Last year, we highlighted Oslo-based Martinsen as part of the next wave of Norwegian fashion talent which is the complete antithesis of Scandi minimalism. After her BA in fashion design from IED in Milan, she spent some time obsessing over how to make good quality and interesting garments.
— I wanted to understand my chosen material, how to construct well, how to pattern cut — and how to get the fabric to move and shape.
She created her eponymous label, Tarinii, with a wish to play with expressions within menswear as well as challenge and explore social stereotypes.
— My brand is a menswear brand, but anything can be adapted to fit a woman’s body. So I like to say it’s menswear for all. On a personal note, the brand is a place for me to explore the worldly phenomena I find intriguing. It is also a place for me to interpret my experiences and the things I witness, and a place to try to create something that makes me tingle and hopefully tickles the interest of someone else as well.
— I have a hand in the making of most of the pieces. And I have a wish for us to find our way back to knowing the people who make our stuff, so anyone interested can just come by my studio.
How do you source the fabrics?
— I mainly use certified organic fabrics and deadstock, which I source from European suppliers. I can’t buy large quantities, so deadstock works really well for me, Martinsen shares.
”What fashion needs the most is restraint”
What are the main challenges of working with these materials?
— Limited supply! When it comes to deadstock, it’s the only challenge the way I see it. Finding and sourcing beautiful deadstock materials is getting easier. But the limited supply is a big one, I have pieces that will only be produced in a very limited number. However, I also think there is something nice about that, surely what fashion needs the most is restraint.
Together with Murlong Cres, Tarinii is selected to participate in this year’s Oslo Runway NEXT program. The initiative is highlighting names that are believed to have what it takes to be Norway’s next fashion brands, and they will both showcase their collections during the opening night of Oslo Runway on Monday, August 26.
— The committee has selected the two candidates based on their business potential and their visions concerning creativity and sustainability, explains Elin O. Carlsen, CEO of Oslo Runway. We hope they will make the most out of this unique opportunity providing more exposure, an expanded network and professional support. We are excited to follow their journey onwards, says Carlsen.
According to Sunniva Hartgen, Head of Fashion at Oslo Runway, there are several reasons why Tarinii is one of the two chosen brands.
— This will be Tarinii’s second season as NEXT. The program committee was very impressed by last year’s collection and wants to see how she will develop further within the same frames. Tarinii is pushing the Norwegian market and clearly stands out from the crowd with her atypical silhouettes and colour choices, she says.
Tarinii Martinsen, what will you show?
— I think seasons are outdated. I try to make one collection a year, but I keep the previous collections available on my e-commerce site as long as I have the materials to produce them. I want the things I make to have aesthetic longevity. That’s my hope.
— The collection is still developing, but it carries with it a reaction to the previous one — it isn’t as soft, and maybe not as comforting. I think it is a little angry, but also whimsical and hopeful. It is a hard world, and it’s impossible to be completely detached from that.
Will we continue to see a rise of conscious brands from Norway?
— I think it’s the only way. Restraint. Make less. I hope made-to-order is the future. Appreciate the craft. And wear stuff by people who love the process of making it, Martinsen concludes.
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