Helsinki for Design Hunters

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Helsinki for Design Hunters

Whether you are shopping or just exploring, the Finnish capital is a city with some serious style credentials. Great design can be found throughout the city, reaffirming just why it was designated a 2012 World Design Capital.

If you crave cool, the best place to start the perfect day in Helsinki is the Design District around Diana Park. Follow the black-and-white stickers and discover a hip neighbourhood of 200 trendy boutiques, galleries and eateries. It is a shopping heaven for design aficionados.

This creative hub of 25 streets offers an edgy assortment of fashion, furniture, antiques, home wares and avant-garde accessories. For example, if you want seductive footwear you can visit the Minna Parikka Boutique or find crafts and design classics from the Torikorttelit area near the Senate Square.

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Helsinki

Helsinki is a modern, pocket-sized European city known for design and high technology. Helsinki’s attractive and unique character comes from its proximity to the sea, as well as its location between the East and the West.

Helsinki

Bold is beautiful

For odd ball souvenirs, don’t miss the Secret Shop, a diminutive emporium of whimsical items by Aamu Song and Johan Olin. A visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art located next door is also well worth it for its cool shop and café… not to mention the amazing art and architecture.

If up-market design is more your thing, take a stroll down the café-lined Esplanade. Must-sees include the immaculate Artek furniture showroom, the deliciously colourful new flagship store of world-renowned design house Marimekko.

Walk on the wild side

“My designs are like love letters from one shoe lover to another. Life is too short to take style too seriously.” Minna Parikka

Minna Parikka’s flagship store is located in Aleksanterinkatu 36, Helsinki and her beautiful, playful & luxurious shoes are sold by 100 retailers in dozens of countries.

Samuji

Focusing on design and consulting, Helsinki based creative studio Samuji gets inspiration from everyday life: a love of necessary things, simple functionality, and kindness.

Their ambition is to produce timeless and sustainable design that serves a purpose yet carries a story.

Fashion forward

If you can drag yourself away from the high street of Scandinavian chic, make your way to Kiseleff House in the historic Senate Square. Shop for achingly stylish accessories at the new flagship boutique of handbag brand called Lumi.

One great aspect about Helsinki is that you will find design everywhere, not only in the high-end boutiques.

Torikorttelit

The Torikorttelit project produces events, rents out empty spaces to interesting pop up events and acts as a setting and an enabler for new urban culture. Located right next to the sea, between the Market Square and Senate Square, Torikorttelit enable encounters between old and new; travellers and locals; east and west as well as city administration and the local citizens.

Colour your world

For bold prints and distinctive textiles, look no further than the brand-new Marimekko flagship store on the Esplanade.

Fresh Design

Made for women, by women, in all their glorious shapes and sizes and ages. R/H collections represent a unique collage of Nordic minimalism, captivating prints, practical, feminine cuts and a certain spirit of northern, forest magic, all of which come together to create effortless, easy-to-wear and easy-to-care pieces that will last well beyond this season’s trends.

Scandinavian vibes

If you want minimalist luxury, fine craftsmanship and innovative design you will love Väska. The brand Väska comes from the Swedish word for “bag” and is influenced in all its designs by the Fenno-Swedish origins of the designer, following a very Nordic and pure line combined with a Mediterranean touch.

SSHH… DON’T TELL!

Looking for a maxi-sized necktie or shoes that look like miniature cars? The Secret Shop offers an assortment of off beat fashion and knickknacks.

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Helsinki for Design Hunters