MUHU PATTERNS ON STAGE AT THE SONG FESTIVAL
Tanel Veenre’s newest collection Unimoon, inspired by Muhu slay-rug.
Tanel Veenre brings Muhu magic to the stage of 30 thousand people
This year’s Song Festival in Tallinn shimmered not only with the powerful voices of choirs and the rhythm of dancers’ feet, but also with a dazzling display of new fashion. Alongside the proud singers and dancers of Muhu Island came something equally eye-catching – the island’s traditional embroidery, reimagined in vibrant modern form. World-renowned Estonian jewelry and fashion artist Tanel Veenre took to the stage with his new clothing and jewelry collection Unimoon, a dreamy fusion of Muhu’s folk patterns and Veenre’s wildly imaginative style.
Tanel lit up the festival with his warmth and humor, praising the island’s artisans: “It’s completely bonkers – in a good way. Like a nest woven between flowers,” he said of the archival patterns that inspired him. “They don’t belong to this world – this Muhu pattern code is just… from another planet.” And when he discovered striped strawberries in the archives, he wondered, why anyone in the world would make such a thing. “I don’t know. But I saw them,” he admitted, looking genuinely surprised at his own creative explosion in the Estonian folk archive.
Tanel’s words hit the nail on the head
When asked what inspires him about Muhu patterns and why he uses them so abundantly in his new creations, he answered without hesitation: “It’s absolutely clear – it’s the passion of the Muhu people. If you go to the Estonian National Museum archives, where I’ve spent many days doing research for this collection, you’ll see how extraordinarily detailed the Muhu collection is. Usually, there are just a few samples from each region – maybe one or two headdress pieces for example. But from Muhu, there are hundreds. And each one is slightly different.”
He adds, “I don’t want to distort the story of these patterns. I’d rather create my own story. I add surreal symbols. Fish in the sea, seahorses. So that it’s not just copy-paste from the archives, but something completely new. Something fresh, fun, modern. But most of all – super cool.”
Where pattern magic begins – in Muhu, with friends
Tanel’s connection to Muhu goes beyond museum archives. Over the years, he has often visited his close friends Mart Haber and Taivo Piller – highly regarded interior designers – at their home in Muhu. In the quiet rhythms of the island, ideas have taken flight that later came to life on fashion stages. This personal link adds a heartfelt warmth and depth to his creations that you can truly feel.
Tanel’s latest UNIMOON collection
This deep connection and vivid imagination shine through in Unimoon, Tanel’s latest collection, which he brought to the Song Celebration. His Muhu-patterned silk fabrics were snapped up at the cold and rain-drenched songfestival like warm pastries, with Tanel himself enthusiastically recommending pieces. Near the Oru gates, festivalgoers got a closer look at his newest creations presented by the artist himself – including strawberry-cloudberry silver jewelry, earberries, silver animals, moonlit silk scarves, and elegant pearl pieces.
“Life is much more exciting when you surround yourself with things that carry meaning,” says Tanel. “When you choose clothes not for others, but for yourself. Jewelry is an easy way to create meaning – whether it’s through important motifs, materials, or personal stories.”
Artist and designer Tanel Veenre (born 1977) graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts with a master’s degree in jewelry and blacksmithing, and further honed his craft in Scotland. His work has always centered on poetic expression and creative freedom. Through his art and fashion, he has created an entire universe of dreams – and this time, that dream brought Muhu patterns straight to the stage of Estonia’s grandest celebration.
And the last but not the least, Tanel also sang under the Song Festival Arch with mixed choirs, wearing a flower crown. A talented and hardworking man can truly do it all!
👉 You can explore the Unimoon collection here:
Some warm memories from the Tallinn Song and Dance Festival, where music and joy purified our hearts from pouring rain! Muhu patterns helped to colour the magic!
