The SSENSE Guide to Scandinavian Fashion Brands

Founded: 1996
City: Stockholm
Instagram: @acnestudios
SSENSE says: The Swedish fashion house–whose name is an acronym for “Ambition to Create Novel Expressions”—is one of the most recognizable Scandi luxury brands. Known for its contemporary styles, premium quality, and minimalist design, the brand crafts timeless pieces with clean lines and meticulous attention to detail. The drive behind the brand’s success is its ability to create both one-off designs that speak to the zeitgeist and timeless, durable pieces, like its instantly recognizable oversize fringe scarves.

Founded: 2016
City: Copenhagen
Instagram: @aesther_ekme
SSENSE says: Minimalist elegance defines this understated Danish accessories and leather goods brand. Founded by Stephane Park, bags—both big and small—are crafted with functionality and taste in mind, combining classic silhouettes, neutral colors, and leathers from tanneries committed to eco-friendly practices. It’s unsurprising, then, that the label’s name roughly translates to “classic bags” from the Crimean Tatar language.

Founded: 2018
City: Copenhagen
Instagram: @birrot_official
SSENSE says: Birrot is a refreshing proposition for anyone looking to simplify their wardrobe. Founded by Kyeongmin Kim and Seyoung Hong, the brand’s name translates to drawing a process to its conclusion in Korean—which feels particularly apt considering the brand’s clean, straightforward silhouettes can offer a simple finish to any ensemble.

Founded: 2019
City: Copenhagen
Instagram: @bernerkuhl
SSENSE says: Berner Kühl has been described as a no-fuss label—and with good reason. The menswear brand designs classic suits, knitwear, and outerwear with a focus on specially sourced, time-tested materials. Founder Frederik Berner Kühl first started the brand as a means of educating consumers on the production process, and is committed to maintaining a totally transparent supply chain.

Founded: 2022
City: Copenhagen
Instagram: @caroeditions
SSENSE says: Founded by Danish model Caroline Brasch Nielsen, Caro Editions is an extension of her personal style, which has garnered her a cult following on social media. It is distinguished by quirky prints, luxe materials, and lively colors as well as a responsible production process. The label puts out two collections a year in addition to occasional upcycled denim pieces.

Founded: 2015
City: Copenhagen
Instagram: @ceciliebahnsen
SSENSE says: Cecilie Bahnsen exists at the intersection of couture and ready-to-wear fashion. With its unwavering commitment to craft and attention to detail, the Danish luxury label is known for its romantic and ethereal designs, making it a wedding dress favorite for It Girls across the globe. Bahnsen’s work invokes a sense of modern femininity that is both fantasy-filled and down-to-earth—a position that, alongside her expert artistry, has made the brand one of the most celebrated and internationally recognizable Scandi labels.

Founded: 2012
City: Malmö
Instagram: @cmmn_swdn
SSENSE says: Partners in both work and love, Saif Bakir and Emma Hedlund established CMMN SWDN in Malmö, Sweden in 2012. Central Saint Martins and London College of Fashion alum, Bakir and Hedlund came up with the idea for the brand while collaborating in Paris on Kanye West’s first clothing line. The CMMN SWDN mantra is “elevating the everyday,” this comes through in classic menswear silhouettes and knits with a nostalgic, sometimes bold twist. Its use of color in particular, from shades of soft pink and orange to chocolate brown, is a strength of the brand. Look to CMMN SWDN for staples that will set you apart.

Founded: 2013
City: Stockholm
Instagram: @eytys
SSENSE says: Since Eytys exploded onto the fashion scene ten years ago, the shoe brand has become a mainstay in the contemporary city-dweller’s wardrobe. Known for chunky yet comfortable footwear, the brand branched out first with denim, and now offers regular ready-to-wear collections that also take inspiration from ’90s grunge aesthetics.

Founded: 2020
City: London
Instagram: @feben.x
SSENSE says: Raised in Sweden by a mother of Ethiopian heritage, Feben has been making and customizing clothes since her teenage years. But it was after she graduated from Central Saint Martins with an MA in 2020 that she formally launched Feben—a brand that has become a celebrity favorite for its flat prints that look three-dimensional on the wearer. The brand is also known for its sculptural ruching, which lends a tactile, organic quality to cropped tops and floor-length dresses.

Founded: 1993
City: Stockholm
Instagram: @filippa_k
SSENSE says: At 30 years and counting, Filippa K has been around for longer than most Scandi brands. Garnering support in its early years for its dedication to lasting, functional, and minimalist fashion, it has recently shifted its efforts towards longevity and sustainability with the launch of its own platform for preloved clothes.

Founded: 2000
City: Copenhagen
Instagram: @ganni
SSENSE says: Among the best-known Scandi brands, GANNI has cultivated a distinct aesthetic synonymous with bold prints, vibrant colors, relaxed fabrics, and eclectic designs. With a wide range of ready-to-wear, the Danish cult label effortlessly merges feminine silhouettes with comfort and wearability in a bid to celebrate a playful approach to fashion. If you’re looking for the quintessential Scandi girl look, reach for GANNI.

Founded: 2008
City: Copenhagen
Instagram: @hankjobenhavn
SSENSE says: If you’re checking for labels like Juun.J and Rick Owens, consider adding some Han Kjøbenhavn to the mix. Blending streetwear and high-end fashion, Han Kjøbenhavn caters to lovers of experimental styles and traditional craft. The Danish brand specializes in uncompromising design and sculptural eveningwear, and is led by a commitment to bold, unconventional, and even theatrical silhouettes.

Founded: 2017
City: Copenhagen
Instagram: @heliot_emil
SSENSE says: HELIOT EMIL is a love letter to the great-grandfather—who shares a name with the label—of founding brothers Julius and Victor Juul. With a subversive monochromatic aesthetic that feels classic and futuristic in equal parts, the brand combines immaculate tailoring with asymmetrical cutouts and expert draping. The duo is also known for using their collections as explorations of technology and its application in fashion and beyond.

Founded: 2000
City: London
Instagram: @henrikvibskov
SSENSE says: Avant-garde, bright, fantastical—such are the designs of Henrik Vibskov, the Danish ready-to-wear label that shot to prominence in the early 2000s. Bold patterns and vibrant prints characterise the brand’s DNA, which is as thought-provoking and experimental as it is fun and playful.

Founded: 2021
City: Stockholm
Instagram: @hoda_kova
SSENSE says: Few Scandi brands have risen to prominence as fast as HODAKOVA. With dresses made from discarded bras, bags made from belts, and shoes made from watches, the Swedish brand has quickly established itself as an exciting innovator within the contemporary fashion space. Branding its designs as “converted goods,” HODAKOVA’s subversive take on A-line dresses and boxy blazers is sure to be an exciting—and vital—mainstay at Paris Fashion Week.

Founded: 2012
City: Oslo
Instagram: @holzweiler
SSENSE says: The Norwegian sibling-run fashion brand epitomizes contemporary Nordic elegance. With its commitment to sustainable, responsible, and transparent practices, the brand blends high-quality craftsmanship with modern design. Renowned for its high-quality scarves and easy, distinguished ready-to-wear collections, this brand is our pick for instant wardrobe refinement if you’re looking to graduate from athleisure.

Founded: 2001
City: Stockholm
Instagram: @hopestockholm
SSENSE says: The Swedish brand is best described as honest and direct with an emphasis on proper tailoring. Overlapping pencil skirts, cozy zip-up cardigans, and woolly fitted vests make for essential wardrobe staples. Each item is labeled with both men’s and women’s sizes, encouraging everyone to experiment.

Founded: 2014
City: Stockholm
Instagram: @lisayangcollection
SSENSE says: Simple, refined, classic. LISA YANG—a master of knitwear—creates garments that epitomize understated elegance. The brand is renowned for its immaculate fits, comfortable cuts, and high-quality cashmere, which comes in a range of versatile, timeless colorways like navy blue and soft pink.

Founded: 2015
City: Copenhagen
Instagram: @mfpen_
SSENSE says: The Danish menswear brand is both sophisticated and relaxed. It’s well-made and easy to wear. And it’s also a brand that strives to be responsible—where possible, mfpen sources deadstock fabrics and uses recycled, biodegradable fibers. It’s also committed to reducing waste by holding minimal products in stock as a way of minimizing the possibility of overproduction.

Founded: 2004
City: Copenhagen
Instagram: @norseprojects
SSENSE says: NORSE PROJECTS cultivated an avid following in the #menswear era with its five-panel hats, and then seamlessly combined Scandinavian aesthetics and functionality with the launch of its ready-to-wear line in 2009. From minimalist outerwear to versatile basics, the Danish brand produces contemporary menswear with a commitment to craft and quality. The driving philosophy behind the brand is that good clothes should always be practical.

Founded: 2020
City: Copenhagen
Instagram: @nicklasskovgaard
SSENSE says: A bit ’80s prom queen, a bit renaissance, a bit street; we can’t get enough of the Nicklas Skovgaard woman. Born from Skovgaard’s experimentations while teaching himself to weave with a small loom, the blogger-turned-designer creates party-ready garments using handwoven textiles and thrifted fabrics. His designs, which are punctuated by bubble skirts and layered draping, subvert traditional conceptions of flattery through dropped waistlines and manipulated silhouettes.

Founded: 2005
City: Stockholm
Instagram: @ourlegacy
SSENSE says: Not much has changed about Our Legacy since it first launched almost 20 years ago: Its use of custom-developed fabrics on signature shapes is still a recipe for anti-trend success. Once strictly menswear, the 2018 extension into womenswear made sense given the long-standing unisex appeal of their designs. Coveted for its low-key irreverence, Our Legacy has a passionate following of devotees—act fast on the footwear and denim drops in particular.

Founded: 2012
City: Aarhus
Instagram: @rains
SSENSE says: RAINS is a distinguished Danish brand that defines contemporary rainwear with its sleek and functional designs. Renowned for innovative waterproof materials and clean lines, the brand crafts high-quality essentials for people living in wet climates. Embodying quintessential Danish design ethos, the brand’s utilitarian pieces are simple, stylish, and durable in equal measure.

Founded: 2018
City: Copenhagen
Instagram: @remainbirgerchristensen
SSENSE says: Known for its sophisticated and modern aesthetic, REMAIN Birger Christensen is a Danish brand that fuses timeless elegance with wearable design. Focused on elevated essentials and contemporary classics, its collections feature everyday tailoring, luxe materials, and a subdued color palette. With a nod to Copenhagen's pragmatic approach to fashion, the brand’s mission is to create a daily uniform for every wardrobe.

Founded: 1993
City: Copenhagen
Instagram: @samsoesamsoe
SSENSE says: Founded long before the global fashion industry fell in love with Copenhagen, Samsøe Samsøe had already established itself as a quintessentially Nordic brand. With a wide range of premium basics and well-crafted winter pieces at accessible price points, the label—which was founded by brothers Klaus and Preben Samsøe—has been a favorite of Scandi fashion-lovers for decades.

Founded: 2018
City: Copenhagen
Instagram: @_hello_sunflower
SSENSE says: The Danish menswear brand is best known for its coats—whether oversize or longline, it’s a category fittingly apt for a cold climate. The Scandi fashion scene is often characterized by its dedication to utilitarian, practical fashion, but Sunflower has distinguished itself because of its unwavering attention to detail, construction, and tailoring.

Founded: 2012
City: Malmö
Instagram: @sefr___
SSENSE says: Founded by longtime friends Per Fredrikson and Sinan Abi, Séfr offers sophistication and comfort. Initially founded as a store in 2012, it exclusively stocked secondhand items like rare garments and one-off pieces that had been sourced from the duo’s well-connected network. In 2016, Fredrikson and Abi launched the brand’s ready-to-wear line, which celebrates retro-minimalism through a Scandi lens.

Founded: 2002
City: Copenhagen
Instagram: @soulland
SSENSE says: Founded as a small-scale production of homemade T-shirts, Soulland has grown into one of Denmark’s more established brands, pushing beyond the confines of traditional menswear and womenswear. Gender-bending designs and playful color palettes have made this brand one of Copenhagen’s coolest exports.

Founded: 2011
City: Copenhagen
Instagram: @sophiebillebrahe
SSENSE says: Sophie Bille Brahe’s fine jewelry is otherworldly in its dainty simplicity. It’s unsurprising, then, that the designer takes inspiration from astrology, a fascination she says she inherited from her astronomer ancestors. Characterized by floating pearls, spiraling diamonds, and fluid shapes, the luxury label offers the craft and timelessness of traditional jewelry with a contemporary twist.

Founded: 2018
City: Copenhagen
Instagram: @solitude.studios
SSENSE says: Copenhagen-based Solitude studios has a retro-futuristic edge and extremely cool fabrication techniques. Take its Presence bag, which is made out of untreated heavy wool that was buried in a Danish bog for two months. While submerged underwater, the ecosystem of the bog starts to “eat” the wool, creating natural colorations and textures. Once unearthed and thoroughly cleaned, the wool is ready to be sewn. Solitude’s emphasis on organic, nature-based fashion design is not only exciting, but more vital than ever. “We want to feed the culture,” said founders Emil Wæde Frederiksen and Jonas Sayed Gammal Bruun in an interview with office magazine, “not consumerism.”

Founded: 2017
City: Copenhagen
Instagram: @teklafabrics
SSENSE says: Founded by former Acne Studios executive Charlie Hedin, Tekla has come to redefine homeware with its neutral-toned wool blankets, oversize terry robes, and organic cotton towels. The products feel as beautiful as they look, with towels made from super-combed fibers, which are stronger and smoother than regular cotton. The label is also known for its collaborations with the likes of John Pawson, Stüssy, and most recently, Birkenstock.

Founded: 2014
City: Stockholm
Instagram: @toteme
SSENSE says: Founded by Elin Kling and Karl Lindman, the label embodies modern simplicity and timeless elegance. With a focus on clean lines and luxurious materials, TOTEME crafts minimalist pieces that effortlessly transition from day to night, defining a sophisticated, understated style for the contemporary woman.

Founded: 2004
City: Copenhagen
Instagram: @wonhundred_official
SSENSE says: Renowned for its modern, urban aesthetic, Won Hundred has been steadfast in its embrace of a less-is-more ethos for nearly 20 years. Simplicity and attention to detail are what’s driving the brand, which offers extensive ready-to-wear collections—including both clothing and accessories—for individuals seeking versatile but enduring styles. If you’re looking to spice things up though, standout pieces like lime green overdyed jeans and cowboy boots offer the perfect bit of flair.

Founded: 2002
City: Copenhagen
Instagram: @w00dw00d
SSENSE says: Wood Wood describes itself as an experimental brand “creating digital and physical experiences.” The label specializes in ready-to-wear created by a team of in-house designers, focusing on classic shapes that reappear in new fabrics and fresh prints. Wood Wood has collaborated with the likes of adidas, Nike, Maharishi, and New Balance—and has also launched an editorial extension that promotes the work of emerging creatives.