At the Finnish Fashion Awards gala on Friday, May 23, 2025, Finnish fashion, its growth, talent, and innovation were celebrated. The gala also marked the debut of the Hyvon Award, which was granted for the first time to Structural Colour Studio.
“When Aarne Karjalainen was asked about the secret of Hyvon’s success, he was known to answer with just one word: product development. The purpose of the Hyvon Award is to continue Hyvon’s legacy and support the renewal and innovation of the Finnish textile sector,” says Jenni Karjalainen, Chair of the Advisory Board of the Laura and Aarne Karjalainen Special Fund. The fund awards grants as part of KAUTE Foundation’s general funding call.
The €5,000 Hyvon Award is given to an innovation that transforms the textile industry. The evaluation criteria emphasize a solid research foundation, the innovation’s potential to support the sustainable renewal of both industry and society, and its significance for the Finnish textile field.
Jury’s Statement
The recipient was selected by a panel of industry professionals, who explained their decision as follows:
“Structural Colour Studio is an inspiring example of a solution born from long-term, cross-disciplinary research and development. Their work aims to replace toxic or petroleum-based materials with a new bio-based alternative.
Their nature-inspired, nanostructure-based technique offers a sustainable option for creating eye-catching finishes for fashion and design products—and it holds real commercial potential.
By awarding Noora Yau, Konrad Klockars and Anna Semi the first-ever Hyvon Award, we want to encourage researchers in their development efforts. These are exactly the kinds of insights the new bioeconomy needs.”
Shimmering Beauty, with Respect for the Environment
The award came as a welcome surprise to the team at Structural Colour Studio.
Noora Yau shares that the recognition encourages them to continue pioneering at the intersection of materials science, design, and fashion. “Developing a new material is a constant exploration of the unknown. This recognition from within the fashion field shows that our work hasn’t gone unnoticed—and that the industry is eager for bold new initiatives toward a sustainable future.”
According to Yau, Finland has strong expertise, but talking about our strengths isn’t our greatest asset. “I call for more collaboration—and a boost in confidence! Especially the creative industries can play a key role in making sustainable solutions into products and services that people actually want to use and care for.”
Ultimately, it’s about ensuring a livable planet for future generations. “The industry needs new, multidisciplinary solutions at every stage—from raw material production to the end of the value chain,” Yau concludes.
Their eyes are already on the future—one where surfaces shimmer beautifully.
Watch the video where Yau, Klockars and Semi talk about their work.