Picked, borrowed, loved

The Fashion Library offers an option to consume fashion with a clear conscience. No more wrong choices, bad quality or ridiculous credit card bills. The selection includes treats from Finnish designers as well as some vintage selected in good taste.

Text Emma Vuorinen
Photos Hanne Granberg

The capital of a comic country

Comic book shops in Helsinki are like the items they sell – unique. The best ones have a story behind them, supported by the original setting.

Text Ville Matilainen
Photos Matti Tanskanen

A Makia man

The story of the urban clothing label Makia Clothing is reflected in their clothes. Success requires a lot of hard work, a healthy business philosophy and a relaxed work environment. It’s also cool to look good.

Text Ville Matilainen
Photos Niklas Sandström

Curious vehicle

A bicycle is a must during the summer in Helsinki. Fierce competition in the field forces the companies to specialize.

Text Ville Matilainen
Photos Juuso Noronkoski

Potatoes with ambient music

…Or a caffè latte with raw milk? Both options will be available at the Eat&Joy marketplace in Kluuvi, offering food products from small Finnish farms as of October.

Text Heini Lehtinen
Photos Sanna Lehto

Style – In Swedish

Finns who speak Swedish as their native language (Finnswedes) are famous for their casual stylishness. Urban A and Nómad bring their Finnswede owners’ style to Helsinki shoppers. Inspite of this, the owners don’t want to emphasize their Finnswedishness.

Text Sara Karlsson
Photos Niklas Sandström

Art of modesty

2OR+BYYAT quietly launched a new flagship store in August 2010. One of Finland’s most interesting fashion designers doesn’t want to make a fuss about himself.

Text Sara Karlsson
Photos Hertta Kiiski

The world in a bookshop

Arkadia Bookshop is not only a bookstore, but also a stage for culture. Despite its short history, this international bookstore is known as the living room of Töölö district.

Text Sirje Niitepõld
Photos Sanna Lehto

Greetings from paper paradise

A small paper shop in Kruununhaka is offering Christmas shoppers papery dreams from all over the world.

Text Laura Friman
Photos Kaarle Hurtig

Bright white

Skanno kicked off the new decade by launching a concept store, designed by Anna Katriina Tilli, in downtown Helsinki. At the same time, the company is heading into the international furniture market with their own collection.

Text Heini Lehtinen
Photos Juuso Noronkoski

Move your a**

Stupido Shop is often seen as a near-legendary indie store. Stupido orders in almost everything that’s released in Finland, which is practically well over a hundred titles a week.

Text Petteri Kainulainen
Photos Vesa Mäkinen

Charmed by Chinese ceramics

Combining Finnish design and Chinese traditions, Elinno is slowly but surely making their way into the dining rooms of the world.

Text Heini Lehtinen
Photos Juuso Noronkoski

Dermic luxury

Helsinki-based MSCHIC cosmetics are sold everywhere from Paris to The United Arab Emirates and online from Hanko to Utsjoki. The packaging for Kide MSCHIC is a keeper for design-oriented people.

Rug goes ethical

Tikau’s products may appear in interior design magazines, but the company’s mission is to employ people in India.

Text Heini Lehtinen
Photos Kaarle Hurtig

Clothes with stories

Fashion designer Antti Asplund finds inspiration within himself. His next step is Paris.

Text Heini Lehtinen
Photos Kai Kuusisto

The crow and the swan

Accessory and jewelry boutique Mustahöyhen exudes femininity, sensuality, poetry, and the passionate attitude of the grand divas of the past.

Text Heini Lehtinen 

Photo Mia Koskinen

Helsinki Vintage

Vintage design
 recycling is not just one of the hottest trends today, it’s also a lifestyle. A tour of the vintage design stores in Helsinki brings back memories of childhood.

Text Petteri Kainulainen
Photos Kai Kuusisto

A must for design aficionados

The Helsinki Design Week event Design Market brings affordable design to everyone’s reach. It’s every man and woman for themselves at this warehouse sale as design buffs are likely to go bonkers with all the treats.

Text Heini Lehtinen