There has never been a lack of emerging talent in the fashion industry. From Golden Age vanguards from the house of Lucien Leong to the likes of Torishéju Dumi and Simon Porte Jacquemus, the fancy to dress the future has lured in creatives of all kinds. Today, us enthusiasts have the pleasure of getting to bask in the output of both: decades-old archival collections and modern works of art, both on and off the runway. And one of the most exciting parts of it all is the knowledge that we're witnessing history in the making- that any new face could be the next It Designer if they play their cards right. Enter now Rikke Bøe: a newly twenty-three year old Norwegian designer on her way to stardom.
From Crafts to Careers
"Since I was little, I've been surrounded by [my mother's] passion for creativity and craftsmanship, as she sewed clothes for my brother and me, and introduced us to various crafting methods," Rikke told The Citizen's Poste. "She also had a room in our childhood home that we called the 'craft room,' stocked with everything you could imagine from painting supplies, scrapbooking, textiles, yarn... I would always go into that room and search for things I could create with."
Courtesy of Rikke Bøe
Despite her artistic streak, however, Rikke's initial intentions for her career weren't rooted in the fashion industry at all, and instead, she planned to follow in her parents' footsteps as a police officer. But between the Police College's application age requirement of twenty and the rise of the COVID-19 Pandemic, she found herself with more spare time than originally anticipated. And so, as any natural-born creative would do, she took to the big city- more specifically, to Oslo's School of Fashion Industry.
"Towards the end of my studies, I did an internship with a stylist, where I eventually became her assistant. As a styling assistant, I got to work with major Norwegian artists such as Astrid S and Chris Holsten. The stylist I assisted and I had talked about me starting to learn sewing a bit, and in the summer of 2022, she asked if I could make an outfit for Astrid S for the festival season. It ended up being the first outfit I had ever sewn completely on my own," Rikke shared.
Courtesy of Rikke Bøe
And of course, her family was right there to back her up. "My brother works as a photographer and has a large network within the music industry, so he has been a great help in taking me to events, introducing me to people in the industry, and giving me advice and tips along the way."
There She Goes
As of late, Rikke has been staying more than busy in her endeavors. Whether her looks are in the works to make the stage, red carpet, or various shoots, her hands are full, and so is her agenda. "A typical day in my life as a designer is quite dynamic and can vary depending on which projects I am currently working on... In addition to designing and producing clothes, I also work as a stylist, which involves selecting outfits and accessories for photo shoots, music videos, etc."
Bøe recently took on Norwegian singer Emma Steinbakken's concert at Oslo Spektrum- one of Oslo's premier venues- for which she designed three unique looks for the singer on top of styling her entire band and choir. "I particularly enjoy designing stage clothes. Clothes play such a crucial role in conveying an artist's identity, so it's incredibly fun and exciting to be part of shaping their visual identity and expression."
Courtesy of Rikke Bøe
All of Rikke's designs are exclusively made-to-order for clients on assignment, though she's toyed with the idea of starting a label of her own. But for now, her main goal is to get herself an office: "Because right now, I'm sitting at home in the living room sewing. It would be lovely to have a place to go for work and a place to keep all my stuff."
By Mackenzie Ostrowski