Photographer Johanna 'Uupi' Tirronen began collaborating with us in 2010, traveling to Kenya with Minna and Mari to meet Mifuko's local partners. Uupi's authentic personal touch is easily recognized in her photographs. With her deep insight and appreciation of Mifuko's designs, she brings out the form and essence beautifully in each of her photographs.
Helene Wikström, a Swedish photographer, lived in Kenya for many years. During that time, she photographed the Kenyan landscape and has taken the magnificent portraits of Mifuko artisans.
Minna and Mari began their collaboration with Aino in 2019 when she started as her first project photographing Mifuko bags.
In partnership with the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) and Mifuko, Chloé launched its the first fair trade verified luxury collection. The baskets were woven in collaboration with Mifuko, and embellished with the Woody ribbon and leather strap in Chloe manufacturer in Spain. Products are sold in selected Chloé retailers.
Finarte is a family-owned company from Kotka, Finland, that creates woven carpets in collaboration with socially responsible producers in India. Minna and Mari designed a mat for Finarte inspired by Mombasa, Nakuru and Turkana that reflects the warmth of Africa’s colours, sun, fragrant spices and sea breeze.
Hanna has designed magnificent soapstone candleholders for Mifuko. A Helsinki-based designer, Hanna has an industrial design degree from the Lahti Institute of Design as well as a Master of Arts degree from Aalto University. Hanna's playful and colourful style fits in perfectly with Mifuko. The candleholders are made at a Fair Trade workshop in Kenya.
We are pleased and honoured to be able to collaborate with Lapuan Kankurit, a family business in Lapua, Finland, that weaves textiles with responsibility and respect for the environment. Inspired by Kenyan colours and landscape, Minna and Mari combined traditional Kenyan colours with Finnish sensibilities in beautiful linen designs. The first linen collections draw inspiration from Kenyan landscapes around Tsavo, Meru, Watamu and Lewa.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) founded Made51 to bring together refugee artisans and international companies. Mifuko started its journey with MADE51 in 2019, collaborating with Kapya Kitungwa and his workshop to produce ornamental wooden birds. Mr. Kitungwa is a Congolese refugee now living in Nairobi, Kenya. His workshop employs other Congolese refugees living in Kenya.
Genelec International creates world-renowned audio equipment and software solutions for studios, homes, education and research. Mifuko is pleased to be a tenant in their office building in Helsinki. In cooperation with Genelec, Minna and Mari have done interior design work for the Helsinki office and other Genelec properties.
The World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) is a global community of Fair Trade companies. WFTO maintains a guarantee system, ensuring that its members are truly Fair Trade companies. Their members are pioneers of business models that put people and the planet first. Mifuko has been a member of WFTO since 2014.
Mifuko has been radically sustainable since the foundation. We love the fusion of Nordic design with African handicraft.
Read how it all began from two Finnish friends and their passion to materials and design, and desire to have positive impact.
Each Mifuko product carries the name of the artisan who made it. Get to know our artisans in Kenya.
In our blog, we tell you more about our work in Kenya, greetings from the artisans, and fair trade.
