i would like to introduce you to a new series on the blog called ‚coffee stories‘. i want to create space for inspring people and brands we are lucky to work with. so i hope you will grab yourself a cup of coffee (or tea) and enjoy interviews with very all those cool people.

i’ll start with one of my first collab partners, who i’ve met via instagram. we’ve never met in person but it sometimes feels like it. so, meet aino, the superwomen behind NIEVA knitwear.

aino, thank you so much for your time to answer some questions.

we love your timeless, pure and beautiful knitwear and are glad to work with you.

for all the readers, who do not know you, please tell us something about yourself:

I am a Finnish designer and a mum for two boys: I have a 5 – and 8-year-old. We live in Helsinki, but I grew up on the countryside and the older I get, the more I miss living close to nature: being outside more, having a garden of my own. My parents still live on the countryside and every time we visit we wish we could stay! The kids are so happy there, outside all day long and exploring. 

During my studies (I have MA in fashion design from Aalto University of Art and Design) I specialized in knitwear. I love good knitwear made from natural material for it´s simplicity, everyday wearability and warmth – I wear my wool knits year round. And every Finn, at least in my generation, learns to knit at school. A pair of wool socks, other one a bit bigger than the other, is a common childhood memory. To me a well-made quality knit presents an understated elegance that is hard to find in any other material. 

why did you choose kids and womens wear?

I had my first son while I was still studying, and of course he inspired me to do kid´s clothing. Both of my sons are quite picky about knitwear, so it helped me with the design process – for example, there´s no turtle necks in the kid´s knitwear because my boys would never wear them (too itchy!). But during my studies I did mostly women´s wear, so I always wanted to include pieces for women as well in the collection. 

when did you first thought about NIEVA and when did you actually start your label?

The idea for Nieva was born while I worked in Spain for a small company years ago. I loved the way they worked with small producers and put so much love and effort into each collection. So Nieva has been in the making for many years, but the first collection was Fall 2015. We are a small family company: I work on it full time now and my husband helps me sometimes, mostly by listening to my worries or ideas ☺

your are a mama, too. tell us how you balance work and motherhood?

Mostly with the help of daycare and school! We don´t have any relatives living close by, and I really can´t work well with the kids at home, so this works best for us. We are lucky because both of the boys go to lovely places close to our home. This also helps to keep the days structured: when the boys come home there´s no more time for work (although sometimes I of course continue later when they are sleeping). We also try to keep weekends free for famliy time, and it´s not really difficult because there´s so much to do with them always. That´s for all the practical work, but of course as a designer you´re always thinking inside the head, observing the surroundings, thinking about colours and textures.

you just launched the new spring/summer collection. but do you already have plans for the upcoming autum/winter?

Yes! For example we have more knits for women coming, new products and new colours. 

what are your great goals with NIEVA?

I just hope I can continue working with this project – I have had the chance to meet so many wonderful people because of it and of course my customers are just ever so lovely! 

thank you again, aino, for participate and lots of love from germany.

Thank You Claudi!