MOOD-HAMK

What do you get when you mix 23 students, 2 schools, 2 countries, some glass and a lot of fabric? A three-day journey full of creativity, laughter and learning.  

Moodart and HAMK joined forces for an inspiring international workshop, and it turned into something much bigger than just a school project.

When Marketing meets Making

With summer approaching, Italian students were daydreaming about a beach vacation – instead, they took off from Milan and found themselves in Hämeenlinna. The swimsuits in the suitcase? Don’t worry, they were used in the sauna.  

For the Italian students this journey was an educational enrichment, allowing them to see the world of fashion from a new perspective, as they come from a Marketing and Communication background. On the other hand, for HAMK students this was a valuable opportunity to share skills and creative instincts. 

“The opportunity to work with students from another country seemed interesting and a great experience to take part in. It’s fascinating to see different perspectives on fashion design outside of our culture and to make new connections.” - Eena, HAMK student. 

From Brief to Breakthrough

During a three-day creative sprint, students from HAMK and MOODART worked together in a special workshop that combined two different visions of fashion and creativity. This intercultural teamwork led to new ideas and an editorial project. The final results of this inspiring collaboration will be published in HAMKZINE at the end of the workshop. 

“It’s good to leave room for students to self organize and express themselves in their work. It’s about trusting the students." - Anna Huoviala

A Workshop Worth Melting for

Starting off strong: the Glass Jewellery Lab, where we got to design and create our own gem pieces. By cutting, shaping and melting, ideas were transformed into wearable art – whether as necklaces, rings or earrings. 

For a deeper dive into the creative choices and the jewelery-making process behind the pieces, check out the in-depth article about the workshop.

Draping Without Borders

First they were jewellers, then they became designers. In the Draping Workshop things got even more collaborative: mixed teams of students from MOODARTt and HAMK played with different textiles, volumes and colours. Two different worlds collided and something special happened. Curious yet? You can check out the results in the in-depth draping workshop article.

“The best thing was seeing all the students work independently and with such confidence. As I reviewed their projects, I was impressed by the high level of professionalism and creativity. It’s clear to me that the HAMK- MOODART partnership was a true success” - Gabriele Moschin, MOODART and HAMK teacher.

Not Just Souvenirs: Lessons that don’t fit in a Carry-on.

What students bring home is more than handcrafted jewelry or draped fabrics, the whole experience might have begun as a creative sprint, but it ended as something unforgettable. A chance to share passions and know-how, exchanging not only skills but also new perspectives, smiles and a deeper understanding of what it truly means to create together.  

“Finland might not be the warmest place, but its people are. That’s one of the many things we found out during our stay in Hämeenlinna.” - Martina, MOODART student.

Finland and Italy came together looking for connection, discovery, and maybe even a little magic. And we can say, without a shadow of doubt, that we have found it.