“I'm not a designer who blows everything up and does something completely crazy. I enjoy my products ending up on people, because that's what they're meant to be,” says Anssi Ruokokoski, Medanta's new clothing designer.
When Medanta approached Anssi Ruokokoski with a collaboration proposal, things fell into place. Workwear fascinates him. He is used to designing clothes that people like and wear.
"Workwear is a selling point for companies and affects the employer's image. People do their job better when they have functional clothes that are comfortable to wear and make them feel stylish."
Although the employer and the industry define what workwear should be like, the main role is played by the user. Ruokokoski believes that clothing designers can sometimes design too much ahead of the brand, which can lead to forgetting about the person inside the garment.
"A person should feel good in their clothes. At best, they can experience an empowering feeling when they put on the clothes. Clothing should rather boost self-esteem than depress it. For example, a food worker's jacket can be cool, in addition to protecting and warming them," says Ruokokoski.
Something completely new and different is already coming. Together with Taina Steiner, who is responsible for product development, she is currently designing a collection for the general public, meaning Medanta is expanding its selection from workwear towards casual wear. More news about the collection will be heard soon.
Award-winning costume master
Thousands of Finns have worn Anssi Ruokokoski's clothes. He is known especially as an expert in men's clothing. He designed men's collections for Turo for 16 years. Ruokokoski has also designed children's clothing and men's sportswear for Luhta, jeans for Lee Cooper, jackets for Oratop, a men's collection for PTA, and designed the brand renewal of Globe Hope.
As a suit and coat designer, his trademarks have been sophisticated details, such as red buttonholes and showy ruffles, which give the garment character.
Ruokokoski has always been a commercial designer. He has worked mainly for large companies and made clothes that are intended to be sold and worn, not just for catwalks.
Ruokokoski was awarded the Golden Clothing Tree for his work in 2007. In 2008, he was chosen as Fashion Designer of the Year. Ruokokoski is also remembered on TV, as he served as a judge on the reality TV series Fashion at the Top. At that time, he was known as Tuupainen.
Why did the name change?
“Fine art freed me from the busy fashion years”
In 2016, Anssi Tuupainen felt that she had already given everything to clothes and fashion. The fashion industry was not developing in the right direction for her. A break of years followed. She realized her long-standing dream and adopted her mother's maiden name, Ruokokosken.
“I told my mother as a child that I would become an artist, and I studied fine arts when I was younger. However, my parents thought that I should find a better profession for myself. Now I’m back to my roots.”
The great man of the Ruokokoski family was Jalmari Ruokokoski, an expressionist artist who was influential in the early 20th century and left his mark on Finnish art history.
“I bought Japanese markers and started painting abstract art in a calligraphy style. It was incredibly liberating after the hectic fashion years. It was a relief to no longer have to know what the fashion collections of top international brands looked like.
Ruokokoski paints with acrylics and markers on film, for example. His works were most recently exhibited at the Gumbostrand Konst & Form art center this summer and at the Lonnan Island summer exhibition for the third time.
“Art has given me a lot, but I would never have been able to do it without years of fashion experience. At fabric fairs, I could go through 500 fabric designs a day and choose three of them. It gives colors and materials some kind of superpowers. That's something I have that not everyone else has,” Ruokokoski says.
“I enjoy seeing my clothes actually used”
Although Ruokokoski has been in the clothing industry for 27 years and has created dozens of collections, the world of workwear is relatively new to him. The demands of workwear design inspire him.
Human-centeredness and practicality are important design principles for Ruokokoski.
“Menswear design is very practical. Pockets have to work, materials have to be good. Suits are not bought every year. They are finished and long-lasting products. The same logic applies to workwear.”
There are many constraints in designing workwear related to price, durability, design and the specific requirements of each industry. For example, even if a pocket looks good in the design, you can't design it if it's not allowed on the garment.
"Workwear is a very special type of fashion. It is not based on trends created by international fashion houses, but is based on the idea of designing the best possible workwear for people within the constraints. Medanta has already succeeded brilliantly in this," says Ruokokoski.
3 QUESTIONS
What kind of clothes do you wear to work?
“When I worked as a men's suit designer, I was pretty much represented wearing a suit. I wanted to dress like a young dandy. Now the relaxed vibe has hit me too and I can even walk around town in sweatpants. However, there is always a twist to the outfits.”
What would you never wear?
"Purple might be a difficult color for me, but an all-purple suit would make a really fun outfit. I'm not a skirt person at all, because I don't think I look good in them."
What do you like to do in your free time?
“I have lots of friends and two small dogs that I hang out with. I like to eat well and enjoy good wine. My heart is in Nice and I hope to visit there again.”
Leave a comment
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.