Designer stories | Weecos Journal

Meet Maanantaimalli, Laa Laa Living, RUOKO design and HEMPEA!

Anu Hurme

We proudly present you the joyful jewellery brand Maanantaimalli, the bedclothes brand HEMPEA and the interior design brands Laa Laa Living and RUOKO design ! At the moment, there are over 220 brands in our sustainable marketplace, the place uniting sustainable designer brands and you! MAANANTAIMALLI Matleena Töhönen, the founder of Maanantaimalli, wants that Mondays are celebrated like Saturdays are. Therefrom […]

‘Almost’ Isn’t Enough for Hanna Rainio – Fairtrade Gold and Eco-silver Enabled Her the Goldsmith’s Career

Anu Hurme

Hanna Rainio, the founder of Kätkö Koru, is the first goldsmith in Finland who uses Fairtrade gold in her jewellery. She’s happy for being new in the goldsmiths’ profession, as she has had the opportunity to do things differently and choose materials that are sustainable. – ”No way!” was my reaction when the goldsmith education […]

Attitudes Towards Precious Metals Need to Change

Anu Hurme

A day-long jewellery class with a friend turned Sanna-Maria Ojanen’s life to a whole new direction. To her amazement, she found a creative side from her self and soon, became the founder of the bold and rock MOSH Jewelry. – In this profession works mainly men who have been goldsmiths for decades and they don’t care […]

Pre-consumer Waste, Zero Waste, Pre-Sale – Lost In Textile Waste Terms?

Anu Hurme

Pre-consumer waste. Post-consumer waste. Zero waste. Pre-sale. Mass-upcycling. Heard them but never really understood them? These terms are unfamiliar to quite many or often confused together. All of these terms back up the circular economy, which is seen, as stated in the previous Lost in terms post, as the future’s business model. Managing textile waste, […]

Clothing Brands Changing the Fashion More Sustainable

Anu Hurme

Big brands are using new technologies to make fashion more sustainable. But we feel that smaller design brands are doing significant work too, as it’s said, “big things have small beginnings”. Especially when people working together. So meet TAUKO Design, Reet Aus and Paula Malleus, brands who’s work have influence on the environmental issues as well. *** […]

Reet Aus Finds Solutions For The Fashion Industry’s Problems

Anu Hurme

At the moment the clothing industry is based on fast and cheap production, and quantity runs over quality. This is completely unsustainable and the reason why Reet Aus, an Estonian fashion designer and PhD, wants to change the mass production system from inside out. In addition to upcycling and certifications, Reet sees taxes and conscious […]

Reet Aus Has Taken Upcycling To The Next Level

Anu Hurme

Designer Reet Aus is dedicated to slow fashion. Not only has Reet made her collections out of post-industrial leftovers for years now, but also developed the first upcycling certification in the textile industry, which enables the circulation of leftover materials back to production inside the same factory. But how did that happen? In 1995, when Reet […]

Lovia Makes Luxury With Nothing to Hide

Anu Hurme

A few years back designer Outi Korpilaakso decided to jump off the faceless fashion ride and provide customers elegant items with full transparency. Besides designing out of someone else’s trash, Lovia takes part in the pioneering work of developing new leathers from Finnsheep, elk and salmon. For several years, Outi had worked for an international […]

Episode 4: MEM Hardcore Fashion – It’s Time For Decisions

Anu Hurme

In the third episode of Hardcore Fashion designer and Master Seamstress Paula Malleus, showed the Revolt collections pieces to Trashionista Outi Les Pyy who gave her viewpoints on it. What she thought of the pieces and what does Paula think? Is she going to make changes to Revolt? What are the editorial pieces going to look like? Join the meeting Paula […]

Arela – Appreciating Customers And Clothes

Anu Hurme

“No worries, the pilling can be combed off easily and after your knit looks brand new.” This is one of the most common relief said to Arela’s customers when they show the precious but pilled cashmere knit at the store. Luckily, Arela takes excellent care of both – their customers and their products. The new, […]

Episode 3: Paula Malleus Shows the Revolt Collection’s Fashion Looks

Anu Hurme

Already the third episode of Hardcore Fashion! The structure of the Revolt collection is soon ready, amazing what designer and Master Seamstress Paula Malleus has made out of wind and ski suits. In this episode, Paula introduces her pieces to Trashionista Outi Les Pyy who gives her viewpoints on the collection. What do you think of the pieces? […]

Arela Shows A Transparent Example To The Bigger Players

Anu Hurme

Transparency plays a significant role for Arela in everything they do. Especially significant, it is in their production chain, which they openly and proudly tell about. The Arela cashmere knits are made in Nepal and China not only because of the talented people but also for social reasons. Viivi Arela reaches a dark blue thread […]

Episode 2: The Stunning Fashion Looks by Paula Malleus

Anu Hurme

We are happy to welcome you to Weecos Vlog and to the second episode of Hardcore Fashion! One of the key elements in Weecos is that we can share the stories behind products and show you who are behind the brands. We want you to get familiar with the inspirational designers and makers, the souls of […]

Episode 1: The People Behind MEM And Hardcore Fashion

Anu Hurme

We are happy to welcome you to Weecos Vlog and introduce the new collaboration with fashion brand MEM by Paula Malleus. One of the key elements in Weecos is that we can share the stories behind products and show you who are behind the brands. We want You to get familiar with the inspirational designers and makers, the […]

Hooked on Solving Leather Puzzles

Anu Hurme

Neon orange pants. The first pair Kaisa Maansalo, the founder of Salmiak Studio, had ever made herself. It was the early 90’s, and the neon orange pants were soon companied with neon green and PVC trousers. But Kaisa still recalls the feeling after sewing her first pair, the neon orange ones, the excitement and joy […]

Anne Linnonmaa encourages people to challenge the world

Anu Hurme

Uncompromising, ecological and ethical fashion combined with design. These were the principles Anne Linnonmaa, the Finnish designer and entrepreneur, has always been determined to follow in everything she does. Anne is an excellent example of how a single person can affect the world with their everyday choices and she encourages others to challenge the world […]

Anne Linnonmaa – The Determined Pioneer of Ecological Fashion

Anu Hurme

Uncompromising, ecological and ethical fashion combined with design. These were the principles Anne Linnonmaa, the Finnish designer and entrepreneur, was determined to follow not only in her own clothing line but in everything she does. In the 1990’s it wasn’t the easiest path to walk. But it could be said that Anne has never chosen […]