Charlie Malmsten

This project explores the Finnish ferry between Stockholm and Helsinki as a vibrant cultural space where passenger and environment blend into one. The ferry: part party zone, part escape, is a kitschy, theatrical over the top-scene offering cheap luxury, duty-free shopping, and round-the-clock entertainment. At its heart is the aging female passenger, drawn to a break from routine and a taste of working-class glamour.

Though rooted in fashion, this work also adopts a journalistic lens, incorporating witness testimonies, offering insights into the unique characteristics of this specific location and life onboard. The collection celebrates excess and camp culture, inviting the audience to engage with the ferry as both a living environment and a personal narrative. This project aims to reflect the excessive experience of being present on the boat. High drama, no irony.

Step aboard the Finnish cruise ship.