Sep 7

Sep 7 Treasure Hunting in Helsinki

Helsinki is home to a vibrant vintage scene. Sustainable chic is mainstream, and the city has a long-held tradition of favouring thrift shops over malls.

Antique shops and second-hand stores are dotted along the city streets. Locals can hire stalls at indoor markets to sell their used goods. In Summer, the flea markets move outdoors.

Buzzing with energy, residents bask in the sunshine while hunting for their next piece of treasure. The wares are generally high-quality and range from shoes and clothing to furniture and homewares.

A stroll through any of these marketplaces will reveal that there are a couple of precious collectibles guaranteed to reappear time and again.

“Marrimekko Textiles”

Marimekko is a famous Finnish textile company first established in 1951. Their bold and joyful patterns are celebrated around the globe.

As a protest to the somewhat restricting outfits of the 1950s, their abstract expressions exploded onto the fashion scene in a whirlwind of daring and decorative colour.

A way for women to let their personality shine, the dresses make a free-spirited statement, whilst capturing the essence of the era.

But miraculously, the trends launched by Marrimekko don’t seem to date, with the creations retaining a classic flair throughout the decades. The most ubiquitous pattern of all is ‘Unikko’ – a distinct poppy flower motif.

Not only do the patterns grace women’s clothing, they have also made their way onto bedding, curtains, tea towels and any other number of household goods.

With one million metres of fabric printed at the Marimekko factory in Helsinki each year, there is no shortage of these items at local thrift stores and they make for perfect souvenirs.

“‘Moomin’ Merchandise”

Add to your growing collection of keepsakes with a Moomin Mug, crafted by 150-year-old Finnish ceramics company, Arabia. With a new limited-edition design released each year, the collector’s item is another omnipresent article amongst Helsinki’s second-hand stalls.

Developed by Finnish illustrator Tove Jansson, the Moomins are rotund hippo-like trolls with large snouts that feature in a series of books, comics and television shows.

Some compare their following in Finland to a religion. A healthy obsession that sees the fanbase swarm on each new piece of paraphernalia that is promoted.

However, not merely a light-hearted children’s animation, its philosophical concepts appeal to people of all ages.

Originally published in 1945 as a way for Jansson to distract from the horror of World War II, the cartoon tactfully explores some dark but universal themes.