Tool manufacturer Fiskars releases debut streetwear collection
Finnish heritage tool manufacturer Fiskars is making its first foray into fashion with a collection of "modern garden-wear staples".
The 11-piece clothing line was designed by Aalto University graduate Maria Korkeila and presented as part of the Pitti Uomo menswear collections in Florence this month.
It features multi-functional, unisex fashion and accessories, including a jacket with stab-proof pockets whose sleeves, hem and hood can be detached to turn it into a vest, and a tool belt that can be converted into a bum bag.
"When you look at the products that Fiskars offers they are polished, streamlined and highly functional in a no-bullshit kind of way," Korkeila told Dezeen.
"Occasionally, they are even futuristic but at the same time so familiar, rooted in tradition and history. It's timeless, progressive and traditional all at once. I wanted to take this idea and translate it into clothing."
The palette of the workwear-meets-streetwear collection oscillates from dark green and brown shades, to the traffic-cone-orange colour that Fiskars is renowned for using in the handles of its tools.
In several parkas and bucket hats, the contrasting shades are also combined to form a minimalist camouflage pattern.
It's not just the collection's earthy colours that pay heed to the great outdoors, but also the very materials from which they are made.
"As the pieces are intended to be used in nature and while nurturing it, I thought it was extremely important to also be respectful towards it in the production of the collection," the designer said.
"So we decided to use organic and recycled blends, vegan leather and fabrics with PFC-free water-repellent finishes."
PFCs, or perfluorocarbons, are man-made chemicals used to waterproof everything from outerwear to sleeping bags and tents. As greenhouse gases, they also contribute to global warming.
The Fiskars collection is designed to be worn while "gardening or urban exploring" and Korkeila worked closely with the company to make sure that the pieces were actually fit for purpose.
"They have professionals in the field test their tools and they have their own test gardens where they can give products a trial run," she said.
"So although I'm no stranger to gardening myself, I collaborated with the team in order to design products that really meet the needs of their intended functions."
The collection was presented in the 16th-century Palazzo Pucci, where its modern, utilitarian aesthetics were offset by intricate murals and golden stucco.
It wasn't the first time Korkeila showed her work at Pitti Uomo, having previously debuted her collection for Finnish leisurewear brand R-Collection here in 2017.
Elsewhere the Musée du Louvre, has released a streetwear collection in collaboration with Off-White designer Virgil Abloh, which features T-shirts and hoodies emblazoned with paintings from its collection.