From a town of Medieval towers and a land of primeval forests and deep swamps
comes a fashion designer who blends it all into a modern take on clothing.
A Heartbroken Girl and a Hungry Crow
A harsh winter day. Little Karolin is dressed exactly like all Soviet children were at the time – wearing a colorless jacket, a furry hat on her head, and mittens knitted by her grandmother. She takes off one mitten to feed a brave crow that has come quite close. Everything around her is snow-white, because that’s just how Northern winters are. The peace created by the crow’s mix of gray and black feathers against the white snow is something that will stay in this little girl’s soul forever.
Gray, black, white… it’s clarity and asceticism. But on that day, she doesn’t analyze it. That comes only twenty years later.
A Stiflingly Hot Summer Day.
Little Karolin is now in Southern Estonia, in a no-man’s land, closer to all kinds of state borders than you might guess. Come closer and let’s see what she’s doing there. She is lying on her back, in a meadow, resting among tall grass decorated with flowers of various colors. Come even closer, and you’ll see that she… is crying. How is it possible that one small girl is so heartbroken in the midst of such breathtaking beauty? Among birds singing with joy, the vivid blue sky, flower clusters, curious bees, and the pulsing life all around? But you know, little girls are always heartbroken when their grandmothers die. It seems impossible that life can go on after all, or that the summer—with its ode to life—can continue.
These two childhood scenes are forever imprinted in my mind. Opposites, between which countless other nature scenes of varying moods fit. And so it is that most of my childhood memories, both everyday moments and emotional events, are surrounded by nature. There’s plenty to choose from, because Estonia’s four seasons roll out a completely new sensory experience with each cycle. Naturally, all this has made its way into my creative work.
But not through snowfields or flower clusters—instead, in a more symbolic way. My work always has two sides, opposites that don’t necessarily cancel each other out. If memories of summer have brought into my art a euphoria for life, a ball of color, and visual optimism, then there is also a counterforce to all that. The asceticism of the winter landscape, its peace, balance, and clarity of thought give my work a more contemplative tone.
"Romantic, sporty, historic and modern blend into one look. Inspired by the a forest I take long walks in the wintertime." - Karolin Kuusik
An Ode to Contrasts
But the contrasts, both in Estonia and in my work, do not end there. Estonia is a modern, forward-looking country — a global leader in digital solutions, low bureaucracy, and the number of startups. And yet, every day, as I walk from my home in a historic seaside wooden district to the city center, I step directly into the Middle Ages. My path takes me through Tallinn’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where most buildings are several centuries old. Here, people dressed in medieval costumes call out from afar, urging me to buy their spiced almonds, while a man in an executioner’s outfit beckons me to enter the Museum of Medieval Torture Instruments. This is the same Tallinn where herbal tinctures were once mixed in the town square pharmacy, and knights rode their horses over cobblestone streets, their hooves echoing all the way up to the city’s towers.
A walk through streets of Tallinn, where old meets new with Karolin Kuusic
When I’m not in the city, I’m at my second home, nestled in the heart of a national park, surrounded by untouched forests and lakes. While foraging for mushrooms or berries in these woods, I often catch a glimpse of a deer – an animal that holds special meaning for my brand. Here, I tend a garden that offers raspberries and tomatoes in the summer, and apples and carrots in the autumn. This countryside home keeps me connected to my ancestors, teaches me humbleness, and provides inspiration for my everyday work.
"Here I spend all my free moments to contemplate and to find new inspiration. A lot of my work is inspired by Estonian nature. " - Karolin Kuusic
As you might imagine, I can’t choose between summer or winter, between a modern digital nation and a mystical medieval city nor between culture and nature. I am influenced by all of it — because one isn’t better than the other. They all live within me and around me, every single day. That’s exactly why my creative work is shaped by such opposing influences.
I blend polar opposites in a fun and organic way — mixing streetwear with elegant office vibes, boxy and androgynous cuts with precise tailoring, flowing fabrics with delicate femininity, subtle pastels with bold graphic black-and-white, and sweetness and innocence with dark, mature signature pieces. Modernity and futurism are always balanced by history and mysticism. A bright, colorful dress is paired with a neutral-toned, androgynous blazer thrown over the shoulders. A romantic blouse with puffed sleeves finds its match in masculine pleated trousers in muted mouse-gray. You can find contrasts even within a single garment. A sporty sweatshirt might be adorned with pearl embroidery, while the bottom of a formal blazer could be cut to flow gracefully as you move.
Structure meets fluidity, femininity embraces masculinity in silhouettes that speak both strength and softness.
Styling and Designing Forever
Although I studied fashion design at the Estonian Academy of Arts, my fashion career began in a different way — as a stylist. I’ve been known for my unique styling work in the Estonian entertainment industry for over 25 years, dressing people for television shows, fashion events, and advertising campaigns. My work has also extended to developing looks for both politicians and pop stars.
During all those years, I never let go of my love for designing. All those years of studying fashion – treating it as an art form, while also learning to sew suits and corsets by hand – couldn’t just go to waste. I continued to create one-of-a-kind pieces for special occasions — garments that are hard to forget. It’s difficult to find a local celebrity who hasn’t either been styled by me or worn one of my unique creations on stage or at high-profile events. In 2022, I finally decided to make my designs available to a wider audience and launched my namesake brand. My multifaceted career — and the DNA of my homeland, positioned between Scandinavia and Eastern Europe — flow into my design vision. It’s always a love letter to fashion’s ability to hold both discipline and playfulness, structure and soul.
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