MARIMO REPRESENTS ESTONIAN DESIGN IN NEW YORK AND CHICAGO

This past almost two weeks have been one of the most inspiring and meaningful chapters of my professional journey. Together with my husband, Raido Pikkar, who was chosen to join the Estonian delegation with Thorgate, we had the honour of representing Estonia abroad — I as part of the official Estonian Creative Industries Delegation led by President Alar Karis and Minister of Culture Heidy Purga, and Raido as part of the tech industries delegation that followed.

New York City

The visit to New York celebrated Estonian creativity on a global stage — and to be there representing Marimo Fashion and Estonian design excellence was truly special. Our days were filled with creativity, connection, and cultural exchange. From early morning runs in Central Park — quiet moments to clear my mind before the busy schedule ahead — to inspiring meetings and discussions, every hour felt purposeful.

We visited remarkable places such as National Sawdust, Showroom Seven, Jolibe Atelier, and Anthony Luciano Studio, exchanging ideas and experiences with the local creative community. A particular highlight was our visit to The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute together with Estonia’s First Lady, Sirje Karis. 

Discussing international collaboration in such an iconic setting reminded me how deeply art and fashion can connect people across borders. Later, at the Canvas Soho reception, we focused on building transatlantic bridges between Estonian and U.S. cultural circles — a powerful and emotional moment for everyone present.

Photos: Raigo Pajula

Among the many highlights of the week were the Presidential reception and Arvo Pärt’s 90th jubilee concerts at Carnegie Hall. It was also a joy to spend time with familiar faces and new acquaintances, including a lovely dinner with one of our loyal New York clients, Hanna. Moments like these remind me why personal connection remains at the heart of what we do at Marimo.

The photoshoot

And amidst this whirlwind, I had a Marimo photo shoot in the heart of New York City. My team and I had anticipated that this trip might offer a rare creative opportunity, so we decided to use the little free time available in the schedule to book a proffessional photographer on sight and plan a photoshoot.

Photo: Eddy Ballardi

Once again, I stepped in as the model. The idea was to merge Marimo’s elegant luxury with the city’s vibrant energy — a contrast that felt both powerful and authentic. It was amazing to see Marimo pieces in a NYC light, and the photographer, Eddy Ballardi, captured it amazingly! Even though I didn’t have my team with me on set, it turned out to be a truly memorable experience. Raido was by my side throughout, supporting us in every way — from carrying the garments to filming behind-the-scenes moments.

Photos: Eddy Ballardi

Chicago

After this whirlwind in New York, we continued on to Chicago — this time to accompany Raido in his duties as part of the Estonian tech industries delegation. We were fortunate that the two delegations were scheduled back-to-back, allowing us both to take part in each other’s professional worlds.

Chicago turned out to be a beautiful surprise. The city feels in many ways like Estonia — clean, calm, and with a familiar climate. It also struck me as a wonderful place for fashion. Women would stop to compliment my outfit, and those small moments often led to longer conversations and meaningful new connections.

Over the past few days, we’ve had inspiring visits, including a stop at Silen’s showroom, and an incredible amount of networking — more than ever before. I had the chance to meet and exchange thoughts with so many brilliant people: Airi Hammalov, Ursel Velve, Irina Mazur, Aleksandra Y. Efimova, Liina Raud, Tiit Land, Oleg Shvaikovsky, Laura Ortega Lamela, Karl Herbert Grabbi, Aarne Elias, and Anna Belova, among others.

The conclusion

Looking back, it’s hard to believe how much has been accomplished in just a few days. The days were long and full — from representing Estonian fashion in New York to witnessing the strength of our tech community in Chicago, this journey has left me both proud and deeply inspired.

Photo: Raigo Pajula

In Chicago, wearing my own creations proved to be the best way to make new connections — it’s easy to start conversations when women approach to compliment your beautiful clothes. It happened so often that on the first week of December, Raido and I will be flying back to Chicago — I’ll be nurturing the connections I made for Marimo, while he’ll be continuing to follow the exciting opportunities he made for Thorgate.

Photos: Raigo Pajula

Travelling side by side with Raido — each of us contributing to Estonia’s story in our own way — made this week especially meaningful. It was a reminder of how creativity, innovation, and shared purpose can connect us all, wherever we are in the world.

Warmly,