About us and Q&A

Maallinen Design is an online store that offers handmade and unique products – homewares, beauty care, baby supplies and toys. In my work, I focus on ecologically sustainable material choices, as I want to create and offer beautiful, but also responsible products. I make my own products in the range to order, so each product is unique, one-of-a-kind and handmade just for you! The practicality, functionality and quality of all products have been carefully tested in my own everyday life.

I strive to favor domestic and local production whenever possible, both in material choices and finished products. In some cases, complementary products come from responsible operators from further afield. The most important selection criteria for products are safety, quality and ecology.

In addition to enjoying the creativity of making things with my hands, my goal is to deepen my knowledge of ecology and the importance of the circular economy. My goal is to pass this knowledge on and highlight the benefits of the circular economy from both an environmental and economic perspective. I want to be part of inspiring people to make sustainable choices in their everyday lives and show how small, thoughtful actions can achieve significant changes together while maintaining the quality and practicality of products.

My goal is that every customer feels that their purchase is an important step towards a more responsible and sustainable future. I want to bring this idea to the forefront in my product range in the future. I take care of responsible choices so that you can enjoy a beautiful, more sustainable everyday life in peace.

Although I can't yet call myself an eco-expert, I am committed to making less environmental-impacting choices and promoting sustainable development principles in my everyday choices. This is evident in my efforts to minimize textile waste and my conscious decision to avoid mass-produced products.

Frequently asked questions

Do you use recycled or surplus materials in all your products?

I always prefer recycled and surplus fabrics whenever possible. I often make children's products and other products that come into contact with the skin from new fabrics, as these must meet the requirements of the OEKO-TEX standard. It is not always possible to fully determine the exact origin of recycled and surplus fabrics.

When I buy surplus fabrics for children's products, I always make sure they have the OEKO-TEX label. If the fabric itself does not have the OEKO-TEX label and the origin, such as the manufacturer or original source, is unclear or unknown, I will not buy it.

What is the OEKO-TEX standard?

OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is an international certification that guarantees that textile products are free from harmful substances and safe for the user. The certification ensures that the products have been comprehensively tested and meet strict requirements, including prohibited dyes, formaldehyde, heavy metals and pesticides.

Do you treat the fabrics in any special way before manufacturing the products?

All fabrics are pre-washed without perfume and carefully ironed, regardless of whether they are new or recycled. At the same time, I ensure that the fabric is completely clean and in good condition. This way, I can guarantee that the customer always receives a ready-to-use and high-quality product.

Does recycled or surplus fabric always mean used fabric?

No. Recycled or surplus fabric can be just as new and unused as store-bought fabric. It just happened to be unused by its previous owner for one reason or another.

Why not just buy new fabric? That way you'll always have similar products in stock.

I want to focus on clean and natural materials in my products, as natural resources are limited. Although cotton is a wonderful and natural material, its production process is unfortunately very heavy and burdensome for the environment.

By choosing recycled and surplus fabrics, I ensure that natural resources that have already been used do not go to waste. This also brings a touch of surprise and uniqueness to the work, as you never know in advance what wonderful discoveries will end up in the products.

Where does the name MaallinenDesign come from?

The name was born from the desire to make crafts that are close to everyday life, grounding and authentic. "Earthly" refers to what is concrete, ecologically considered, practical and necessary - nothing useless or superficial. At the same time, the word carries with it warmth and gentleness - everything that I value in ordinary everyday life and handmade products.

So what does Design mean in this context?

For me, design doesn't mean glitter or fashion hits, but functional and thoughtful design that serves real life. Each product is carefully thought out: to last, feel good and look beautiful.

So, secular design is...

...gentle, Finnish everyday design, created by hand, thought and experience.

What is the principle behind selecting products for the MaalinenDesign range?

All products at MaallinenDesign - both self-made and sourced from elsewhere - are carefully and thoughtfully selected. At the core of the range are the following principles:

  • Summeriness and ecology

Products must be long-lasting, high-quality and made from natural or recycled materials. Sustainable production and thoughtful consumption are the starting point for everything.

  • Ethics

I only work with suppliers whose production is transparent and whose practices are ethically sustainable. This is especially true for products that I do not manufacture myself.

  • Aesthetics and timelessness

The design language, tones and atmosphere of the products reflect Maallinen's peaceful, natural and gentle world. I want each product to bring peace and beauty to the home.

  • Domesticity and local production

As a rule, I prefer products made in Finland or as close as possible. For example, all of Maallinen's own products are made in small batches and by hand in my own workshop.

In some cases, the range is complemented by carefully selected products that are manufactured with responsible operators outside Finland. Ethical and ecological aspects are of paramount importance in these products.

My goal is to build a selection you can trust, both in terms of materials and values.

  • Practicality

The product must really serve in everyday life, bring joy or make a moment easier. The selection only includes products that I can genuinely recommend - those that support a gentler life without unnecessary things. The products are or have been used and included in my own everyday life.

Where do you buy the materials for your products?

Material procurement is made carefully from the following sources:

  • Companies that support the circular economy and offer surplus fabrics and other usable textiles
  • Fabric stores and responsible fabric suppliers in Finland and Europe
  • Private individuals who sell unused, high-quality fabrics that are left in stock

I always mention for each product if the product is made from surplus or recycled fabric.

Why did you choose UpCircle Beauty products and not a Finnish cosmetics company?

This is a good and important question and one that I myself have pondered. There are many wonderful players in Finnish natural cosmetics and I greatly appreciate domestic products and creators.

However, this time I decided to choose UpCircle Beauty because its circular economy production model is unique and uniquely complements the values of MaallinenDesign. UpCircle utilizes surplus from the food industry that would otherwise go to waste. This concrete and innovative way of reducing waste resonates deeply with my own thinking. The company is also certified B Corp, meaning it is committed to transparent, responsible operations.

In other words, the choice was not guided by the border, but by the value base.