The Swedish School of Textiles behind new collaborative collection for UN guides

The initiative is led and funded by the Paul Frankenius Foundation and builds on the collection launched on Earth Day 2025. In the new collaborative project, ten Master's level design students from the Swedish School of Textiles and ten from Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, have developed accessories to complement the existing collection. During the design process, the students explored sustainable materials and responsible production.

“When creativity, education, and a clear purpose come together, collaborations such as this demonstrate what is possible,” said Annemarie Hou, Executive Director of the UN Office for Partnerships.

The accessories are not only thoughtful examples of circular and sustainable design; they also reflect the power of collaboration to turn shared values into practical action and inspire people who visit the UN.

“Diplomacy is not shaped only at conference tables. Sometimes it takes the form of a uniform, through thoughtful, sustainable design and the pride people feel in representing the UN,” said Charlotte Kugelberg, Head of the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations.

The collaborative collection was presented at the United Nations headquarters in New York in connection with New York Fashion Week.

Collaboration between internationally leading design schools

Prior to the development of the accessories, Central Saint Martins, which, like the Swedish School of Textiles, is considered one of the best design schools in the world, was invited to join the project. Through close collaboration, students from the two internationally leading design programmes exchanged ideas and developed the next part of the guides’ visual identity.

“One of the most powerful ways to drive change is to support the next generation of designers,” said Paul Frankenius, founder of the Paul Frankenius Foundation and a member of the Governing Board of the University of Borås.

“Participating in this human-centred project has been an enriching opportunity. Bringing our students together with students from the Swedish School of Textiles to further develop the collection for the UN’s guides, first launched in 2025, gave them the opportunity to design for everyday functionality while reflecting on how clothing and accessories can embody and communicate the shared values and principles at the heart of the UN. It is inspiring to see how this year’s brief, to design complementary fashion accessories, has led students to translate these values into what the UN’s guides wear, while also recognising how the guides represent the organisation,” said Fabio Piras, Programme Coordinator for the Master's level educational programme in Fashion Design at Central Saint Martins.

Developed together with the UN’s guides

The new accessories have been developed based on requests from the UN’s guides, who have been an active part of the development process. The result is a collaborative collection consisting of three innovative and versatile products: a knitted cape that can be worn in different ways, a pouch bag designed to store a mobile phone and other personal belongings, and a detachable lapel.

“It has been inspiring to see the students put their heart and soul into the collaboration between the Swedish School of Textiles and Central Saint Martins. Guided by the UN’s principles of peace, dignity, and equality, the project demonstrates how youth-driven creativity and design can have a greater impact when people work together. It is a reminder of the importance of building creative bridges between people, education, and communities,” said Stefanie Malmgren de Oliviera, Senior Lecturer and Programme Coordinator for the Master's level educational programme in Fashion Design at the Swedish School of Textiles.

The accessories will be worn by the guides at the United Nations headquarters.

Building on the UN guide uniform project

The UN guide uniforms have a long design history. Since 1952, the guides have welcomed visitors from around the world, from world leaders to school groups and tourists. Today, the UN receives more than 200,000 visitors each year. Over the years, some of the fashion world’s most renowned names and fashion houses, including Dior, Benetton, and Elie Tahari, have designed uniforms for the guides. When the Swedish School of Textiles was commissioned to develop the current collection, it marked a new chapter in this design history.

The collection was developed by 20 international students at the Swedish School of Textiles and was presented through a fashion show at the United Nations headquarters on 22 April 2025. It was the first time a higher education institution had been responsible for a guide collection for the UN and the first time sustainability had been integrated as a central part of the design process.

About the project

The UN guide uniform project is led and funded by the Paul Frankenius Foundation in collaboration with the Swedish School of Textiles at the University of Borås and the UN. Course development at the University of Borås takes place with support from the Knowledge Foundation.

The current guide collection was developed by students at the Swedish School of Textiles and was presented at the United Nations headquarters on Earth Day, 22 April 2025. In the second phase of the project, the Swedish School of Textiles is collaborating with Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, on the development of new accessories for the collection.

The UN partners in the project are the United Nations Office for Partnerships, the United Nations Department of Global Communications, and the United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle Network.