One sunny May afternoon while walking around Helsinki city centre, I went into a shopping mall on Mannerheimintie and chanced upon a store called ‘Indiska’. Now that sounds very much like India, I thought to myself. My curiosity piqued I went in to have a better look at their wares, only to find a treasure trove of bright Indian pinks, oranges, greens and blues. Gorgeous contemporary clothing, furnishings and accessories, glittering with sequins, embroidery and appliquéd mirror work. Shelves after shelves stacked with kaftans, bandgalas, embroidered jackets, stunning beads and silver jewellery. It was like finding a slice of vibrant India in Scandinavia.
Indiska, which literally means Indian, was founded in 1901 by an enterprising Swedish woman Mathilda Hamilton She travelled to India as a pastor’s wife and lived in the Himalayas for seven years from 1894-1901, it was here that she acquired a lifelong love for all things Indian. Once back home in Sweden she opened the first store on Government Street in Stockholm and called it Indiska Utställningen (Indian Exhibition). More than 110 years later the brand is still going strong, having become synonymous with contemporary Indian style in fashion and interior design.
The current CEO Sofie Gunolf, says “We want to convey our passion for India and it’s crafts, colors and materials. All our products are designed in-house and are a unique mix of Scandinavian design with Indian influences. In one word, Indiska is Bohemian Modern, radiating with colors, patterns and energy. We want to give our customers the opportunity to look like they feel inside and be able to decorate their homes the same way”.
All images courtesy of Indiska.
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