Saami craftsmanship
Saami handicrafts are considered to be of high quality due to the use of natural materials such as birch wood, hides or reindeer antlers. Traditionally, men in the outdoors used knives(puukko) and cups (kuksa) made of carved reindeer antlers. Both are still in use today: the kuksa for drinking and berry picking; the puukko, worn on the belt, for everyday life. Some Saami also still wear the traditional costume, which is entirely handmade and beautifully coloured (yellow, blue, red, green). The latter allows to indicate the belonging to one of the three Sami communities, and even for some attributes to inform the social status of the person (single, married, widow...). Sweaters, shawls, cardigans, socks, boots, hats and mittens are beautiful souvenirs to bring back from Lapland, without forgetting jewellery, bags or birch bark baskets for the women. The witch's drum made of reindeer skin and bone is also very popular. You will find this beautiful handicraft mainly at the Siida museum in Inari with a whole bunch of local designers mixing tradition and modern Finnish design.
Gastronomy
Honey
: With very long days in summer, bees can work for almost 18 hours! Enough to beat records of honey production in this country with complicated climatic conditions for them. Be careful, however, if you travel only with hand luggage, the container must not exceed 100 ml, otherwise it will be confiscated.Jam: try blackberry jam, for example! Also known as the queen of berries, it only grows in the Arctic region and can be picked in forests and peat bogs.
Cheese
: Leipäjuusto, a typical Finnish cheese made from cow's milk.Alcohol
: Salmiakki Koskenkorva is a mixture of vodka, glucose syrup and liquorice extract. The result is a sweet drink between 30 and 40°. The Finns, who love vodka, also produce it, notably with the Finlandia brand. Launched in 1970, this brand has won several gold medals. Known for its purity, it is made from " six raw " barley.The Moomin, or Moumines
Much has been said about it, originally Tove Jansson invented the Moumines (Muumi in Finnish) during the Second World War, so that children could escape into a lighter world. In 1952, she had a success that crossed borders and decided to change the format of the stories to comics. Three albums were translated into French in 2008 in the Petit Lézard collection and were awarded the 2008 Prix du Patrimoine at the Angoulême Festival. The Moumines will also be honoured by television (numerous series have been produced in Europe and Japan) and the cinema (Les Moumines et la folle aventure de l'été
released in November 2009). Tove Jansson passed away in 2001, leaving behind her beautiful stories and a host of derivative products that seduce Finns and Japanese, who flock to Tampere to admire the figurines and illustrations that the author has entrusted to the art museum. By the way, don't forget to buy a cup from Iittala, the famous Finnish tableware brand, which you can find in every department store and which features all the characters from Moumine. Every good Finn owns at least one piece of this beautiful collection.Design objects
In 2012, Helsinki will take on the role of world design capital: a consecration! Inspired by their unique nature and a difficult climate that demands durable and functional products, Finnish designers have been advocating a subtle blend of practicality and aesthetics, creativity and technology, tradition and modernity since the 1930s. They ennoble wood, glass, textile fibres, leather, clay and metals.
As a final must-see souvenir from the country, why not bring back a beautiful Aalto vase, Iittala crockery or ceramics, a pair of Fiskars scissors, Teema crockery or even a Block lamp? Head to the Arabia district in Helsinki.
There is no shortage of choice! And if you prefer fashion, Marimekko products are typically Finnish too!
In Helsinki, the design district is located in Punavuori. It offers a wide range of design and interior design shops, antique shops, fashion boutiques, jewellery shops, artists' studios, galleries, museums and restaurants. The emblematic centre of the district is Dianapuisto Square. Several famous brands such as Marimekko, Pentik and Artek have their own shops located on Esplanadi. Their designs are also available throughout the country. A selection of galleries, workshops and shops can be found on the Design District website (www.designdistrict.fi).
Finally, let's not forget fashion: Marimekko. The brand was founded in 1951 by Armi and Viljo Ratia. It will be known for its bold and very colorful patterns. In 1960, Jackie Kennedy discovered the brand and often wore its creations, during her husband's presidential campaign in particular. Put on the front of the stage, the brand knows a huge success.
For a few years, the concept of "Slow Fashion" has gained ground in Finnish fashion. The idea is to produce less but better. It is a more ethical, responsible and sustainable fashion, taking into account the working conditions and the environmental impact. Globe Hope is a Finnish brand created by Seija Lukkala in 2001. All items are made from recycled materials and waste clothing.
