Copyright © 2015 Mum’s

MUM’S FAIR SCANDINAVIAN DESIGN COLLECTION 2015

GOOD WITH GOODS

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MUM’S STORY / FAIR DESIGN & MATERIALS / COLLECTION / FLOWERDROPS CHARITY

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THE STORY OF MUM’S

By Anna Akhmetova

Mum’s is a small design

company based in Finland

which sells textiles, home

decor items and jewellery

within the country and

abroad. The products are

designed in Finland in cooperation

with some of the

best designers and artists

in the region and produced

by skilled artisans in Bolivia,

South Africa, India and

Cambodia according to the

principles of fair trade.

Outi Puro is a designer,

an artist, the founder

and the heart of Mum’s.

It all started several years

ago when Outi was working

as a sculptor and doing

her communal art project.

The project consisted of

a series of baking performances.

One of them, “52

Sundays”, included Outi

baking buns at home with

her kids and at Helsinki

railway station. Another

performance, called

“Baking for my long lost

friend” lead her to Africa

in 2006 to bake buns for

her long lost African friend

Diane. With the help of

Diane, Outi travelled

around Africa and met

local craftsmen and artists.

She was inspired by their

culture and their works

and also realized that they

were in the same situation

as she was - trying to combine

creative work and

family. Many of the craftsmen

she met were women

with children trying to balance

work with taking care

of their families. This lead

Outi to an idea of a collaboration,

and she designed

bags which women in

Africa could make for her

art project. Over the years,

this art project turned into

a sustainable design company

employing over 40

people, with Outi being in

charge of the collection.

Mum’s slogan is

“making good with goods.”

The company works in

close cooperation with the

craftsmen and takes into

account their needs. The

craftsmen, for example, can

work from home, which

eliminates travel costs,

saves on childcare expenses

and allows more people to

join the workforce. Working

for Mum’s improves

the quality of their lives

and creates many new opportunities

for them and

their children, who now

have the possibility

to

g o

t o

Hi, I’m Outi, mum of

Mum’s!

Take a look what has

happened to Mum’s since

the beginning from the

timeline below!

school and learn how to

read and write. You can

read interviews with the

craftsmen on page 4.

Mum’s products are

simple, joyful, and functional,

in the best traditions

of minimalistic Scandinavian

design. What

distinguishes them among

other high quality Scandinavian

interior products

is the touch of authentic

ancient handicraft culture

of countries like Bolivia,

South Africa, India and

Cambodia. Each design is

adjusted to the techniques

of the artisans in the areas

where these items are produced,

and all products are

handmade, making them

truly unique. Outi works

in collaboration with such

renowned designers as Anu

Penttinen, Susanna Vento,

Maija Louekari, Saana ja

Olli, Heath Nash, Haldane

Martin, and Reetta Ahola,

and carefully picks and finetunes

each product design

herself. The creation of

a new collection is a long

process. A product starts

out from a Nordic-inspired

design, goes through several

changes and adjustments

to fit the techniques of the

craftsmen, and finishes as a

beautiful and ecologically

sustainable product, made

with joy and love.

Mum’s not only aims to

improve the lives of people

in distant locations, but

also serves the Finnish community

by organizing happenings

and local charity

events. Since 2011, in cooperation

with other designers

and NGOs, Mum’s has

been organizing the Flowerdrops

project - an art event,

which promotes ecological

sustainability and donates

all the profits to charity.

You can read more about it

on pages 24-25.

Mum’s was born in 2006 while Outi and her family went to

Africa. These children are happy to go to school. And their

parents are even happier to be able to provide them the possibility

to go to school and learn things. Most of MUM’s

handicrafters cannot read or write, because they did not

have a chance to go to school as kids.

YES!

2006.

The beginning - Africa.

2 0 0 9 .

Mum’s toys are designed in

Scandinavia by best of professionals-

kids!

2 010 .

Mum’s gym ball won Playful interior

design competition Habitare

Finland.

2 015 .

Doing more good than ever!

2 0 0 7.

Designed in Finland handmade

in Africa, from surplus material.

2 010 .

Flowerdrops charity project

by Mum’s began.

2 013 .

Mrs. President Jenni

Haukio wearing a brooch

by Mum’s.

2 3

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MUM’S STORY / FAIR DESIGN & MATERIALS / COLLECTION / FLOWERDROPS CHARITY

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CARRIED IN BLOOD,

MADE BY HEART

STORIES OF MUM’S ARTISANS

This is Zanele making lampshades,

texthangers and brooches and animal

trophies for Mum’s.

By Chi Zhang

Mum’s products are

100% handmade by skillful

craftsmen in Asia, Africa

and South America. There

are young talents who are

only in their 20s and there

are also experienced craftsmen

who have been in

the business for almost 30

years. To them, handicraft

skill is embedded in their

blood.

Babulal, Dinesh, Ravi,

Surender, Akbar ali,

Rabban ali...these Indian

craftsmen have been

working with Mum’s for

almost 3 years now. They

make carpets, floor cushions,

bags and wall hangings.

Through their clever

hands, a small carpet

(90cm x 200cm) can be

made in three to four days

while a large one (170cm

x 240cm) takes about a

week. When sitting by

the loom, they performed

inherited skills from their

forefathers. Now they are

able to weave their own

dreams.

- It all happened when

we were in need of some

exposure. I was a bit lucky

to be a part of Mum’s.

Craftsmen from South

Africa shared with us some

real changes in their lives.

Before cooperating with

Mum’s, they spent most of

the time at street markets

waiting for buyers, having

no idea what the future

holds for them. Now they

can work from home and

get a decent income on a

regular basis. These efficient

craftsmen are able

to create ten small-sized

trophy heads or seven tailor-made

hangers in only

one day. Angus, the person

who is in charge of the telephone

wire products* is

obviously passionate about

his job since he dreamed

for ‘more work’. Mum’s

has introduced a modern

SoHo working style to

those craftsmen and workers.

Now they also have

more opportunities to get

out of the ‘poverty trap’ in

that society which they described

as unequal.

The interviewed craftsmen

all expressed their love

for Mum’s. They feel that

their skills and hard work

are greatly appreciated.

They get fair salaries. The

OUT OF THE TRASH BIN

RECYCLING LOCAL MATERIALS FOR GLOBAL GOOD

By Viktoriya Kuzina

& Marianna Haavisto

What do telephone

wires, plastic bottles,

paper and cotton have in

common? Any of them

can be found in Africa.

Any of them can also be

used to bring amazing interior

design items to life.

From small jewelry to full

size chairs and mirrors –

Mum’s always relies on

local recycled materials

and factory leftovers as a

primary source of working

materials.

Mum’s hires people

to gather recyclable waste

providing employment in

localities all over the world

with a fair payment to its

workers. Every type of

waste may be later used and

turned into a piece of art:

a chair with a hand-knotted

seat made of recycled

plastic, a lampshade made

of bottles and canisters,

cushions made of reclaimed

cotton and many others.

Mum’s tracks down the

origin of the materials to

ensure they were ethically

produced and obtained.

For example, instead of

wool gathered by mulesing

techniques Mum’s relies

on painlessly sheared hy-

po-allergenic alpaca wool

from Bolivia, along with

leather leftovers of shoes

production from Africa,

hand-dyed sari cuts from

India, and Cambodian silk.

By re-using locally

gathered materials and factory

leftovers at the workshops,

Mum’s votes for

better working conditions

and a cleaner environment

as well as for animal-friendly

and cruelty-free production

principles. Choosing

Mum’s products does not

only support the ethical

design principles but also

unites people around the

world.

MEET MUM’S AT

PULSE LONDON

10-12th MAY 2015

“EVERY TYPE OF

WASTE MAY BE LATER

USED AND TURNED

INTO A PIECE OF ART.

IT’S JUST THINKING

USED MATERIAL THE

NEW WAY” -THE BIRD

phrase ‘full transparency’

was used by the craftsmen

to describe their business

relationship with Mum’s.

They are very proud to say

that they get compliments,

a lovely bonus, for their

products.

When asked what they

want to say to Mum’s, they

put it in a very Nordic way,

simple and practical.

- Long live Mum’s!

*For more stories about

telephone wire products,

please check the article

“Out of the trash bin”.

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Collecting recycled material

in Africa. (Up) “Now they

are able to weave their own

dreams”. (Left)

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“I SPEAK ENGLISH AND TURKU:

GOOD WITH GOODS!

KAUHIA PALI HYVÄÄ TAVARAST!”

-THE BIRD

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Mum’s uses various types of ethical materials: local, first class wool in India and Bolivia, surplus and recycled

materials in Cambodia and South Africa. We have made sure no mulesing technique is used within

shearing as it is very painful for an animal. The raw material is processed into fine desing in the hands

of local artisans.

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MUM’S STORY / FAIR DESIGN & MATERIALS / COLLECTION / FLOWERDROPS CHARITY

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WALL HOOKS

This is the selection

of our animal wall hooks.

They come in a colour

combination of your choice

or you may order them in

one colour. The size of the

backplate is approximately

8 cm x 7 cm.

The Fox

The Bear

The Frog

The Bunny

The Silverfish

The Shark

The Goldfish

The Penguin

The Panda

The Rhino

The Bull

The Zebra

The Elephant

The Reindeer

The Dog

The Cat

The Triceratops

The T-Rex

6 7

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MUM’S STORY / FAIR DESIGN & MATERIALS / COLLECTION / FLOWERDROPS CHARITY

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TROPHIES

MAKING GOOD

WITH GOODS

SINCE 2006!

Trophies for decorating

your wall animal-friendly!

Available in the colour of

your choice.

The Trophies come in

two sizes:

M 15 cm x 15 cm

XL 45 cm x 40 cm

The Fish

The Rabbit

The Reindeer

The Bull

The Bear

The Rabbit

The Fox

The Cat

The Dog

The Zebra

The Rhino

8 9

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MUM’S STORY / FAIR DESIGN & MATERIALS / COLLECTION / FLOWERDROPS CHARITY

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LUMME & KIELO LAMPSHADES

LUMME

/ WATER LILY

Patterns: stripes or zig zag.

Colours: brights on white, black

on white, white on black, brights

on black, gold on black, copper

on black, turquoise on white.

Size: height 20 cm, Ø 30 cm

(approximately)

KIELO

/ LILY OF THE VALLEY

Patterns: stripes or zig zag.

Colours: brights on white, black

on white, white on black, brights

on black, gold on black, copper on

black, turquoise on white.

Size: height 16 cm, Ø 13 cm

(approximately)

“BOTH LAMPSHADES COME WITH

A HOME OF THEIR OWN - A BOX

SUITABLE EVEN FOR POSTING!”

- THE BIRD

10 11

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MUM’S STORY / FAIR DESIGN & MATERIALS / COLLECTION / FLOWERDROPS CHARITY

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BITS AND PIECES

THE PLANT HANGER

Fits a 10 cm pot. Available in

white, black and striped.

THE TEXT HANGER

Available with text & colour of

your choice.

THE PLATE

Two different designs available.

Size: Ø 35 cm (approximately)

12 13

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CUSHION COVERS

Available in colours

black, midnight blue, soft

clay, yellow, and moss

green.

Available in 4 different

designs. See samples below.

Decorative cushion

cover size 45 cm x 45 cm.

Floor cushion covers

for sitting 60 cm x 60 cm.

“THE WHITE

WOOL IN OUR

PRODUCTS IS

NON-BLEACHED

AND THEREFORE

HAS A BEAUTIFUL

OFF-WHITE TONE

THAT VARIES A

LITTLE BETWEEN

EACH BATCH.”

-THE BIRD

Design 1 / yellow Design 2 / soft clay Design 3/ black

Design 2 / midnight blue

Design 4 / moss green

Design 2 / soft clay

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MUM’S STORY / FAIR DESIGN & MATERIALS / COLLECTION / FLOWERDROPS CHARITY

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HANDWOVEN RUGS

KOKO IÄKSI

/ FOR THE WHOLE LIFE

Small 90 cm x 200 cm

Large 170 cm x 240 cm

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SUOMU

/ BUBBLES

Size 110 cm x 170 cm or custom.

Available in deep forest green,

soft green, light grey, dark drey.

KALA

/ FISH

Size 60 cm x 180 cm.

Available in deep forest green,

soft green, light grey, dark drey.

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HANDWOVEN RUGS

“MAIJA DESIGNED TWO

PATTERNS FOR MUM’S:

RAKKAUS ( LOVE)

AND RAUHA ( PEACE)

BECAUSE LOVE IS

ABOUT WAVES - UPS AND

DOWNS, AND LOVE AND

PEACE IS NEEDED IN

EVERY HOME”

- THE BIRD

RAKKAUS

/ LOVE

Size 160 cm x 200 cm.

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RAUHA

/ PEACE

Available in two colour mix.

Size 60 cm x 200 cm. Width fixed,

length customizable.

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MUM’S LOVES AFRICA

KASSENA

Baby 80 cm x 110 cm

Small 90 cm x 200 cm

Medium 140 cm x 220 cm

Large 140 cm x 240 cm

Custom: pattern is flexible.

Colors: Black, soft turqoise, soft

orange, soft green

These lovely patters are

available in any size! See

color samples above.

LIITU/CHALK CASTLE CIRCUS

20 21

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MUM’S LOVES AFRICA

“ ‘MUM’S LOVES AFRICA’

IS A COLLECTION OF

CARPETS INSPIRED BY

AN AFRICAN VILLAGE,

WHERE EVERY HOUSE IS

A PIECE OF ART.”

- THE BIRD

SIKSAK

Available in any size.

(Pattern is larger than in

Kolmio.)

KOLMIO

/TRIANGLE

Available in any size.

(Pattern is smaller than in

Siksak.)

VERKKO

/ WEB

Available in any size.

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FLOWERDROPS - MAKING ART TOGETHER

“ I m p o r t a n t i s

that shades, made

together with people,

stay in public places

where they bring joy and

are seen by many. Or,

they are sold by auction,

and gained money is

given to Charity”, Outi

Puro says.

“FLOWERDROPS IS

A SILENT APPEAL

FOR NOT ONLY

SUSTAINABLE

ART AND DESIGN,

BUT ALSO FOR

OUR COLLECTIVE

RESPONSIBILITY

FOR THE ENVI-

RONMENT.”

- OUTI PURO &

HEATH NASH

By Pauliina Sassali

& Marina Karlova

The idea of Flowerdrops

project first arose

and was realized in 2011.

Flowerdrops project

was initiated by

Mum’s in collaboration

with South African

designer Heath Nash

and supported by the

Aboa Vetus Ars Nova

Museum and Kiasma

Art Museum. In June

2011 streets of Turku

witnessed a joyful but

hardworking process of

public art making. Openair

workshop, which was

opened on the charming

Aura riverside, was

welcoming everyone

to stop by and join the

sustainable design art

event. Children and

grown-ups were offered

to train their creativity

and handwork skills in

making “flowerdrops”

– round-shaped clusters

of little colorful flowers

made of plastic juice canisters.

As a result of the oneday

public workshop,

six unique Flowedrops

were finished and installed

above the Theater

bridge. They stayed

there till the end of

summer, so that everyone

could enjoy a piece

of public art in Turku,

European Capital of

Culture in 2011.

Each of the flowers

in each of the shade

is unique and made

by a workshop visitor.

Participants decided

themselves where to put

their very own flower.

FLOWERDROPS PROJECT

CONTINUES TO LIVE

So far there has been 13

workshops organized since

the idea of the project was

born: again in Turku, but

also in Rauma, Joensuu and

Helsinki for example. One

of the latest workshops

was held during Helsinki

Design Week in September

2014.

Making a Flowerdrop

is demanding work. It takes

about 1200 one by one

handmade flowers to fill

the shade. Each participant

makes a unique flower.

Some people make only

one with care and stay at

workshop for hours, while

others pop by and stay for

couple of productive minutes.

Nevertheless, workshops

continue as long as

all the shades are completely

flowered and filled with

color.

MUM’s is making

good with goods together

with good people around

the world.

In December 2014 one

flowerdrop was sold in

auction, and gained money

was given to Finnish Charity.

Two other flowerdrops

will go to SOS-lapsikylä

and Tyttöjen Talo –

NGOs supporting children

and youth.

Outi holding ready Flowerdrops-shade.

It was auctioned and found a new home

in an architect office in Helsinki.

24 25

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RICARDO CAVOLO

for

NEW

collection of

MUM’s design

WALLHANGINGS

coming

soon!

Mum’s

by Ricardo Cavolo

Mum’s fair scandinavian design collection 2015

Editor-in-chief: Outi Puro

Editorial Board: Anna Akhmetova, Marianna Haavisto, Hanna Kaketti, Marina

Karlova, Viktoriya Kuzina , Pauliina Sassali, Chi Zhang.

Photography: Jukka Aro, Hanna Kaketti, Suvi Kesäläinen, Mum’s

Illustration: Pauliina Sassali (excl. back page)

Layout: Hanna Kaketti

© Mum’s

Mum’s

Logomo byrå

Köydenpunojankatu 14

20100 Turku

Finland

tel. +358 50 4450 864

info@mums.fi

mums.fi