Mixing Icelandic flair with Peruvian fabrics, ELM—a trio of friends—comes to New York

CELAND came to global attention when the country took the Miss World prize in 1989 and it continues to remain in the news. The latest venture in this country, where 70 per cent of the land is communal and gas costs more than we've heard anywhere, is an attempt to abandon traditional fuels for hydrogen. These are innovative people. And ELM is yet another example of Icelandic flair which captures our imagination from a country which almost does get those six-month nights.
   Formed by friends Erna Steina, Lisbet and Matthildur (folks don’t use surnames here), ELM emphasizes the fabrics’ source: natural, high-quality fibres. This is combined with design inspiration that comes from the dramatic landscapes of Iceland, an ever-growing national source for fashion (La Perla’s Steinunn Sigurd is also from there).
   Pima cotton is the primary material this season, applied by pushing knitwear technology to the limits. Do not be fooled: this isn't “regular” cotton. Instead, it has a creamy texture and it's stronger and smoother. Pima holds its shape well, is graceful and light—making it ideal for those who demand comfort.
   Light, sheer royal alpaca wool—the best alpaca available—is also used in ELM’s designs, with a fineness of 16–30 microns in width and 8–12 cm in length.
   Femininity and understatement are two of the qualities of fashion in the early 2000s, a fact which ELM knows too well and fulfils admirably. •

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