With minimalist aesthetics and careful design, the items complement one another to create structure and convenience – making them multifunctional and essential pieces for everyday life.

From the designing process and the choice of materials to production and product delivery, Thinkers & Makers is driven by environmental and social responsibility. Designed in Finland and made in Portugal, transparency and quality are emphasized at every step of the process.

As more and more plant-based leather alternatives appear on the market, Katriina has chosen to work with cork.

The cork products in the Katriina Nuutinen collection are produced in the part of Portugal where the trees are grown, which means the local artisans get the most value from the products, as the raw material is not transported across Europe to be sewn in Finland.

 Read more about the Thinkers&Makers cork collection here.

An incredibly versatile natural material, cork is harvested from living cork oak trees in a way that the trees themselves are unharmed during the process. The Portuguese have worked with cork for centuries and, through the combination of old methods together with new innovations, their cork products have become a success leading to high demand across the world. 

When Katriina, who grew up among the Northern European pine and birch trees, first learned about Portuguese cork fabric, something about the material seemed very familiar. It was sometime later when she realised that cork resembles birch bark that was used by her Finnish ancestors to make bags when other types of fabric were in short supply.

After experimenting with numerous cork bag designs and testing them in everyday use for years, Katriina decided to create a new collection utilising cork fabric, allowing her to spread the good news to her customers as well. Durable, ecological and beautiful, this fantastic material only seems to get better with age. 

Aura big bag

“ I am happy to have same minded people around me with similar sustainable values

also we share the similar basic needs in everyday life. Feedback from them supports me during the design process!”

Katriina designed the Aura bag with the help of many women to meet the needs of everyday life. From transporting and carrying, from work to family life and travel, together we considered what and how much do we carry. Where do we keep our wallet and phone usually? How do we keep the keys at hand and how could we have our sun- or reading glasses in a safe place inside our bag?

Aura has handles just long enough to carry it on the shoulder and short enough for the bag not to reach the ground while carrying it in your hand.

Aura has two pockets on the outside and two pockets inside. The outside pockets keep your sunglasses and tissues at hand. The smaller, open inside pocket stores your phone and the larger pocket with zipper closure keeps your wallet and other valuables safe.

While the hook and strap closure transforms your large open tote bag into a beautifully folded new shape, the hook will also hold your keys, so that you will never have to look for them!

Aarni cork drawstring backpack

The lightweight Aarni backpack is the perfect companion for a daytrip in the city or a walk in the forest. It serves as well at the office as it does at the gym. Made out of durable cork fabric, Aarni is naturally water-repellent and 100% vegan.

Inside you will find one side pocket to hold your phone, wallet, or other valuables in place.

The Aarni backpack is a part of the Finnish folklore -inspired ‘The Kansallismuseo Collection’ at The National Museum of Finland.

“As an entrepreneur I aspire to play a part in the fight against climate change. I believe that everyone can make a difference and small actions can significantly benefit the environment, as well as the lives of other human beings. If my words or actions encourage someone else to make more environmentally friendly consumer choices, then I have succeeded in sharing my knowledge and creativity for the common good.”