Element: Metal – Ildar Wafin as artist-in-residence at Schloss Hollenegg for Design
In September 2025, Finnish jewellery designer Ildar Wafin took part in a design residency at Schloss Hollenegg for Design, a historic castle in Styria, Austria. His stay was part of the annual residency programme supported by the Finnland-Institut in collaboration with Schloss Hollenegg for Design. Linnéa Sverker conducted an interview with Ildar Wafin.
The 2025 residency was dedicated to material exploration with a focus on metal, a theme that continues into the 2026 exhibition programme at Schloss Hollenegg. During his residency, Wafin collaborated with the historic Vienna-based silversmith Jarosinski & Vaugoin, working closely with the company to develop a new metal artwork. The resulting piece will be presented in May 2026 as part of the exhibition Element: Metal at Schloss Hollenegg, shown alongside other works engaging with metal as material, craft, and artistic expression.
Despite his young age, Ildar Wafin has already worked and collaborated with brands and names such as Louis Vuitton, Kalevala Koru, Rolf Ekroth, Aalto University and Jenni Haukio. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Jewellery Design from Lahti Institute of Design and Fine Arts, and undertook an exchange period at Politecnico di Milano during his undergraduate studies, where he studied Design della Moda. He also holds a Master’s degree in Jewellery & Metal from the Royal College of Art in London. Although Wafin’s studio is located in Helsinki, he currently lives in Milan, where he works on his next collection. Most of his clients are based in Finland, although he also works with international clients, for example from Germany and the United States. In 2022, he realised a long-held dream by founding his own brand, Ildar Wafin. Two years later, he was nominated for and won the ‘New Talent’ award at the Fashion Awards Helsinki.
Ildar Wafin. Foto/kuva/photo: Aleksandra Lemke
During his studies at the Lahti Institute of Design and Fine Arts, Wafin developed his design skills with a strong emphasis on hands on working. He learned more about various jewellery components, techniques, and stone-setting styles. While still an undergraduate, he participated in the prestigious Hyères Festival of Fashion at Villa Noailles in France, his first international jewellery and fashion event, designing his first jewellery collection for the occasion. The technical focus at the Lahti Institute of Design and Fine Arts differed from his studies at the Royal College of Art, where the programme was more philosophical in nature and more focused on contemporary art.
In 2018, Wafin was contacted by Aalto University, which commissioned him to create earrings for Finland’s then First Lady, Jenni Haukio, to be worn at the Independence Day Reception at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki. The commission came about after Emma Saarnio, the designer of the First Lady’s dress, discovered Wafin’s work on Instagram.
During his Master’s studies in 2020–2021, Wafin completed an internship in Louis Vuitton’s menswear jewellery and fashion accessories department. There, he learned to work more efficiently by prioritising processes within the design schedule and to present work that ‘can be understood’ by producers and directors. The experience also deepened his understanding of how to conceptualise a cohesive collection.
Wafin has also collaborated with the Finnish fashion label Rolf Ekroth in 2022 and 2024, and most recently in August 2025 during Copenhagen Fashion Week, where he designed an alphabet collection of silver and gold earrings and pendants in collaboration with Finnish designer and typographer Matilda Diletta. The full collection will be launched later in 2026.
In 2024, Wafin designed the new jewellery collection ‘Männyt’ for the Finnish jewellery brand Kalevala Koru. The collection draws on Finnish nature, focusing on the archipelago’s pine trees and their remarkable ability to grow under harsh conditions along Finland’s rocky shores.
“We made this connection to a Finnish state of mind of being very resilient.”
The collection combines traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design, and the pieces were made using recycled silver. For Wafin, the team at Kalevala Koru became more than colleagues; he describes them as a small family, having visited their factory frequently.
When asked whether he has noticed differences between his various collaborations, he explains that each brand is unique and has its own set of practices. According to him, every project offers its own distinct experience.
The material Wafin most often works with is silver, though his dream is to work more extensively with fine jewellery. He crafts his pieces using hand-carved wax forms of various shapes, an ancient technique that often requires extensive preliminary work. He first develops the concept, then immerses himself in research, drawing inspiration from literature, poetry, music and melodies, approaching the process philosophically. He then sketches and continues the research before beginning the carving process, diving into the three-dimensional world. Wafin’s creations are not limited to silver pieces alone; he also uses various stone-setting techniques. Gemstones such as tourmalines, citrines and sapphires frequently appear in his work. In earlier collections, he has also used recycled 18-karat gold. Another influence seen in one of his most recent collections is Tatar mythology, melodies and music. Wafin, who belongs to the fifth generation of Tatars in Finland and speaks the language, has explored his cultural heritage, which often carries a moral dimension and reflects on humanity. Tatar mythology and many of its stories revolve around woodland creatures that interact with humans and possess magical powers connected to nature. For this reason, he incorporated various natural elements into the collection.
At present, Wafin is exploring the feeling of imperfection in his craft. He believes there is no status quo in our lives or in nature.
“There is no moment that you could capture and go back into, because everything shifts and changes. Everything is going to the future, in a way. If you want to see a flower at the exact same moment the next day in the forest, it is impossible, because it is growing and changing all the time and interacting with the surrounding world. Thus, I think there is no concept of perfection, because you can never have a perfect moment. Things are always changing and in flux. Imperfection is something we should embrace as a part of our lives, and there is a beauty in that.”
Reflecting on Finland’s role in design, Wafin believes that Finns should take greater pride in the country’s rich design heritage, something he feels is not always the case. He emphasises that a great deal of innovation originates in Finland and has the potential to reach global markets. He also calls for greater recognition and stronger governmental support for Finnish design. Among his Finnish role models are designers such as Rolf Ekroth, whom he describes as becoming increasingly innovative with each passing year, and Kalevala Koru, which he sees as undergoing an exciting phase of renewal and innovation.
Wafin considers the residency a perfect opportunity, one that every designer needs, as it can provide motivation and encouragement in one’s work. He had never before worked with metal sculpting on such a large scale, which the residency offered him the opportunity to explore. He describes the residency as a calm period for reflecting on his artistic practice, and the environment also served as a source of inspiration.
“Schloss Hollenegg is basically a fairyland. It is so beautiful there. Hearing the stories behind each room and object in the castle was amazing. I am really thankful to the Finnland-Institut for the opportunity and to Alice Stori Liechtenstein for her support and mentorship.”
Ildar Wafin’s residency and participation in the exhibition at Schloss Hollenegg for Design take place within the framework of the long-standing collaboration with the Finnland-Institut. As part of this partnership, the residencies of the Finnish designers Hanna-Kaisa Korolainen, Tuomas Markunpoika, Antrei Hartikainen, Jonas Lutz and Aoi Yoshizawa, as well as the presentation of their works in the annual exhibitions, have already been made possible.