We have had the great honour to work with Finlands cashmere wizard, Anni Arela, to create our very first cashmere knits. Let's get to know Anni a bit more, enjoy part 1. of our series with Anni Arela.
Career and Design Journey
"I studied at Aalto University, where my mother pursued her textile art studies in the 1970s. During my time as a student, she founded the knitwear brand Arelalizza. After graduating, I interned in New York, where I realized that my design approach revolves around focusing on high-quality materials and minimalism.
I often ask myself: How much can I take away? Where is the fine line between great design and a boring piece of clothing?
I began my career as an assistant designer at Arelalizza, and when we acquired the company and renamed it Arela, I became the head designer, eventually becoming the design director. I now have over ten years of experience in creating high-quality knitwear, particularly cashmere pieces.
Currently, I’m working with Tam-Silk, a Finnish brand with a century-long history. They still knit and manufacture their entire collection of loungewear and warm undergarments in Kangasala, Finland.
I love working with light, easy-going materials, and I strive to design thoughtful, beautiful, and long-lasting pieces. I want to show that good design matters and doesn’t have to be prohibitively expensive. I also teach fashion design at the Helsinki Design School, where I’m fortunate to meet passionate students and encourage them on their fashion journey.
My collaboration with Gauhar Helsinki began when Jannika sought my advice on cashmere knitwear, a shared passion of ours. I really enjoy working with the Gauhar team—we both have a clear vision of the ideal piece. We brainstorm, sketch, and ultimately create what feels like the perfect pearl—a piece of cashmere knitwear. The process is highly productive, and I believe that when we work together, 1+1 truly equals more than 2.
I deeply appreciate hand knitting and craft traditions, and I’m excited to explore how we can use tools like 3D and AI to create better knits and achieve more flexible and efficient production. In five years, I see myself designing high-quality knits for international fashion brands like Gauhar Helsinki." - ANNI ARELA
Discover the softest collection.