Design Night festival takes place in Tallinn

The Disainiöö design festival took place in Tallinn, where clothing, accessory and textile designers displayed their work along wide exhibition aisles. Booths offered unique clothing, headwear and various accessories for viewing and purchase, according to Estonian broadcaster's "Aktuaalne Kaamera" program.

The event drew many visitors, and the designers' creations clearly caught people's attention. Several attendees said they were willing to spend more on one-of-a-kind pieces than they would on mass-market items. One visitor described being captivated by an original handbag shaped like a small shoe, saying she was considering buying it because it had made such an impression on her. Another visitor bought a full jewelry set — a ring, earrings and a necklace — saying she appreciated that the pieces were distinctly designer-made, original and comfortable to wear.

Designers say they don't compete with mass-market brands

Exhibitors explained that they are not competing with mass-market retailers, since mass production involves entirely different quality standards and large batch sizes, while designer items are made in very small quantities, sometimes as single unique pieces. Designer-engineer Anna noted that the key is for someone to try a piece, appreciate it, and then recommend it to others — a process through which lasting fashion trends take shape.

Designer Maria traveled from Finland to present her acrylic jewelry at the festival. She said the sheer volume of mass-market offerings, such as those found on platforms like TEMU, actually pushes designers to seek out more unusual solutions and work harder on their individuality. According to her, the hardest part is standing out among such a huge variety of offerings, since there are now many talented craftspeople and each one needs to showcase their own distinct style.