Heli Sahanen, a clothing designer who recently moved to Forssa, is participating in the European Metamorphosis of Workwear project, which is taking visions of the future of workwear on an exhibition tour around Europe. Sahanen's workwear of the future is made from Foxa fabrics.
Metamorphosis of Workwear is an artistic collaboration project in which 18 designers from across Europe create their vision of what workwear could look like in 50 years' time.
Three designers from Finland are participating, one of whom is Heli Sahanen.
The exhibition tour will visit Tampere, Chemnitz, Lodz, and Gabrovo, and in the future possibly also the fashion weeks in Paris and Berlin.
"Workwear is a familiar field for me, as I previously worked as a product development specialist at Image Wear.
Now I've been able to combine my passion for art projects, custom tailoring, and the principles of workwear.
What kind of work will people be doing in 50 years?
When Sahanen began designing workwear for the future, he didn't start with the fabric, but with the question: what will work be like in the future?
And above all, what will workwear be like in 50 years?
“Artificial intelligence and automation will certainly eliminate many professions, but they cannot replace human touch and presence. That’s how the idea of a sauna master and work related to well-being, humanity, and rituals came about,” says Heli Sahanen.
"In Finnish culture, sauna bathing is more than just cleansing. It is about calming down and connecting with other people. I wanted workwear to convey this feeling as well.
All the Manchesters of Europe
The project looks to the future, but draws on history and local textile heritage.
Tampere is Finland's representative in the project as a well-known European textile city.
"A lot of research had to be done, because a connection to history was a requirement.
"We also had to focus on the story behind the workwear. It was about creating a whole in which tradition, the future, clothing, and story go hand in hand.
Tampere's contribution to the project naturally led Sahanen to collaborate with Foxa, a company with deep roots in the Finnish textile industry and the Finlayson heritage.
“There are enormous opportunities in Forssa. There are still experts, companies, and infrastructure here that support sustainable and innovative textile production. Forssa has the opportunity to profile itself as the textile capital of Finland,” she reflects.
Foxa fabrics inspire creativity
Heli built her outfit mainly from fabrics donated by Foxa, some of which were test batches or product development materials.
With these, she created a futuristic yet tangible work of art. She only had three weeks to complete her competition entry.
Fortunately, Foxa's fabrics were easy to handle, sew, and modify.
"Foxa's fabrics were wonderfully versatile—thinner and more flexible than traditional workwear fabrics. They brought a sense of lightness and movement," Sahanen describes.
"The colors of the fabrics were also amazing. I used the familiar high-visibility colors of workwear as accents, and it looked fantastic on the catwalk.
Towards the catwalks of Europe
Metamorphosis of Workwear is more than an art project – it is a European conversation about work, change, and cultural identity.
Coordinated by the Chemnitz Industrial Museum and funded by the EU, the project is part of the European Capital of Culture 2025 program and gives a new voice to workwear – and with it, to the cities that have helped build Europe.
You can follow the progress of the project on Instagram @metamorphosis_of_workwear or on the project's own website https://www.industriemuseum-chemnitz.de/en/exhibition/metamorphosis-of-workwear-196