SECRETS OF FINLAND (est. 2007) 

A collection celebrating the brilliant traditional skills and local materials.
What is still made in Finland? We had no idea. So we started to find out. Since 2007, we've visited factories and makers around Finland and designed new items based on their traditions.
All designs: COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)

2007
Suomen Salat /
Top Secrets of Finland

COMPANY's exhibition in KIASMA Contemporary Art Museum, Helsinki.


All around Finland, during spring 2007, we discovered manufacturers who still make traditional everyday products. We asked those companies we fell for to co-operate with us. We made new designs inspired by their traditional products. Top Secrets of Finland presented the findings of this exploration and co-operation.

The collection was exhibited and sold first time in Kiasma museum, Studio K in the summer 2007.

Here is our shop where we sat the whole summer selling secret products.



Exhibition space seen from the balcony; Secret products and secret changing room.




Dance Shoes / Tanssitossut

For the Father and the Daughter.
Design by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)
Material: moulded felt (100% wool)
Manufacturer Lahtinen in Jämsä, Finland.

Mushroom Stool /
Tattijakkara

Design by COMPANY /
Aamu Song
Manufacturered by Pirtakka in Mäntyharju, Finland.
Material: Birch, paint.

Tree Flower Stool /
Oksajakkara

Design by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)
Manufacturered by Pirtakka in Mäntyharju, Finland.
Material: Pine, lacquer.

Pingu Wear /
Pinguasu

Looks and feels warm.
Design by COMPANY /
Aamu Song
Made by Tam-Silk in Kangasala Finland.
Material: Wool-silk.

Beard Wear /
Partanen

For anyone who ever wanted to try a beard.
Design by COMPANY /
Johan Olin
Made by Muhoksen Villa in Muhos, Finland.
Material: Wool, steel wire.

Handy Bags /
Käteiset

For keeping coins and cards at hand.
Design by COMPANY /
Johan Olin
Made by Koppinen in Kokkola, Finland
Material: Leather, cotton

Hood Bag /
Huppureppu

Design: COMPANY / Aamu Song
From bag to head, and from head to bag.
Prototypes made by Three Bags in Varkaus, Finland.
Material: Leather



Birch Me /
Olen Koivu

Waiting for the summer.
Design by COMPANY /
Aamu Song
Made by Orthilia in Koijärvi, Finland.
Material: 100% wool

Lucky Shirt /
Onnenepaita

Onnenpaita keeps you lucky.
Design: COMPANY / Johan Olin
Made by Orthilia in Koijärvi, Finland.
Material: 100% wool


Flame Shirt /
Liekkipaita

Wool does not burn.
Design by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)
Made by Muhoksen Villa in Muhos Finland
Material: 100% wool.

100% Villa /
100% Wool

100% wool keeps 100% warm.
Design: COMPANY
(Aamu Song & Johan Olin)
Made by Muhoksen Villa in Muhos, Finland.

Baggy Jeans /
Pussihousut

Original Finn-jeans.
Design by COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)
Made by Penttilä in Ostrobothnia (Kokkola) Finland
Material: Cotton


Rocking Bear /
Keinukarhu /

Design: COMPANY
(Aamu Song & Johan Olin)
Made by Eimi in Padasjoki, Finland. Sculpting work by
Taito Huotarinen from Makkola, Finland.
Material:
Solid birch, burned surface.

Nukkuva kaluste /
Sleeping Furniture

Design: COMPANY
Made by Kiteen Huonekalutehdas in Kitee, Finland.
Material:
Solid birch, wax surface treatment.

Other info:
Sleeping furniture dreams of being a chair.

 

Ostrobotnian Boots /
Puukkosaappaat

Design: COMPANY / Johan Olin
Made by Töysän kenkätehdas in Töysä, Finland.
Material: Leather, rubber (TR) sole.

Other info:
Ostrobotnian boot comes with a pocketfull of attitude.

 



Accordion Boots /
Lady Jatsarit /

Design: COMPANY + trad.
Boot manufactured in Töysä, Finland.
Material: Leather (cow),
rubber (TR) sole.

Other info:
Ostrobotnian lady power.
Accordion boots are a colourful lady edition of a tradiotional Ostrobothnian boot type.

 



Winter Sleep /
Talviuni

Design: COMPANY / Aamu Song
Made by Joutsen Finland in Riihimäki.
A blanket that host 12 animal shape cushions.
Material:
Down, cotton.

Other info:
Polar animals know by experience how to keep you best warm.

 



Mobile Phone Bag /
Puhemiehen laukku

Design: COMPANY /
Johan Olin
M ade by Honko in Vammala, Finland.
Material: Leather, other materials.



2010

Secrets of
Central Finland

Craft Museum of Finland, Jyväskylä.

COMPANY
(Aamu Song & Johan Olin) presents a range of new products that were born in coperation with hidden manufacturers in central Finland.

Collection includes products out of leather and bark, stone and clay, wood and veneer, felt and PU.

 



Small Hug Puzzle / Pikku Halaus -peli
Design: COMPANY / Aamu Song
Manufactured by Haapareppu in Joutsa, Finland.
Material: Birch, natural


Big Hug Puzzle / Iso Halaus -peli
Design: COMPANY / Aamu Song
Manufactured by Haapareppu in Joutsa, Finland.
Material: Birch, natural


Animals of Finland Puzzle / Suomen Eläimet -peli
Design: COMPANY / Johan Olin
Manufactured by Haapareppu in Joutsa, Finland.
Material: Birch veneer, stained


Animals of Finland Puzzle / Suomen Eläimet -peli


Birch Bag Big / Iso-Tuohinen
Design: COMPANY / Aamu Song
Made by Pertti Junninen in Kuopio, Finland.
Material: Birch bark, leather


The shoulder strap in weaved out of goat leather.
The container part is woven birch bark.


Birch Pixels / Pikseli-Tuohinen
Design: COMPANY / Aamu Song & Johan Olin
Made by Johan Olin with the help of Pertti Junninen.
Material: Birch bark, leather


Leather Virsu / Nahkavirsut
Design: COMPANY / Johan Olin
Made by Johan Olin & Töysä boot factory with the help of Pertti Junninen.
Material: leather (vegetable tanned )


Suomi Shoes
Design: COMPANY / Aamu Song
Made by Lahtinen felt factory in Jämsä, Finland.
Outsoles made by Laja in Hirsilä, Finland.
Material: Felt, PU rubber


Deer Tree / Poropuu
Design: COMPANY / Aamu Song
Made by Savi-M in Laukaa, Finland.
Material: Ceramic, glazed


Deer Tree


Mugstone / Kivinen
Design: COMPANY / Johan Olin
Made by JKL stone in Vesanka, Finland.
Material: Finnish granite


17.06.
Exhibition opening!

Kiitos Laura, Mikko, Jussi, Susku. and all guests.

 



 


Secret illustration from the making process.

 


16.06.
Finishing up with the exhibition installing.

 


31.05.
Last visit to Central Finland before the exhibition.

 


31.06.
2010.
Making Deer Tree clay model in Laukaa.

  


05.2010.
Suomi Shoe plans in Helsinki.

 


05.2010.
Birch bark mini. Proto making in Helsinki.

 


10.04.
2010.
Birch bark shoe making with Pertti, Juuli and Aamu in Kuopio.

 


09.04.
2010.
Laja factory in Hirsilä, Finland.
Aamu with Sakari and Johanna.

 


03.2010.
Helsinki.
Studies for Hug Puzzles.

 


First prototype of Birch Bag.

 


Prototypes for Leather Virsu.

  


03.02.
2010
Aamu and Ritva at Lahtinen felt factory in Jämsä.

 


01.02.
2010
Visiting Haapa-reppu in Joutsa in January.

 



01.02.
2010
Sirkka, Eija and Johan at Haapa-reppu in Joutsa in January.

 


Johan learning secrets of ceramics at Savi-M in Laukaa.

 

2012
SECRETS OF HELSINKI
SALAKAUPPA, Postikatu 1, 00100 Helsinki.

What is still made in Helsinki?

In summer 2011 Aamu Song & Johan Olin of COMPANY started a journey to find the manufacturers and makers still working inside Helsinki borders. The journey and visits to manufacturers are reported below and shown in exhibition ’Secrets of Helsinki’ in Salakauppa from 25.08. to 5.9. 2012. The journey also gave birth to a range of new Helsinki products. New products inspired and based on each makers own traditions.


’Secrets of Helsinki’ project is part of World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 programme.

View of the ’Secrets of Helsinki’ exhibition. We have a Secret Factory (that structure there attached on Salakauppa). During the exhibition, we will become factory workers ourselves, making new Helsinki products. Photo: Erling Sommerfeldt.


25.8.2012. Today Secret Factory makes: Helsinki Boot Brushes & Felt Virsu shoes. Photo: Erling Sommerfeldt.


SECRETS OF HELSINKI PRODUCTS:

Helsinki Street Light / KEHÄ 1 valaisin
A single-LED light in homage to the streets of Helsinki
Manufactured by SAAS Instruments, Helsinki. Aluminium parts by Amak Oy, Heikinlaakso, Helsinki. Stainless steel and CrMo tubes, Samet Oy, Finland
Material: Aluminium (lampshade), CrMo steel (stem), Stainless steel (base), LED light (3500K), transformer, cord
Design: COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)


Tool House / Peltihalli
A small toolbox for office use (in the shape of the manufacturer’s building, in approx. 1:100 scale)
Manufactured by Peltiveikot Oy in Heikinlaakso, Helsinki. Material: Stainless steel. Size: 280 X 100 X 70 mm.
Design: COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)


Helsinki Water Tower / Vesitornimuki
Helsinki is well known for its good quality tap water, and for its flat skyline. Some structures however stick out from the silhouette – the old water towers – now under the threat of demolition. Helsinki Water Tower is a cup for Helsinki tap water – in the shape of Helsinki's Lauttasaari water tower.
Manufactured by Dragonia (Kirsi Hagman) in Kallio, Helsinki. Material: Clay, glazed. Size 140 X 110 mm.
Design: COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)

Helsinki Scarf / Helsingin Huivi
A woolen scarf celebrating Helsinki
Printed by Arazzo, in Pakkala, Vantaa. Sewing: Minna Kuismanen in Tikkurila. Material: 100% wool. Size 75 X 75 cm.
Design: COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)


Helsinki Boot Brush / Katukiviharja
An urban solution for shoe cleaning. The weight of the stone keeps the brush upright when used. And if not, plant the stone in ground
Manufactured by Johan Olin in Salakauppa, Helsinki, in collaboration with Annansilmät-Aitta, Helsingin City-Kiveys and Rock&Stone, Helsinki. Material: Granite from Helsinki, bristles (PP). Size: Approx. 100 X 100 X 100 mm & 200 X 100 X 130 mm (Boot Brush in photo).
Design: COMPANY (Aamu Song & Johan Olin)

Felt Virsu& Baby Virsy / Huopa Virsut & Vauva Virsut
Warm Finnish traditions made in Helsinki
Made by Minna Koskinen in Salakauppa, Helsinki.
Material: Felt (100% wool). Sizes: S (26), M (40), L (45)
Design: COMPANY (Aamu, Johan, Minna)