Working from the studio in Stockholm Scandinavian designer Miia Turunen specializes in creating whimsical novelty jewelry and accessories designed with passion and humor.
Playful illustrations become lasercut pendants, vintage treasures are soldered onto handpierced silver. Miia mixes computers and hammers like crazy. Inspirations are circus carousels, strict victorian ladies and vintage toy robots. Maybe even a glimpse of her old rockstar dream shows through in the designs. After all that´s why she studied music in L.A.
The Story
It all began with the El Niño storm and a rainy L.A. winter. Between guitar lessons and music theory Miia went thrift shopping and treated herself to vegetarian burritos at Hollywood Boulevard. El Niño and its little sister La Niña became the inspiration for the wild and quirky Mexican-Japanese Ninja girl which is the playful core of LaNinja.
After a Las Vegas wedding the journey continued to Stockholm. As an Art Director Miia worked for many of Sweden´s largest companies creating web animations and graphic design. A few years later the “no dogs” at work policy made her decision easy.
With a puppy on the counter the LaNinja boutique was opened in Stockholm. Celebrating uniqueness the LaNinja label got to a flying start. Magazines, travel books, bloggers and customers found the LaNinja store. As a supporter of indie design lots of handpicked vintage treasures and indie designers were presented side by side with LaNinja designs in the store.
The collection grew, as did the fan base and more retailers was added. A move to a studio and workspace with metalworking machinery was needed. After three years in wonderful Kungsholmen, Stockholm the physical store was closed as Miia needed to focus on design. Today we are a two person operation plus Chihuahua guard dog.
LaNinja designs can now be found in indie shops over the world and LaNinja jewellery has been featured in Magazines such as Plaza, Veckorevyn, Sköna Hem, Bröllopsguiden, Damernas Värld, Expressen as well as numerous blogs. We keep a list of our favourite blogs at the LaNinja Blog.
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