Aarikka.com

The founding of the company

It all began with buttons. And it all started with a real need: Kaija Aarikka, then a textile arts student at the Institute of Industrial Arts in Helsinki, was unable to find any buttons to go with a woollen garment she had designed. So she made them herself. From these fun and original buttons the story quickly went on to include jewellery. And February 24, 1954 went down as the day that Aarikka was born.

The first shops

In 1960, Aarikka opened its own little shop, the Nappi-Aarikka outlet, in Helsinki.

Aarikka’s second shop opened its doors in 1963 on Bulevardi, also in Helsinki. This shop, called Kukkurakauppa, showcased true boutique style. In addition to buttons and jewellery, it had room for gift items and for the clothing lines for men and women presented on the shop’s opening day.

The 1970s

Aarikka weathered the social turmoil of the 1970s without any major conflicts, as the cheerful and colourful style of Aarikka is viewed as a democratic style that suits all youthful consumers.

New shops were established at a rapid pace. Meanwhile, foreign customers were gained at trade fairs from New York to Tokyo. Soon, more than half of the company's production was being exported.

The 1980s

In the 1980s, everything that was big and impressive was deemed beautiful. The heat of the economic boom brought a time of intense growth for Aarikka too. In 1984, the company was overjoyed to receive awards both as ‘entrepreneur of the year’ and for its role as an exporter.

Aarikka’s product range shifted more and more toward decorative products and gift items.

The 1990s

Kaija Aarikka publicly called for joy and passion in people’s work, and she was lauded for her work from many directions. She was awarded the Pro Finlandia medal and the honorary titles Commercial Counsellor and Marketplace Counsellor of Somerniemi. Pauliina Aarikka began to take greater charge of design issues.

All of the company’s production was still in Finland, with this including 40 people working from home. Colouring operations included, there were 600 products under production in these years.

The 2000s

Pauliina Aarikka followed Kaija Aarikka as design director.

In 2017, the family-owned Finnish company Martinex Oy purchased Aarikka Oy, along with all its collections and production.

Kaija started it. And we won't stop.