Arnika’s latest collection moves through memory and myth, shaped by the recollection of a woman from her childhood. A factory worker in her small Danish island town, she was both feared and admired—a presence that unsettled and fascinated in equal measure. “Everybody wanted to be her, but also feared her a little,” Arnika explains. This duality of allure and unease is embedded in the collection’s forms, where structured silhouettes meet a sense of unruly confidence.

Shoes, inspired by traditional Danish factory clogs, carry an unexpected twist—heels that evoke the curve of a fishhook, a nod to both the island’s fishing industry and something more elusive, almost otherworldly. “Alien-esque, but also strongly feminine,” she describes them.

Having left her island over a decade ago, Arnika has built a life in Berlin, where she finds both community and creative momentum. Support from the Senate has enabled her to craft shows on her own terms, emphasizing the importance of time, trust, and collaboration. "I know Fashion Week is always running, but we want to show that we value the time people take to be here.”

From early collections to designs worn by Charlie XCX and Kylie Jenner, her work continues to gain ground, but at its core, it remains personal—rooted in the stories that first shaped her.

““Everybody wanted to be her, but also feared her a little.””

I want to know more about this creation—about the collection, how it started, and what aspect of the execution was most challenging?

The whole concept is built around a memory I have of a factory worker from my island. I come from a small island in northern Denmark, known for its fish and seafood. There was always this one factory worker in town—she was a little too sexy, maybe a little too fierce.

I constructed a narrative around her, turning her into a kind of menace. The kids were a little afraid of her, and the men were drawn to her. She became this figure—the Nordic island woman that everyone wants to be but also fears a little.

The shapes in the collection felt very well-balanced. How did you manage to find that balance? Are you referring specifically to the shoes? To the shapes?

As with everything, I had really good people around me. The shoes were based on a Danish factory clog, but with this curved, hooked heel that has a subtle reference—almost like a fish hook, if you think about it. Something a little alien, but still carrying a strong femininity.