WENDY JIM x EXPO 2025

The design duo Helga Schania and Hermann Fankhauser created a contemporary collection for the staff of the Austrian Pavilion. Blending high fashion with streetwear, the collection reinforces the pavilion’s modern aesthetic while playfully referencing iconic images of Austria.

From April 13 to October 13, 2025, the EXPO will take place in Osaka, Kansai, Japan, under the theme Designing Future Society for Our Lives. Austria will participate with its own pavilion, Composing the Future, highlighting the country’s longstanding ties with Japan and showcasing Austrian people and ideas that offer solutions for a responsible and sustainable future.

Design that convinces

The Vienna-based fashion label WENDY JIM, founded by Helga Schania and Hermann Fankhauser, won the design competition for the corporate wear of the Austrian Pavilion at EXPO 2025. The competition was organized by the EXPO Office of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber in collaboration with the Austrian Fashion Association. The challenge was to create a wardrobe that not only represents Austrian design and serves as a visual ambassador for the pavilion but also seamlessly integrates with its architecture. The outfits needed to be elegant, contemporary, and wearable while also being functional, durable, and comfortable.

A total of 16 designers and labels applied, with the final selection made by a jury.

“We are very excited to see our uniforms worn by the staff of the Austrian Pavilion at EXPO 2025 in Osaka. They feature a contemporary, modern, and elegant look, inspired by both street style and high fashion. We are grateful to the EXPO Office for trusting us to bring our vision of a modern uniform to life,” WENDY JIM say about the project.

Modern Design Meets Austrian Tradition

WENDY JIM’s designs were created to meet the functional requirements of the Austrian Pavilion team at the World Expo while staying true to the label’s distinctive aesthetic. The result is a blend of high fashion and streetwear that “reflects our contemporary understanding of fashion,” according to the designers. The wardrobe includes wide-leg trousers, T-shirts, shirts, blazers, dresses, bags, belts, and caps—versatile pieces suitable for both daily work and formal occasions such as delegation visits. The collection is also designed to adapt to different weather conditions.

“The pavilion’s design is very modern and highlights Austria’s identity as a nation of culture and music. We incorporated subtle references to this in our clothing,” explain Schania and Fankhauser. These nods can be seen in the T-shirts, which feature iconic motifs such as Schönbrunn Palace, the Großglockner, and other well-known Austrian landmarks—a playful reinterpretation of classic Austrian imagery.

Sustainability also plays a key role in the corporate wear for EXPO 2025. The collection is primarily made from stock materials, organic cotton, and recycled fabrics, with production taking place in Austria, Bulgaria, and Poland.

Fashion & Styling: WENDY JIM, Helga Schania & Hermann Fankhauser
Photography: Mato Johannik
Hair & Makeup: Sabine Reiter
Models: Hanna & Jonny, Stella Models
Location: MAK – Museum of Applied Arts, Vienna
Production: Austrian Fashion Association