The
Knitwear Kalevala is the Finnish myth in fashion.
It is a fashion Kalevala full of feminine energy, a mythical roleplay
with which we can look at ourself and our womanhood from a new angle.
The Knitwear Kalevala brings the spirit into fashion. The Finnish myth,
tradition and design has searched and found a new modern expression in
it.
Joy of expression
The Knitwear Kalevala accessories are designed to enliven the basic
industrial outfits by a mythical and joyful artistic Fashion Play. It
is a multidimensional modern information device and a visiting card
that tells who you are.
The Knitwear Kalevala consists of big and small warmers. The basic
material is pure wool. They are creative garments which can be dressed
on many ways according to the occasion and feeling. One garment changes
into many for everyday or festive use. In the interior space we need
often only an accessorie to warm up the coldsensitive parts of the
body. A warm shawl is a real salvation on a cool summer evening. Mai
Niemi Knitwear are modern, fashionable and easy to wear and go. They
have the power of the femininity in them. The material is machine
washable wool which is easy to maintain.
By choosing the small picture you can see the exact information of the
product and a large picture.
The power of the Finnish ancient costume
We express ourselves by art, music and fashion. The developed cultures
have been able to localisize by the art, jewellery of costume findings.
The valuable experiences that have touched peoples´s hearts
and souls, have endured time and have preserved in the memory and tales
and finally they have become myth and legends.
The ancient costume was originally the costume of the tribe and was so
valued that it was buried with the deceased. The esteem of the dress
preserved it to the coming generations. Its main function was to
express who and what its bearer was. It was also imitated as a fashion
to ordinary clothes worn in everyday use. Later is was replaced by the
national costume that had the main function to express the regional
identity. If somebody did not have this costume it was common to say
that this person was coming from nowhere. We still have this saying in
Finland and it has the modern meaning that describes that something has
no value whatsoever. The native tribes still can use this subtle
costume sign language. The great challenge for modern man is to find
again this creative way to express one´s origin and by this
his and her human value.
The expression of the origin
We express nowadays ourselves as a nation, that has no visible regional
nuances or differences. We are hardly recognized as Finns. The Finnish
windsuits are though a way to express that we are the nation of Wind
and Water, the people of Väinämöinen. But we
have forgotten who we are, where we come from and therefore have lost
our true identity and self confidence. All we know is that superficial
fashion does not become us, the people of deep waters and emotions.
The Knitwear Kalevala has come to help in this situation to track down
our roots. It is a modern ancient - and national - costume which tells
us again who we are in completely modern and unique way. It is an
adaptation of the modern feminine information techology, a multilevel
communication device, that guides us to ourselves and expresses our
origin. The Knitwear Kalevala is our own memory and the memory of the
nation of ourselves.
The woolwoman
The garment of which a Finn is best recognized is Finnish knitwear.
They have taken the place of the national costume as the indicator of
the identity. The material is the same as the one used for the used the
ancient and national costumes. Lambswool has tradionally been
womens´material by which she was able to carry out her
creativity. Around wool women created numerous inventions and ideas.
The sheep was considerd a holy crearure and it was the symbol of the
Holy Shepherd. The wool was the means by which our ancestors were able
to survive in the arctic circumstances.
The Small Warmers of the Knitwear Kalevala pay tribute to these these
past creations of women; capes and vests, shawls and scarves. These
popular and well functioning accessories created by women have found
their modern function and expression in The Knitwear Kalevala. They
liven up and bring balance the industrial basic clothing.
