Solveig Karadottir: The Icelandic Creative Behind Galvan’s Rise

Introduction

Solveig Karadottir, also known as Sólveig “Sola” Káradóttir, is an Icelandic fashion creative and former model. She is best known as one of the founders of Galvan, the London fashion label known for clean eveningwear, slip dresses and occasion pieces.

Her public profile also grew through her former marriage to British musician Dhani Harrison, the son of George Harrison. Still, her own fashion work tells the bigger professional story. She helped build Galvan and served as its creative director during an important period of the label’s growth.

Quick Facts

Fact	Detail
Full professional name	Sólveig Káradóttir
Common professional name	Sola Karadottir
Nationality	Icelandic
Profession	Fashion creative, designer and former model
Known for	Co-founding Galvan
Former Galvan role	Creative director
Education background	Psychology studies; Vísir reported Boston University studies
Father	Kári Stefánsson
Former spouse	Dhani Harrison
Marriage year	2012

Who Is Solveig Karadottir?

Solveig Karadottir is an Icelandic creative whose career moved from modelling into fashion design and brand building.

She did not enter fashion from nowhere. Actually, she had worked around clothing and modelling from a young age.

British Vogue reported that she began modelling at about 12 years old. Years later, that early experience became useful when she moved into design and helped start Galvan.

Her work with Galvan put her inside the international fashion industry rather than simply next to it.

That distinction matters.

Early Life and Education

Karadottir grew up with strong links to Iceland.

Her father is Kári Stefánsson, the Icelandic scientist who founded deCODE Genetics. deCODE has confirmed Stefánsson’s long-running role as its founder and former chief executive.

Fashion appeared early in her life. British Vogue later reported that she had started modelling when she was around 12.

Her education went in another direction.

In 2007, Icelandic publication Vísir described her as a model and psychology student. Another Vísir report from that year said she had been living in New York and was finishing psychology studies at Boston University.

That gives a useful picture of her early years: modelling was already part of her life, but psychology was also a serious academic interest.

It would be safer to describe this as documented psychology studies rather than claim a specific completed qualification that has not been confirmed by the university itself.

From Modelling to Fashion

Karadottir eventually returned strongly to fashion.

The change made sense.

She already understood the modelling world, clothing and the way formal fashion looked on real people. She then joined three other women — Anna-Christin Haas, Katherine Holmgren and Carolyn Hodler — to create Galvan.

The founders knew each other before the company existed.

In a 2014 Harper’s Bazaar interview, Karadottir explained that she and Carolyn Hodler had been college roommates. Holmgren and Hodler knew one another through the art world, while Haas entered the circle through shared friends in London’s Notting Hill area.

They became business partners later.

How Galvan Started

Galvan launched its first collection in 2014.

The idea was pretty simple.

The founders saw a gap between very formal evening gowns and clothes women could actually wear across different social settings. They wanted cleaner lines, less stiffness and pieces that felt easier to wear.

Each founder brought different experience.

Katherine Holmgren and Carolyn Hodler handled much of the business, sales, finance, PR and marketing work. Karadottir and Anna-Christin Haas worked closely on design.

That division helped explain Galvan’s early identity.

The clothes were polished. Yet simple.

Her Role as Galvan Creative Director

Karadottir became Galvan’s creative director.

British Vogue identified her in that position in 2015, while Anna-Christin Haas served as design director. The same Vogue report said Galvan had entered more than 40 stores worldwide and had passed the £1 million annual revenue level during its early growth period.

That revenue belonged to the business.

It should not be confused with Karadottir’s personal income or wealth.

Her influence can be seen across several later collections.

For Fall 2019, Vogue reported that a trip she made to Uluwatu, Bali helped shape the collection. The landscape, local colours and textile references became part of the designs.

By Spring 2020, Karadottir and Haas were working with references from choreographer Pina Bausch, with movement influencing fabric choices and silhouettes.

Galvan was growing too.

The label moved beyond its early eveningwear focus into bridal pieces, separates, bags and travel-friendly clothing. Vogue’s Pre-Fall 2020 coverage described a new line called Galvan Escape, which used materials such as linen and cotton for lighter clothing.

Galvan During the 2020 Period

The fashion business changed sharply during 2020.

Galvan changed with it.

Vogue’s Spring 2021 coverage still named Karadottir as creative director, working alongside Anna-Christin Haas. The team reduced the number of annual collections and put more attention on core dresses, ready-to-wear pieces and knitwear.

Bridal work also continued.

For Spring 2021 bridal, Vogue described Haas as design director and Karadottir as creative director while the company worked remotely during pandemic restrictions.

These reports give firm evidence of her senior creative role through that period.

What Is Solveig Karadottir Doing Now?

Her public Galvan credits changed after the period in which Vogue regularly called her creative director.

For Galvan’s AW23 campaign, Karadottir received a styling credit while Anna-Christin Haas was credited as creative director.

So, as of September 2026, the accurate wording is that Karadottir is a Galvan co-founder and former creative director.

She should not be described as the label’s current creative director without newer evidence.

There have also been corporate changes around Galvan. UK Companies House records show Galvan London Limited entered administration in October 2024.

That company event should not be treated as evidence about Karadottir’s personal finances.

They are separate matters.

Marriage to Dhani Harrison

Karadottir married musician Dhani Harrison in June 2012.

The wedding took place at Friar Park in Henley-on-Thames, the Harrison family’s estate and Dhani’s childhood home. Vogue covered the ceremony and described Karadottir as an Icelandic former model.

She wore an embroidered Stella McCartney wedding dress made from ivory silk.

The guest list included Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. Vogue also reported that Karadottir walked down the aisle to Led Zeppelin’s “The Rain Song.”

The couple later separated.

Reports in November 2016 said Harrison filed for divorce after four years of marriage. Icelandic outlet Vísir also reported the separation at the time.

Her current relationship status is better left out unless confirmed through a dependable, recent source.

Connection to Kári Stefánsson

Karadottir’s father, Kári Stefánsson, has a major public profile of his own.

He founded Icelandic genetics company deCODE Genetics and spent years as its chief executive. The company announced in May 2025 that his CEO tenure had ended as new managing directors took over.

This family connection appears repeatedly in Icelandic reporting about Karadottir.

Still, her fashion career developed separately.

She built her own professional identity through modelling, design and Galvan.

Galvan’s Celebrity Reach

Galvan found celebrity attention fairly quickly.

British Vogue reported early wearers including Gwyneth Paltrow, Rihanna, Jennifer Lawrence, Sienna Miller and Elizabeth Olsen.

Paltrow’s connection even received coverage in Iceland.

Vísir reported in January 2015 that she had appeared on television wearing a Galvan jumpsuit and identified Karadottir as one of the brand’s founders and its creative director.

Celebrity placement helped bring attention.

But the label’s identity stayed tied to clean eveningwear rather than loud decoration.

Solveig Karadottir Net Worth

There is no strong public financial record that supports a reliable personal net-worth figure for Karadottir.

So a specific number should not be published.

What can be stated is that Galvan itself reached meaningful commercial traction quite early. British Vogue reported in 2015 that the brand had passed £1 million in annual revenue and had reached more than 40 stores worldwide.

That was company revenue.

It was not her personal fortune.

Making that difference clear keeps the article accurate.

Key Career Achievements

Her strongest documented achievements come from Galvan.

She was one of four women behind the label’s creation, worked directly on its design direction and held the creative-director title during years when the company expanded into new product areas.

Vogue documented her involvement across Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Pre-Fall 2020, Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 collections.

That body of work is much more useful than the thin personal details repeated by celebrity-profile websites.

Interesting Facts

Karadottir began modelling at a young age, with British Vogue placing the start at around 12.

She and fellow Galvan founder Carolyn Hodler were college roommates before becoming business partners.

Her early Galvan inspiration included 1990s fashion references, with Christy Turlington and Amber Valletta appearing on design moodboards discussed with Harper’s Bazaar.

A trip to Bali later directly influenced Galvan’s Fall 2019 collection.

Her wedding dress was designed by Stella McCartney.

Final Thought

Solveig Karadottir’s public story makes most sense through fashion.

She started modelling young, studied psychology, then moved back toward an industry she already knew well. Galvan gave that experience a new direction.

Her years as the label’s creative director are well documented by Vogue and other major fashion publications. Later credits show her working in styling, while the creative-director title shifted elsewhere.

That is the clearest picture.

She is a Galvan co-founder, former creative director and Icelandic fashion creative whose work reached far beyond her connection to the Harrison family.

FAQs

Who is Solveig Karadottir?

She is an Icelandic fashion creative, former model and co-founder of Galvan.

What is Solveig Karadottir known for?

She is mainly known for helping found Galvan and serving as its creative director.

Is Solveig Karadottir still Galvan’s creative director?

Current evidence does not support that title. Recent Galvan credits name Anna-Christin Haas as creative director, while Karadottir has received styling credit.

Was Solveig Karadottir a model?

Yes. British Vogue reported that she began modelling at about 12 years old.

Did Solveig Karadottir study psychology?

Yes. Icelandic reporting documented her psychology studies and reported in 2007 that she was finishing studies at Boston University.

Who is Solveig Karadottir’s father?

Her father is Icelandic scientist and deCODE Genetics founder Kári Stefánsson.

Was Solveig Karadottir married to Dhani Harrison?

Yes. They married in June 2012 at Friar Park in England. Harrison filed for divorce in 2016.

What is Solveig Karadottir’s net worth?

No reliable public financial source supports a specific personal net-worth figure, so assigning one would be misleading.

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