Sanna Karjalainen - BA (Hons) Fashion and Textile Design

I’m originally from Finland, where I studied pattern cutting and dressmaking, but after a few years of living in the UK, I decided that I wanted to study further and develop a career in fashion.

I’ve been passionate about promoting sustainable fashion since my early teens and I wanted to be part of this change in the industry. When I visited the University of Portsmouth for my interview, I just knew this was the perfect course for me – coming to study here’s been one of my best decisions ever. These four years have gone by so quickly but so much has happened, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds.

Stress has been the greatest challenge for me; as a perfectionist, it’s sometimes very easy to get worked up about every little detail. I was also shocked when I was diagnosed with a chronic illness the night before my first hand-in – but looking back, being able to focus entirely on my coursework, helped me to come to terms with it. Any fashion student knows how intense the course can be, and constantly being outside my comfort zone has sometimes been hard on my physical and mental health. However, it’s also taught me a lot about myself and thankfully, I’ve always been able to get the support I needed from the University.

I’m planning on moving to Brighton this summer and hopefully will keep working independently, as I’d love to be able to work for myself full-time in a few years. I started my own brand, Sanna Suvi, during my self-employed placement year, and I’m planning a new collection. During my degree, I completed a few collaborations – most recently with Lucy&Yak – which have been amazing, and all my freelance work has made me realise that I much prefer working for myself, or with other small businesses and artists.