The symbiosis of ecological sustainability and social justice is imperative. Minna Impiö and Mari Martikainen initiated their brand Mifuko with a primary goal of bolstering employment in the global south. Along their journey, they discovered a more enriching and creative alternative to the exploitative fashion industry.
I turned my hobby into a job. It feels like I didn’t really even pick my branch, it was rather the branch that picked me. I have expressed myself from a young age through visual arts as well as crafts, and I found my personal style with hands-on action. My business idea crystallised by living according to my values.
My business partner, designer Minna Impiö, and I got to know each other while lining up to start the entrance exam at the University of Art and Design Helsinki in 1996. Our first connection was a friendship, and a shared business followed. Our company Mifuko designs and produces design items that support a socially and environmentally sound lifestyle. Through our shared study projects at university, we noticed that our synergy works both in a work environment and in our free time – we noticed that we gain more of ourselves together than alone.
Mifuko is based on our desire to make use of the Finnish education system, well-being, and design know-how to serve the greater good of larger communities. This fragmented thought became clearer when Minna relocated to Kenya where she was enchanted by the local artisanship, and I also found this same excitement later. The handicrafts had, however, no route to the international market. Mifuko was born as a nod to both Kenyan craft skills and Finnish design know-how. Now we sell our products in more than 30 countries.
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