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| Oskar Metsavaht | |
|---|---|
| Name | Oskar Metsavaht |
| Birth date | 1961 |
| Birth place | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Known for | Fashion designer, artist, environmental activist |
| Occupation | Fashion designer, artist, curator |
Oskar Metsavaht is a Brazilian designer, artist, curator and environmental advocate noted for founding the fashion label Osklen and for pioneering sustainable practices in Brazilian fashion. He rose to prominence through a practice that intersects São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro cultural networks, engaging with institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art (Rio de Janeiro) and international platforms including United Nations Environment Programme forums. Metsavaht's work spans fashion, visual arts, curatorial projects and activism, linking indigenous knowledge with global dialogues among figures from Amazonas (Brazilian state), Ipanema, Paraty, Biennale of São Paulo, and the Venice Biennale.
Born in Rio de Janeiro to Estonian immigrant lineage, Metsavaht was raised amid the cultural milieus of Copacabana and Jardim Botânico, Rio de Janeiro. He studied medicine at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro before shifting to creative practice and design, influenced by family ties to Estonia and exposure to Brazil's coastal ecologies such as the Atlantic Forest and the Tijuca National Park. Early encounters with figures in Brazilian art circles—artists associated with Tropicalismo and members of the Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro community—shaped his interdisciplinary trajectory.
Metsavaht began his professional life combining art and commercial projects in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, collaborating with galleries like Galeria Luisa Strina and cultural organizations including the Fundação Bienal de São Paulo. He launched a design consultancy that worked with Brazilian brands and international partners from Paris to New York City, engaging with curators and critics linked to institutions such as the Guggenheim Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. His career expanded into activism and policy engagement through participation in panels at the United Nations and collaborations with conservation NGOs based in Manaus and Brasília.
In the 1980s and 1990s Metsavaht founded the fashion label Osklen, which emerged amid the rise of Brazilian designers shown alongside peers from São Paulo Fashion Week and boutiques on Ipanema Beach. Osklen combined influences from Bossa Nova aesthetics, Brazilian Modernism, and international design movements linked to Yves Saint Laurent, Calvin Klein, and Issey Miyake. The brand gained retail presence in cities including New York City, Milan, Paris, and Tokyo, and collaborated with cultural institutions such as the Museu de Arte de São Paulo and fashion platforms like Vogue (magazine) and WWD. Osklen collections have referenced ecosystems—Pantanal, Amazon Rainforest, and Atlantic Forest—and engaged materials sourced via partnerships with companies across Italy, Portugal, and Japan supply chains.
Metsavaht has been a prominent voice on sustainability in fashion, participating in forums hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme, World Economic Forum, and Brazilian ministries in Brasília. He founded and supported initiatives that connect designers with indigenous communities from regions such as Rondônia, Amapá, and Pará, advocating for biodiversity protection and ethical sourcing. His activism includes collaboration with NGOs like WWF-Brasil, Conservation International, and local organizations in Ilha Grande and Serra do Mar to promote regenerative practices and campaigns against illegal deforestation documented by research centers in Manaus. Metsavaht has addressed corporate sustainability through dialogues with multinational executives from Nike, H&M, Chanel, and policy actors from the European Union and Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources.
Parallel to fashion, Metsavaht maintains a career in visual arts and curation, producing photographic series and installations shown at venues such as the Museum of Modern Art (New York), Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro, and the Bienal de Veneza. He has collaborated with curators and artists affiliated with MACUSP and projects supported by collectors and foundations in São Paulo and Buenos Aires. His cultural projects have linked music and visual culture—working with musicians from Tom Jobim circles and contemporary composers from Brazilian Popular Music lineages—and have engaged photographers connected to agencies like Agence France-Presse and Getty Images for documentary archives.
Metsavaht's contributions to design and sustainability have been recognized by awards and honors from institutions including the Ministry of Culture (Brazil), the United Nations, and industry entities such as the Council of Fashion Designers of America and Fashion Institute of Technology collaborations. He has been profiled in publications including The New York Times, Le Monde, The Guardian, Vogue (magazine), Elle (magazine), and received commendations from cultural bodies in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo and environmental awards presented during events supported by UNEP and regional conservation networks.
Metsavaht lives and works between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, maintaining residences and studios that host exhibitions and design research. His legacy links Brazilian fashion to broader dialogues around sustainable materials, indigenous rights, and cultural production, influencing younger designers trained at institutions such as Escola de Comunicações e Artes da Universidade de São Paulo and graduates who exhibit at SP-Arte. His practice continues to intersect with global fashion capitals—Paris, Milan, London—and conservation hubs in Amazonas and the Pantanal, shaping ongoing conversations at the crossroads of design, art, and environmental stewardship.
Category:Brazilian fashion designers Category:Brazilian artists Category:People from Rio de Janeiro (city)