Meet HEIKKI SALONEN, creator of menswear label Vyner articles, the art-workwear brand serving classic pieces designed with creatives like himself in mind. We dropped by to visit Heikki’s studio located (by no coincidence) on Vyner street, and naturally we couldn’t resist popping across the road for a cheeky pint…

On why he became a fashion designer…
Fashion is very multifaceted – it’s about blurring the lines between high and pop culture by combining solo and team work balanced in the right doses.

On creativity...
Creativity is part of being human, it has always been. Agatha Christie, Trent Reznor, Tove Jansson, David Lynch, for me they embody true creativity.

On his designs…
Rugged wearable clothing to be lived in. Clothing that people feel comfortable to be themselves in and for artists to create their own work without any disturbance caused by the clothing. I believe that designers should never alienate themselves from other aspects of life, I’ve seen that happening to great designers when they just work too much and don’t live in the world where they are designing for.

On the most exciting thing about the fashion industry today…
I find it exciting that today, in this industry, you can be niche and play on your own terms. I also love that beautiful is back in fashion. You can go against fashion but still be within it and loving it. I don’t trust people who don’t question themselves about being part of this all from time to time.

What’s your favourite place in the world and why?
My favourite place in the world are the archipelagos. I love the sea and small pine trees on windy islands. Solitude is also one of my best friends.

What would you like to do that you currently can’t?
If I had the time I would love to do a long-distance hiking trip lasting for months in west coast America.

If you could ask anyone a question (living or dead), who would you ask, and what would you ask?
I would ask my dogs, Viktor and James if they are happy and how I could make their life better

Who is someone (living or dead) that you would like to meet and why?
Would be nice to meet Jesus and see if he was such a nice person as everybody said he was.

Who’s the coolest person you know and why?
Louise Bourgeois – so cool that you can’t describe.

The best advice you've ever been given?
The best advice I was given was from Julie Verhoeven - that you don’t need to show off your skills and technical abilities, but design what you like and relate it to yourself.