Finland is a mixture of village shop and American dream with US-style shopping ‘malls’ everywhere. Finland’s largest ’Village Shop’ (tuuri kyläkauppa), which has up to 6 million visitors a year, is a mixture of the two (near Ähtäri | www.tuuri.fi).

BOOKS & CDS

Music CDs and picture books as well as comics make good souvenirs. The Akateeminen Kirjakauppa (Academic Bookshop) in Helsinki (Pohjoisesplanadi 39) has a good selection of books in English.

DELICATESSEN & COSMETICS

Elk salami, reindeer ham, smoked salmon and marinaded fish, wines and liqueurs (all wineries: www.viinitilat.net) make perfect presents, as do jams made with local berries, chocolate and liquorice. Organic soaps with essential oils from Aamumaa, Vihreakosmetiikka or Solavoima are that little bit different. Sauna fans can stock up on everything from towels, tar shampoo or pine essence to felt hair protectors.

GLASS & CERAMICS

Major names such as the ceramics manufacturer Pentik and the glass company Iittala with their clear lines, are part of the very essence of Finnish design. Their products can be found in every departmental store and often in second-hand shops, too. The Pentik ceramics shop in Posio in Lapland is well worth a visit. You can pick up a bargain in the factory shop and then marvel at the coffee cups from around the world in the museum afterwards (Oct–mid June Mon–Fri 10am–5pm, Sat/Sun 10am–4pm | Maaninkavaarantie 3 | www.pentik.com). Extravagant ideas can be bought in Tonfisk in Turku (www.tonfisk-design.fi).

LAPLAND SOUVENIRS

Genuine products made by the Sami bear the sami-duodji stamp. Reindeer skins, boots, leather belts and bags are typical of Lapland, as is jewellery made from reindeer antlers and silverwork (www.usvalintu.com, www.mta-sarviseppa.com). Young Sami are now producing more daring modern designs and fashion (www.arcticpearls.fi, www.nativa.fi).

METAL & JEWELLERY

Fiskars are razor sharp, handmade knives with wooden handles are sold by many master craftsmen (e.g. www.kauhavanpuukkopaja.fi, www.mvforge.fi). Ultra-modern metal design by Eero Hyrkäs can be found in the Helsinki Design Forum or in the Vaprikki Museum Centre in Tampere.

TEXTILES

Marimekko does not just make fashions but peps up things such as oven gloves or flip-flops with a mixture of large floral motifs and bright colours. The Marimekko flagship store is located in Helsinki’s design district (Pohjoisesplanadi 31 | Kämp Gallerie). Things made of felt such as gloves, troll hats and blankets are both attractive and warm. Filtti in Petäjävesi (www.filtti.fi) stocks works of art and accessories made of felt. Handmade lace comes from Rauma and young desingers now cheekily combine all sorts of different materials in their products (www.class2004.com). Hand-woven rugs, linen towels, pullovers and furs from home-reared animals, all have a long tradition in Finland.

WOOD

Polished bowls and birchwood mugs, servers or animals are typically Finnish. Birch bast is used to weave baskets and sauna lights are produced with cut-out motifs. Virtually every department store stocks a range of Aarikka wooden jewellery and decorative items. Furniture made by moulding wood can be found at Artek (www.artek.fi).