecting myself, something I also did in school. But my ambition is definitely to live off my own clothing brand and make this my career.”

Mads Barfod is a graduate of the Scandinavian Academy of Fashion Design, and his journey from student to emerging fashion talent showcases the power of passion and perseverance. His collaboration with Magasin is just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting career in fashion, proving that with dedication and a clear vision, anything is possible.