Meet Fenja Heine

My name is Fenja. I am 20 years old and come from Hamburg, Germany. I study Design, Technology and Business with the speciality Fashion Design because I've always loved being creative. This includes dressing up with my friends, making my own necklaces and bracelets, painting pictures, especially models dressed up my way.

One of my favourite subjects at school was handcrafting, so I started crocheting in primary school, later sewing, so I got my first sewing machine, when I was 12. I believe that fashion is a form of self-expression and expresses identity and personality.

I chose to study in Denmark, because I have always found it to be a beautiful, advanced country known for its high quality of education, diverse nature and happy people. As a person interested in culture, travelling, languages and meeting new people, I thought that studying at VIA was the perfect opportunity to expand my network and my abilities - to get away from home but still be close by.

One year before I started my study, I took the opportunity to be a “student for a day” to get more information and impressions about VIA and the Fashion Design programme.

Arriving to Denmark 

Getting to know a new country and a new culture is not always easy, but as soon as I arrived here, I realised how friendly and open minded the people are. I was overwhelmed about the opportunities and chances that VIA offers to the students, for example many different contact persons, huge and impressing sewing machine labs, a nice canteen, suggestions for leisure time and the VIA shop, where you can find everything, you might need for your next project.

New perspectives

I have expanded my intercultural competence and also won different perspectives. It is amazing to share different views, opinions, goals and support each other. It did not take long, until I felt the meaning of “Hygge” and this is what I’m grateful for and what makes me excited and optimistic for the future. 

Making new friends

Before I moved to Denmark for my studies, I was for sure a little scared of leaving home, being responsible for myself and making my own decisions from now on. But, as soon as I arrived here, I realised that I was not alone in these feelings. We are all young adolescents from different countries and nationalities, we all still have to make our experiences, and nobody expects you to have your entire life plan already set up. While I have studied here, I have made valuable new friends, a lot of great new contacts, and when you study or work in fashion, your networking never really stops. 

The charms of small-town life

Although I’m used to a city with millions of citizens, I already recognised how good it is to live in a smaller town like Herning with less people, less cars, but more bicycles. I like the infrastructure, the street life with a pedestrian zone with lots of different shops and restaurants. The street is decorated by season which looks very cozy, friendly, and colourful.