EKORU: Stories to cast

F ew materials stand the test of time like precious metals. Family heirlooms, from silver cutlery to rings, have traditionally been passed on from generation to generation. Finnish jewellery label EKORU gives the process a modern spin by reworking legacy items into personal adornments that carry memories in novel shapes.

Ecological concerns and a thirst for individualistic expression are reshaping consumer tastes in everything from cars to cosmetics, and jewellery is no exception. Finnish brand EKORU taps into this mega trend with its range of jewellery made from antique materials. “I’m interested in story-telling, sustainability and history,” says Laura Saarivuori-Eskola, who founded the business in 2006.

Over the last decade, EKORU has built a solid following among clients looking for jewellery worth more than its face value. “I love working with clients to uncover what’s meaningful for them,” Saarivuori-Eskola explains. “With jewellery, you can send a message about what is important to you – my job is to turn the stories and memories into pieces of jewellery.”

The label’s ready-to-wear collection includes recycling-inspired items, from necklaces and earrings to cufflinks and tie clips, all made of materials such as aged silver cutlery and antique coins – materials that automatically come with a story attached. The clean-cut lines reflect Finland’s deep-rooted design heritage, according to which less is more. “The thing about Finnish design is that it may look simplistic, but there’s actually a lot of skill and refined technique behind it,” Saarivuori-Eskola points out.

Aside from the ready-to-wear collection, EKORU specialises in customised orders and its designs are not limited to jewellery. One more unusual request was a wall-fitted family tree, with embedded coins representing the birth years of an extended family. On another occasion, a client commissioned a necklace made out of their grandfather’s fishing lure. Inherited silver spoons remain the most common raw material for commissions, however, sometimes with requests to preserve engravings.

Although precious metals are the backbone of EKORU’s current collection, Saarivuori-Eskola is open to experimenting with more unconventional materials and new product categories. Looking ahead, the EKORU line-up is likely to expand and evolve with time, yet the underlying principles remain the same. “Recycling is very important for me,” Saarivuori-Eskola summarises. “By doing what I do, I’m creating new from old – something that serves a purpose in the current time.”

www.ekoru.fi