Hel Looks in Antwerp

Vuokko

Vuokko Nurmesniemi (b. 1930) was involved in establishing the reputation of Finnish design as early as the 1950’s when she designed patterns for Marimekko. Now Vuokko Nurmesniemi designs and sells products under her Vuokko brand. Nurmesniemi's work as an artist and designer has significantly reshaped the field. Her fashion and fabric designs are part of the basis of Finnish design and applied art.

Lappshoe

Established in 1932, the shoe factory Töysän kenkätehdas manufactures traditional Lappish boots, leather boots, folk dancing shoes, and working shoes. The factory still uses traditional manufacturing methods in the making of the products to guarantee their durability. A large part of the manufacturing process, especially the finishing, is done by hand.

www.lappshoe.com

Aino Vainio

Aino Vainio’s knitwear collection I Know Why No contains hand-made knitwear and accessories mostly for women, although part of the collection is unisex. Most of the pieces are hand-colored and unique. I Know Why No stands for aesthetic, beautiful destruction. The fall-winter collection is inspired by friendship, love, longing and Lost Boys.

www.iknowwhyno.com

Veera Kulju

Veera Kulju works in the space between design and art, with a basis in the unconventional use of materials and the meaning of objects. In addition to her own brand she works as a part of the Raivio & Kulju team. The pieces in the Popcorn Blossoms series are popcorns turned into clay miniature corn explosions.

www.raivio-kulju.com

Nene Tsuboi

Nene Tsuboi is a designer from Japan, based in Helsinki since 1999. The Mitsumaru clog was a collaboration between Nene and Talla, a Finnish wooden clog company from Myrskylä. Talla has been producing clogs for Finnish hospitals since 1952. Talla's wooden sole is designed by a team of five orthopedists from the Meilahti hospital in Helsinki.

www.nenetsuboi.com

Saara Renvall and Elina Aalto

Saara Renvall and Elina Aalto are Helsinki-based designers who have collaborated on numerous projects. Together with Krista Kosonen they coordinate the work of Imu design, a platform for young designers to show their talent. Their most recent joint design project is a series of feather-shaped reflectors for Saintex, a Finnish manufacturer.

www.imudesign.org

Vaadin

Vaadin Design jewellery and accessories draw their inspiration from the past and present legends of Lapland. Reindeer fur is highly valued material and the only thing that will keep you warm in the arctic cold. Vaadin Design accessories are an innovative way to give the Lappish tradition a modern and urban form.

www.vaadindesign.com

Laura Wesamaa

Artist Laura Wesamaa first started to make long garland-like paper decorations for her artworks. Now, she uses this concept to make Christmas decorations and unique jewellery with fellow artist Alma Heikkilä. Wesamaa's colourful jewellery is inspired by flowers, plants and traditional tribal decorations. The Helsinki-based artist is interested in combining cheap materials with precise craftsmanship.