The UN's new tour guide collection has been launched in New York City – Swedish students behind the design
2025-04-24
The launch took place on Earth Day, 22 April 2025 and was opened with speeches from Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, Nicola Clase, Sweden's Ambassador to the UN, and representatives of the Swedish School of Textiles. Vice-Chancellor Mats Tinnsten and Overall Project Manager Susanne Nejderås. Afterwards, visitors were invited to view the new collection, which consists of a blazer, trousers, shirt, skirt, dress, T-shirt, top, and two different scarves.
Quotes about the launch
”Seeing the students from the Swedish School of Textiles present their collection at the United Nations was truly inspiring. The uniforms reflect Sweden’s leadership in sustainable fashion and our long-standing partnership with the UN. That the designs received a standing ovation from the international audience is a powerful recognition of the students’ talent and vision — and a proud moment for Sweden”
- Nicola Clase, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the UN
It’s a huge honor for Sweden, as a committed friend to UN, to have Swedish design aesthetics and our values of inclusivity and sustainability represented in the tour guide uniforms. The buttons, the printing methods, and the fabric choices are wonderful examples of sustainable solutions and Sweden's commitment to a greener future. The Consulate has been proud to support this project from its inception, and we’re amazed at the work of the talented students at the Swedish School of Textiles.
- Erik Ullenhag, Consul General of Sweden to New York
"It was a fantastic launch, and now the guides, the face of the UN, have clothing they can be proud of, which tells a story of sustainability, inclusion, innovation, and creativity to the thousands of visitors they receive each year. We are very honoured by the assignment and pleased with the opportunity it has given the Swedish School of Textiles and Sweden to showcase our textile expertise and pave the way for the future of textiles and fashion. It is impressive."
- Susanne Nejderås, Textile Strategist at the Swedish School of Textiles and overall project manager.
“With this collection, we unveil something that is both beautiful and powerful — a celebration not just of new uniforms for our UN tour guide colleagues, but of the partnerships that make transformative change possible. These uniforms tell a deeper story — one of creativity, collaboration and impact. At the UN Office for Partnerships, we know that the most powerful solutions emerge through collaboration. This initiative is a shining example of what happens when education, fashion, philanthropy, and communication unite to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.”
- Annemarie Hou, Executive Director of the UN Office for Partnerships
The Swedish School of Textiles makes history
Since 1952, the guides at the United Nations headquarters in New York, which guide around 200,000 guests annually – from world leaders to school classes – have worn clothes from specially designed collections. This is the first time a university has been responsible for the design and the first time the focus is on sustainability. In the past, internationally recognised fashion houses such as Dior and Benetton have been responsible for the designs.
The collection is strongly linked to the UN
Twenty Bachelor’s and Master’s of Fine Arts students in textile and fashion design have collaborated on the design in close collaboration with the UN tour guides. The collection is inspired by the UN's watchwords – peace, dignity, and equality on a healthy planet.
Sweden has strong ties to the UN, not least through its second Secretary-General, Dag Hammarskjöld. The project's design journey began in March 2024 at his preserved summer home in Backåkra, southern Sweden, where nature and tranquillity embody UN values. The story from Backåkra to New York now permeates the entire collection through asymmetrical details, plays with lines, and stripped-down aesthetics that create modern and stylish silhouettes.
Juliët Zuurman, a student in the project, says that in the design process, they joined their inspiration from Backåkra with the UN headquarters in New York City into a narrative.
“The connection between these two places has been very important to us; it's where we found the colours of the collection, for example”, she said.
Sustainability facts about the collection
A commitment to social, ecological, and economic sustainability has characterised the collection. The collection has been produced in Europe in collaboration with prestigious manufacturers such as Eton and Cavaliere, ensuring the highest quality and innovation. The finished collection is linked to several of the UN's sustainability goals.
Examples of sustainable solutions are that the pattern on the scarves is printed with digital printing, a technology that consumes minimal water. Many garments consist of natural materials with high comfort and all buttons are made of Corozo, a natural material made from tagua nuts, an excellent way to replace synthetic materials.
The collection strives for gender uniformity and includes gender-neutral garments. Additionally, the collection is inclusive, including built-in features that make the garments adaptable for all body types.
Facts about the project
This initiative was made possible by the UN Department of Global Communications and the UN Office for Partnerships, in collaboration with Sofia Hedström de Leo, an advisory board member of the UN Fashion and Lifestyle Network and former Head of Sustainability at the Swedish Consulate in New York.
Overall guidance and management is provided by the Swedish School of Textiles and the work involves a large project team in close collaboration with several partners.
The project is funded by the University of Borås and the "Paul Frankenius Foundation for the Swedish University of Fashion & Textiles" and is supported by the Government of Sweden.
About the Swedish School of Textiles
The School of Textiles at the University of Borås is one of the world's top-ranked fashion schools and plays an important role in making Sweden a leader in sustainable fashion and a key player in shaping the future of textiles. Some of the world's most prestigious designers are alumni of the Swedish School of Textiles, including Ellen Hodakova Larsson, who won the LVMH Prize in 2024.
The Swedish School of Textiles has its roots in the time when Borås was the center of the Swedish textile industry. As early as 1866, the first textile education programme started at Borås Technical Weaving School, the foundation of what is today the Swedish School of Textiles: an internationally leading institution for the education and development of textiles and fashion.
The Swedish School of Textiles has unique expertise, research, and educational programmes in textile and fashion design, textile technology, and textile management. Our laboratories are remarkable. Our textile environment is located in the Textile Fashion Center in Borås, a textile hub that brings together education, business, industry, and innovation under the same roof.