Picture: Visit Helsinki
DESIGN AND SOUVENIRS
Finland has an impressive design heritage. Minimalistic, functional and clean Finnish design has enjoyed an enviable international reputation for decades. In 2012 Helsinki had the honour of being the World Design Capital. Helsinki is indeed the perfect destination for design shopping and design culture.
Helsinki has its own Design District, an area to the south of the Esplanade that is home to around 200 design attractions, from shops to galleries, studios to museums, and design offices to museums and restaurants.
An easy way to discover the Design District is to take the Helsinki Design Walk, a two-hour guided tour in English of the top sights. Fans of designs can even stay overnight in the Klaus K hotel, a member of the Design Hotels chain. Late Night Shopping events are held in the Design District several times a year.
At the heart of the Design District is Design Forum Finland, a gallery and shop that presents a comprehensive selection of Finnish design and current trends. The Design Forum Shop sells a wide range of Finnish design from famous classics to the newest creations.
The permanent exhibition at the Design Museum tells the story of Finnish design from the late 19th century to today, highlighting the biggest names in Finnish design. The museum also presents special exhibitions presenting the latest trends in Finnish and international design.
The Tori Quarter between Senate Square and the Market Square is also home to a wide range of design shops.
Creativity takes centre stage during Helsinki Design Week, which takes place each autumn. This international festival offers a city-wide meeting place and discussion forum for design professionals and enthusiasts alike. The programme includes exhibitions, seminars, workshops, fashion shows, installations, shopping opportunities, evening programmes, and open doors to studios and other design premises that are usually closed to the public.
The Abattoir in the Kalasatama district brings together design and cuisine in delightful new ways. This dynamic centre for food culture opened in autumn 2012 in converted premises that once housed the city abattoir but now offers a wide range of events and happenings for locals and visitors to enjoy.
The most famous names in Finnish design include Alvar Aalto, Marimekko, Nokia, Rovio Mobile, Iittala and Arabia. In the fashion industry, Paola Suhonen’s IVANAhelsinki, Ilona Hyötyläinen’s Miu, Samu-Jussi Koski’s Samuji, footwear designer Minna Parikka and Lumi Accessories have wowed audiences the world over.
The Arabianranta district is a living laboratory and creative community that is home to the Arabia factory outlets, Tapio Wirkkala Park and the gardens of the Association of Useful Plants in Annala. A map is available for exploring the area and its 25 works of public art. Sightseeing and walking tours focusing on architecture and design are also offered.
SHOPPING IN HELSINKI
Helsinki is a paradise for shopaholics with any number of unique boutiques and larger shopping emporia. World-famous Finnish design is particularly popular. Design icon Marimekko has several outlets in the city selling fresh and colourful products from clothing and accessories to household items. Vuokko Nurmesniemi’s clothing creations are similarly appealing. Young Finnish fashion designers are also thriving, creating unique outfits that can often be found only in Helsinki. Check out, for example, the timeless designs by Samu-Jussi Koski in the Samuji shop. Other names worth looking for are Ilona Hyötyläinen at the Miun Shop, Paola Suhonen of IvanaHelsinki fame and Tiia Vanhatapio.
Lumi Accessories sells bags in all the colours of the rainbow. The brand’s newest outlet is in the Tori Quarter by Senate Square, where many designer brands have opened boutiques recently.
Iittala, Arabia, Artek and Finlayson are all giants of Finnish design that are represented along the Esplanade. Popular products include Finnish art glass, orange Fiskars scissors and Alvar Aalto vases. Lots more Finnish design can be found in the Design District, where you will also find the Design Forum Shop at Design Forum Finland. Taito Shop Helsky sells the highest quality Finnish handicrafts, including woollen mittens and linen textiles.
Helsinki’s shopping centres are perfect for getting a lot of shopping done quickly. Both Kamppi and Foorum in the city centre offer a wide range of modern shops and reasonably priced restaurants, Kiseleff House in the Tori Quarter has smaller boutiques and handicrafts shops, Galleria Esplanade has many international brands, and Kluuvi has numerous clothing stores. Outside the centre, the largest shopping centre in the Nordic region can be found in Itäkeskus.
Among Helsinki’s department stores, the most legendary is Stockmann, which sells a comprehensive range of goods from books and clothing to interior design, electronics and cosmetics. The main shopping streets are Aleksanterinkatu, Eerikinkatu, Fredrikinkatu, Uudenmaankatu and Esplanadi.
For the best food, head for the Eat&Joy Farmers Market, which sells local and organic food from small producers. The market halls in Hakaniemi and Hietaniemi are also great places to buy delicacies. The stalls in the Market Square and Hakaniemi Market sell everything from traditional market food to handicrafts and souvenirs.
Hietaniemi Flea Market is also extremely popular in summertime. The locals gather at the market to buy and sell everything from interior design to clothing and furniture.
(Text: Visit Helsinki)
Finland has an impressive design heritage. Minimalistic, functional and clean Finnish design has enjoyed an enviable international reputation for decades. In 2012 Helsinki had the honour of being the World Design Capital. Helsinki is indeed the perfect destination for design shopping and design culture.
Helsinki has its own Design District, an area to the south of the Esplanade that is home to around 200 design attractions, from shops to galleries, studios to museums, and design offices to museums and restaurants.
An easy way to discover the Design District is to take the Helsinki Design Walk, a two-hour guided tour in English of the top sights. Fans of designs can even stay overnight in the Klaus K hotel, a member of the Design Hotels chain. Late Night Shopping events are held in the Design District several times a year.
At the heart of the Design District is Design Forum Finland, a gallery and shop that presents a comprehensive selection of Finnish design and current trends. The Design Forum Shop sells a wide range of Finnish design from famous classics to the newest creations.
The permanent exhibition at the Design Museum tells the story of Finnish design from the late 19th century to today, highlighting the biggest names in Finnish design. The museum also presents special exhibitions presenting the latest trends in Finnish and international design.
The Tori Quarter between Senate Square and the Market Square is also home to a wide range of design shops.
Creativity takes centre stage during Helsinki Design Week, which takes place each autumn. This international festival offers a city-wide meeting place and discussion forum for design professionals and enthusiasts alike. The programme includes exhibitions, seminars, workshops, fashion shows, installations, shopping opportunities, evening programmes, and open doors to studios and other design premises that are usually closed to the public.
The Abattoir in the Kalasatama district brings together design and cuisine in delightful new ways. This dynamic centre for food culture opened in autumn 2012 in converted premises that once housed the city abattoir but now offers a wide range of events and happenings for locals and visitors to enjoy.
The most famous names in Finnish design include Alvar Aalto, Marimekko, Nokia, Rovio Mobile, Iittala and Arabia. In the fashion industry, Paola Suhonen’s IVANAhelsinki, Ilona Hyötyläinen’s Miu, Samu-Jussi Koski’s Samuji, footwear designer Minna Parikka and Lumi Accessories have wowed audiences the world over.
The Arabianranta district is a living laboratory and creative community that is home to the Arabia factory outlets, Tapio Wirkkala Park and the gardens of the Association of Useful Plants in Annala. A map is available for exploring the area and its 25 works of public art. Sightseeing and walking tours focusing on architecture and design are also offered.
SHOPPING IN HELSINKI
Helsinki is a paradise for shopaholics with any number of unique boutiques and larger shopping emporia. World-famous Finnish design is particularly popular. Design icon Marimekko has several outlets in the city selling fresh and colourful products from clothing and accessories to household items. Vuokko Nurmesniemi’s clothing creations are similarly appealing. Young Finnish fashion designers are also thriving, creating unique outfits that can often be found only in Helsinki. Check out, for example, the timeless designs by Samu-Jussi Koski in the Samuji shop. Other names worth looking for are Ilona Hyötyläinen at the Miun Shop, Paola Suhonen of IvanaHelsinki fame and Tiia Vanhatapio.
Lumi Accessories sells bags in all the colours of the rainbow. The brand’s newest outlet is in the Tori Quarter by Senate Square, where many designer brands have opened boutiques recently.
Iittala, Arabia, Artek and Finlayson are all giants of Finnish design that are represented along the Esplanade. Popular products include Finnish art glass, orange Fiskars scissors and Alvar Aalto vases. Lots more Finnish design can be found in the Design District, where you will also find the Design Forum Shop at Design Forum Finland. Taito Shop Helsky sells the highest quality Finnish handicrafts, including woollen mittens and linen textiles.
Helsinki’s shopping centres are perfect for getting a lot of shopping done quickly. Both Kamppi and Foorum in the city centre offer a wide range of modern shops and reasonably priced restaurants, Kiseleff House in the Tori Quarter has smaller boutiques and handicrafts shops, Galleria Esplanade has many international brands, and Kluuvi has numerous clothing stores. Outside the centre, the largest shopping centre in the Nordic region can be found in Itäkeskus.
Among Helsinki’s department stores, the most legendary is Stockmann, which sells a comprehensive range of goods from books and clothing to interior design, electronics and cosmetics. The main shopping streets are Aleksanterinkatu, Eerikinkatu, Fredrikinkatu, Uudenmaankatu and Esplanadi.
For the best food, head for the Eat&Joy Farmers Market, which sells local and organic food from small producers. The market halls in Hakaniemi and Hietaniemi are also great places to buy delicacies. The stalls in the Market Square and Hakaniemi Market sell everything from traditional market food to handicrafts and souvenirs.
Hietaniemi Flea Market is also extremely popular in summertime. The locals gather at the market to buy and sell everything from interior design to clothing and furniture.
(Text: Visit Helsinki)
Picture: Seppo Laakso
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Picture: Sakke Somerma/Visit Helsinki
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