What should you bring back from Finland as a souvenir for someone dear to you or for yourself? You can buy a box of Fazer chocolates, salted bear meat, or Finnish coffee. Such a gift will, of course, be pleasant and will delight your friends and family, but not for long. If you want to bring back something functional, memorable, valuable, and full of Finnish character, head to “Iittala” – a treasure trove of Finnish design. The flagship store of this brand can be found by Esplanadi Park. Here you will find both the brand’s newest collections and the timeless classics of Finnish glass.
The boutique first opened on this site in 1950; it was designed by Kaj Franck, one of the founding fathers of modern Finnish design. In 2013, the store’s interior was redesigned in line with the brand’s new concept by Pentagon Design. Today it is decorated in a minimalist style that emphasizes the simple and profound beauty of the signature solid-glass pieces in every shade of the rainbow. The products themselves serve as the store’s true decorations, and sometimes it is hard to tell: can that lamp be purchased, or is it here just for decoration?
What should you buy at “Iittala”? First of all, an Aalto vase – an icon of Finnish design. They are made in different sizes and every imaginable shade, so you are sure to find something to suit both your taste and your budget. And, of course, the famous colored glasses by Kaj Franck or Aino Aalto, ideal in their simplicity and heft. Or one of the cute Vitriini trinket boxes that look like a piece of sea-polished glass.
