
Kirsi Niinimäki
Professor
A803 Dept. Design
Professor
Fashion/Textile Futures
Kirsi Niinimäki is Professor (full) in Design, especially Fashion Research, and the leader of the Fashion/Textiles Futures research group. Throughout her research Niinimäki aims towards a new, holistic understanding in the field of sustainable fashion and textiles and therefore her focus is on the connection between design, manufacturing systems, business models and consumption habits. Circular economy, strategic design, design practices and multidisciplinary collaboration are the base for her scientific knowledge building.
Full researcher profile
Email
kirsi.niinimaki@aalto.fi
Postal address
Otaniementie 14
02150 Espoo
Finland
Phone number
+358505693359
Honors and awards
Damy Futures Prize 2024 to Praejeen Kunawong's Master thesis
Damy Future Prize 2024: Design graduates Savannah Vise and Prajeen Kunawong have won an honourable mention for their MA work. A total of nine Master's theses were shortlisted for the award. <br/>The honourable mentions were awarded to the works: <br/>Savannah Vize:The Environmental Citizen’s Playbook: A Co-design Inquiry into the Playful Potential of Environmental Action. Aalto University, Department of Design / Creative Sustainability (2022). Supervisor İdil Gaziulusoy.<br/>Praejeen Kunawong: Optimizing the colors of naturally dyed yarns from food by-products by weaving practice Aalto University, Department of Design / Fashion, Clothing and Textiles (2022). Supervisor Kirsi Niinimäki.
Award or honor granted for a specific work
Department of Design
Aug 2024
First prize in Alpha show 2023
Fashion design graduate Tuuli-Tytti Koivula from Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Finland won the top prize at this season's Alpha show 31 January, 2023 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The competition was earlier known as Designers’ Nest.
Award or honor granted for a specific work
Department of Design
Jan 2023
The state prize for design
The national arts councils of the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) have awarded state prizes to distinguished artists, artist groups and art communities. A state prize is awarded in recognition of outstanding work completed in the last three years or for a long and distinguished artistic career or activity in the field.
Award or honor granted for academic or artistic career
Department of Design
Dec 2022
CONCOURS MODE #HYÈRES37 —PRIX L’ATELIER DES MATIÈRES Sini Saavala
CONCOURS MODE #HYÈRES37 —PRIX L’ATELIER DES MATIÈRES<br/>Le prix l’atelier des matières est décerné Sini Saavala. 37th International Festival of Fashion, Photography and Fashion Accessories, Hyères, France<br/>
Award or honor granted for a specific work
Department of Design
Oct 2022
Research Award 2020, Aalto ARTS
Professor Kirsi Niinimäki has the ability to make the impossible possible. Her many research efforts are implementing a systemic, sustainable approach in the textiles and fashion industry. Sustainability starts with material, colour and production method choices and reaches new business models as well as a new consumer behaviour model. Kirsi’s multifaceted, transdisciplinary research is rooted in design. It makes an impact through national and international visibility.
Award or honor granted for a specific work
Department of Design
Feb 2021
Grant by THE SCANDINAVIA-JAPAN SASAKAWA FOUNDATION
Grant for continuing artistic activities and collaboration with Tama Art University in Japan.
Award or honor granted for a specific work
Department of Design
Jan 2020
Literati Award: Highly Commended Paper in the 2020 Emerald Literati Awards
Honour for an article Määttänen, M., Asikainen, S., Kamppuri, T, Ilen, E., Niinimäki, K., Tanttu, M., Harlin, A. (2019). Colour management in CE; Decolourization of cotton waste. RJTA Research Journal of Textiles and Apparel, 23(2), pp134-152. The editorial team highlights that it is one of the most exceptional pieces of work they saw throughout 2019.
Award or honor granted for a specific work
Department of Design
Dec 2020
Knight, First Class, of the Order of the Lion of Finland
Award or honor granted for academic or artistic career
Department of Design
Dec 2020
EXHIBITION OF the winner of DESIGNER´S NEST DENMARK, Amina Saada
DESIGN MUSEUM DANMARK<br/>Amina Saada<br/>Title: The Red Bride<br/>Year: 2020<br/>The work of Amina Saada, a graduate of Aalto University in Finland, centres on finding new shapes and ways to make clothing that can be presented as sculptures. <br/>https://designmuseum.dk/en/exhibition/designers-nest/
Award or honor granted for a specific work
Department of Design
Aug 2020
Aalto ARTS grant
Grant for a working group Niinimäki, Leppisaari, Fagerlund for collaboration between Aalto ARTS and Tama Art University Japan and for an exhibition in Helsinki Design Week 2019
Award or honor granted for a specific work
Department of Design
Mar 2019
Research groups
- Fashion/Textile Futures
Publications
Anubhuti Bhatnagar, Elina Lewe, Kasia Gorniak, Kirsi Niinimäki
2025
ESEE-Degrowth 2024
Victoria Flexer, Cornelis (Kees) van Leeuwen, Kirsi Niinimäki, Shilong Piao, Erica Siirila-Woodburn , Lan Wang-Erlandsson
2025
Nature Reviews: Earth and Environment
Elina Lewe, Kasia Gorniak, Anubhuti Bhatnagar, Kirsi Niinimäki
2025
Maarit Aakko, Kirsi Niinimäki
2024
Fashion Practice
Anubhuti Bhatnagar, Kirsi Niinimäki
2024
Corporate Social Responsibility in Textiles and Fashion
Anubhuti Bhatnagar, Anna Härri, Jarkko Levänen, Kirsi Niinimäki
2024
Resources, Conservation and Recycling
Sofia Guridi Sotomayor, Kirsi Niinimäki, Simo Särkkä, Jaana Vapaavuori, Yu Xiao, Emmi Pouta
2024
Hella Hernberg, Kirsi Niinimäki
2024
Zero Waste Sustainable Apparel Industry
Sheenam Jain, Susanna Horn, Kirsi Niinimäki
2024
Recycling and lifetime management in the textile and fashion sector
Aino Korhonen, Kirsi Niinimäki
2024
Sustainability and the Fashion Industry : Can Fashion Save the World?