Muodin huipulle (season 1)

The first season of Muodin huipulle (Finnish, "To the Top of Fashion") started airing on Finland's MTV3 on 1 October 2009 at 20.00. The show was hosted by fashion designer and entrepreneur Minna Cheung in Heidi Klum's role and fashion editor and host Jaakko Selin fills Tim Gunn's role as fashion mentor.
The winner of "Muodin huipulle" received a one-year contract with Spalt PR, one year cooperation with L'Oreal Paris hair and makeup, and a Bernina Sewing Machine worth €6,000. In addition to this, the winner's collection was featured in the February 2010 issue of Finnish fashion magazine "Olivia".
Contestants.
Designers.
In order of elimination:
Note: Mirkka and Jarno were both eliminated in the same episode; their names are listed alphabetically.
Episode summaries.
Episode 1: Designer's Philosophy.
The designers met each other at their new home for the competition then were taken to their work space at Design Factory of Aalto University. Jaakko Selin greets the designers and gives them their first challenge: make an evening outfit which describes the contestant's design philosophy. The fabric was hanging on clotheslines behind the school and the designers had five minutes to collect it. Although Antti P was given low points for his "juhannus" dress, and Minna Cheung did not like it at all, judges Anssi Tuupainen and Teemu Muurimäki commended him for telling a Finnish story in the design. The judges found Hely's dress too over-designed and Hanna-Maria's outfit as "super boring". The winner received immunity for the next challenge.
Episode 2: Red Carpet.
The designers are brought to the Tennispalatsi multiplex where they meet with the head of PR for L’Oréal, Nora Soini. The challenge is to make a dress suitable for the red carpet, with an emphasis on glamour, classic and design. The winner's garment will be featured on a limited edition bottle of L’Oréal Elnett hair spray in November 2009. The designers were given 30 minutes to sketch and a budget of €250 for fabric at Eurokangas. The criticism of the judges was that Mert's dress had too much going on, Olga's was poorly constructed and, although the dress was beautifully executed and showed classic glamour, Antti P's dress was too classic. This was the second win in a row for Katri.
Episode 3: Nannywear.
The designers must create an outfit for a nanny that is both stylish and functional. The materials for the design was waiting for the contestants on the university lawn: umbrellas. They were given 10 hours to complete the challenge. The judges criticised Maria's design for being poorly executed and Achille's garment for being non-functional. The winner received immunity for the next challenge.
Episode 4: Recycled Sweaters.
Minna Cheung announces that Muodin huipulle is a competition for the designers' models too and that the winner will get an editorial spread in Olivia magazine. Antti P decides to take Achilles' (who was eliminated in the previous episode) model Elina. The designers are shocked when Hely decides to switch and take Katri's model Suada. The models then meet famous Finnish fashion designer Hanna Sarén who talks about recycling. Each designer gets a box filled with old sweaters and must create a bold look for a woman who wants to stand out in a crowd. The judges criticise Antti P for having a lack of boldness although great workmanship in the design and Hely for having no design in the garment. The judges also say that Antti A needs to refine his designs, although his signature tattered look was perfect for the challenge. A bitter Hely is eliminated, leaves without saying goodbye to her colleagues, and in her commentary, says that no one deserves to win Muodin huipulle. The winner received immunity for the next challenge.
Episode 5: Lingonberry Cocktail Dress.
The designers go visit the Fazer factory where Brand Manager Päivi Svens gives them their challenge: make an elegant cocktail dress inspired by the lingonberry in the new Nordic Gourmet flavours. The designers are given €200 and 25 minutes to shop at Eurokangas. At the end of the first day, the designers fit the dresses on their models, and take them to a cocktail party where they meet Fazer executives and influential professionals in the Finnish fashion industry. The two Anttis are in the bottom two: Antti A for being a one-note and Antti P for not having complete ideas and that his dress was poorly executed. The winner received immunity for the next challenge.
Episode 6: Olivia Magazine.
The designers meet with Fashion Editor of Olivia magazine, Sanna Sierilä, and given their next challenge: design an elegant, open collar and sleeveless dress for the Olivia woman. The idea behind the challenge is working with different kinds of material; in this case, the material was the magazine itself. The challenge winner's garment will be featured on the December 2009 cover of Olivia, worn by model Niina Herala. The designers are given 10 hours to work on their garments. The judges criticised Olga for not creating an Olivia woman look and Laura's dress for not living up to the challenge.
Episode 7: Jenni Vartiainen.
The designers' challenge is to make a feminine outfit for Finnish pop singer Jenni Vartiainen for both the stage and television appearances. The budget is €200 and the designers have 12 hours to complete their garments. The designers must also create a headpiece for the outfit made from toys. Although both Olga and Antti A were criticised for not following the challenge criteria to the fullest extent, Antti A's story for his design saved him from elimination. The winner received immunity for the next challenge.
Episode 8: Creativity, Volume, Masculinity and Femininity.
The designers must find their creative sides with artist Ulla Kihlman by painting. After painting on large sheets outdoors, the designers must use these paintings as inspiration for their garments, which must play with volume and masculinity and femininity. The designers are given €100 and 15 minutes to shop for fabric and are also given 12 hours to complete their outfits. Even though he showed creativity, Antti A's violin dress was criticised for looking entirely too glued together, not using the colours of his painting and for looking too much like a costume for a children's play. The winner received immunity for the next challenge.
Episode 9: Urban Sportswear.
The designers are brought to Kiasma Museum in Helsinki, where they are given 40 min to sketch and get inspiration for the next challenge: design urban sportswear for a woman on the go. They are taken to the Halti sportswear company's main headquarters where they meet head designer Martti Kellokumpu and where they get materials. The designers get 12 hours to complete the outfit. On the second day of the challenge, Jaakko Selin brings a box of old Halti hoods for an addition requirement: make a purse that will fit a credit card, a mobile phone and an MP3 player. Jarno and Mert are in the bottom two, only to find out that Mert is the winner and Jarno was scored second highest. No one is eliminated for this challenge.
Episode 10: Avant-garde.
Minna Cheung gives the designers the final challenge to determine who will make it to the finale: design an avant-garde outfit to match specific L'Oreal hair and make up looks which were preassigned to each model. The designers get €250, 30 minutes to shop and 8 hours to complete their work. Half way through the challenge, Jarkko Selin announces that the designers may work on their outfits over night.
Episode 11: Finale, Part 1.
After choosing their models Minna Cheung gives the designers their final challenge: create a collection of nine outfits for a special runway show. The budget is €2,000 and they have three months to complete their collections. Four weeks before the show, Jaakko Selin visits each designer in their hometowns: Maria in Tampere, Mert in Oulu and Katri in Lahti. During each visit, Jaakko gives the designers another challenge: create a tenth "showstopper" outfit to wow the audience. Three days before the runway show, the designers arrive back in Helsinki. They meet first with fashion designer Paola Suhonen for advise on the structure of a fashion show. Then, while Jaakko Selin is in Italy, Spalt PR Country manager and guest judge Siru Palmroos meets with each designer for mentoring.
Episode 12: Finale, Part 2.
The final runway show featured guest of honour Doutzen Kroes and Mario Cadenas from Project Runway season 1 in the audience. Kroes' personal favorite was Mert, whom she admired for his artistry. Mert's collection was inspired by his mother, who was an actress; Maria's collection was inspired by a Sitting Bull exhibition and Art Nouveau artists such as Alphonse Mucha; Katri's collection was inspired by nature. Maria's show featured a themed hairstyle, Katri's collection was easy to wear and Mart's collection was theatrical. The models consisted of the top three, who were slated to open each designer's show and close it with the showstopper, as well as the previously eliminated models. Liis, however, went missing. She was supposed to be one of Katri's models. The winner's collection and model will be featured in an issue of Olivia.