The story behind the Finnish menswear label FRENN goes as follows: in 2013 Jarkko Kallio walked the streets of New York in a jacket made by Antti Laitinen and someone came up to him with the sole purpose of buying the jacket then and there. This inspired the creative professional duo to start their own menswear label FRENN. Over the years since its start, the menswear line has become synonymous to exquisite, interesting materials and surprising design details meeting comfortable, but always sharp tailoring skills.
Jarkko and Antti live and work in Helsinki, the capital of Finland, which continues to inspire them in many ways. Just like the coastal city on the shore of the Baltic Sea characterised by its proximity to nature, FRENN label is all about natural roughness and ease juxtaposed with contemporary sophistication.
The FRENN ethos is a style of dressing that is free from norms. This comes forth in the clothes that can be worn both for work and for leisure. The company’s design work begins with an eye for durability, natural fit, interesting details, quality as well as environmentally responsible European materials. FRENN clothing is produced regionally in Estonia under inspected conditions.
This year the Design from Finland mark recognised FRENN with the Design Deed of the Year award. The criteria for the award are originality, corporate responsibility, and design as a part of everyday life. We at Weecos decided to commemorate this by taking FRENN to the city across the pond where it all started. We dressed local men on the streets of Manhattan, New York in FRENN Aw17 collection now available in Weecos.
