Mum's Fair Design News! Read all about it!

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

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