Five from Finland
Jewellery
This quintet of Finnish jewellery brands and designers offers various ways to combine style and conscience.
Julia BushuevaMelding the old and the new, Finland’s jewellers today continue to find beautiful and sustainable ways to keep us shining.
Contemporary Finnish jewellery makers areendlessly innovative with both materials and manufacturing methodswhile maintaining a strong connection with the country’s rich craft and cultural heritage. Moreover, they are becoming increasingly focused on ecological, ethical and social aspects.
Some of the most celebrated local jewellery brands include Kalevala, one of the mainstays of Finnish jewellery design; Atelier Torbjörn Tillanders, boasting six generations of jewellery professionals; and Aarikka, famous for its minimalistic wooden and silver jewellery.
Below are five more brands that are, quite literally, among the jewels in the crown of Finnish design.
With its stylish handmade jewellery, Coruu shows how silicone can be used in a new creative way.
Coruu/FacebookBased in Turku, this women-powered company has made a name for itself by designing exquisite silicone jewellery. Thanks to the choice of the material, Coruu’s earrings, necklaces and bracelets are light to wear, soft to the touch and suitable for people with allergies. Weighing just a couple of grams, they are also easy to ship worldwide. The selection also includes pieces of wood veneer.
“The flat material is challenging because you can’t make three-dimensional figures,” pointed out co-founder Maarit Fellman. “But our designers have created incredibly beautiful shapes, from feathers to flowers.”
On top of unique shapes inspired by the natural world and graphic patterns, Moomin characters have become a hit with both Finnish and international customers and provided Coruu a gateway to new markets, including the Moomin-fond Japan.
LUMOAVA
Lumoava offers timeless jewellery designs but is no stranger to experiments with new ideas and technologies.
Heart2SaveWith 11 seasoned designers and some of the most skilled goldsmiths onboard, Lumoava is the go-to brand whether you seek to add a finishing touch to your everyday outfit, business apparel or evening gown. All the items are handcrafted at the world’s northernmost jewellery factory in Kuopio using recycled precious metals, which makes Lumoava a more ethical choice.
Last year, Lumoava made headlines by teaming up with fellow Finnish company Heart2Save to create an elegant necklace that enables anyone to monitor their heart rhythm and have the AI-analysed results ready on their smartphone in seconds.
“We have 75 years of experience in designing jewellery and working with silver, so it has been truly inspiring to join forces in the challenging process of designing and manufacturing this innovative medical device,” commented Mikko Pessi, CEO of Saurum, the company behind the brand.
AIDA impact’s philosophy and high-quality jewellery products have appealed to fashionistas far beyond Finland.
AIDA ImpactCan a pair of earrings make the world a little bit better? Helsinki-based AIDA impact knows the answer first-hand. Founded in 2018, the jewellery studio is all about combining sleek design, the finest natural materials, including silk and pearls, and social impact.
All the products are handcrafted by immigrant women who are struggling to find employment in their new home country. Provided with an opportunity to jump onto the career ladder in Finland, they are helping AIDA to achieve its goal of becoming an internationally recognised brand.
“Many of our customers don’t even know about our backstory when they buy the earrings,” said founder Elina Siira. “We want to make stylish, classy and high-quality products, and it’s great that we can simultaneously contribute to social inclusion.”
Mine Güngör creates bold and showy jewellery for consumers who are fed up with low-quality items lacking personality.
Mine Güngör/FacebookMine Güngör, aHelsinki-based visual artist–turned–jewellery designer, loves all things decorative and detailed. Güngör’s snazzy earrings and necklaces surely don’t lack character and are carefully crafted with the wearer in mind.
“In a box, an earring isn’t ready or perfect yet,” Güngör explained. “It’s only when it’s worn by someone that you can see a piece of jewellery become complete. To a designer, it’s fascinating to witness the work take its final form.”
While letting her imagination run freein terms of design, Güngör takes a more down-to-earth approach to the materialsand production techniques she uses. Most of the jewellery items are made of sustainably sourced Finnish birch or recycled acrylic ordered from elsewhere in Europe. The final products are assembled in Helsinki’s Vallila.
All of Korus Design’s bespoke jewellery items are handcrafted in a cosy workshop located in the heart of Tampere, one of Finland’s top destinations for design lovers.
Korus DesignFor Tampere-based Korus Design, there are no shortcuts and no compromises. Each piece of its fine jewellery, be it an engagement ring, a pair of earrings or a necklace, is created by hand and from scratch to make it personal to its owner.
The brand, however, always stays true to its signature style:“simplistic and Nordic”.
“No American glamour,” goldsmith and founder Vesa Peltonen commented, with a smile.
Another important thing for Korus Design is staying true to its values, meaning ethically sourced gemstones and recycled precious metals, as well as taking a stand against the throwaway culture. This jewellery is made to last.
The brand’s philosophy has appealed to global audiences. In addition to the physical (work)shopand online shop, Korus Design’sbespoke pieces are selling well on Etsy, a global marketplace for unique and creative goods.