A family-owned grassroots company founded by Paola and her Sister Pirjo, IVANAhelsinki evokes the designer’s memories of white arctic summer nights, the eerie isolation of Nordic winters, and other legends of her Finnish childhood. This theme is carried out at the pop-up store where Paola has created a Nordic-driven aesthetic, complete with iconic Scandinavian furnishings and vintage Finnish scenery prints.
A modern-day Renaissance woman, Paola’s artistic vision just keeps expanding. Her passion and drive for fashion and romantic lifestyle has led her to her latest gig as editor-in-chief of Love Contemporary, a sizzling new print magazine and online store featuring luxurious pleasure toys that are Duchampian in appearance. The toys resemble objets d’art.
The merchandise is also available at the pop up store, adding to the theme of playfulness, joy, love and beauty. Care to join the revolution and break new ground on ideas of love and art with New York’s hippest and most avant-garde? Stop by the IVANAhelsinki pop-up shop at 238 Mulberry St. A few of the after-hours happenings in the store that are not to be missed this week are:
- Sunday 3/7/10: Finnish Art Factory Night, a fair of artists
- Monday 3/8/10: “The Scents of Aphrodite,” make love potions with renowned herbalist Katinka Locascio
- Wednesday 3/10/10: Singer Alexa Wilding presents “You Who Never Arrived” artists, poets, filmmakers and musicians reflect on lost innocent love and open mic
- Friday 3/12/10: Graffiti Galore hosted by Rubin and Cope2
On Wednesday, March 17, the pop-up store will give its final bow by hosting a closing sale all day and into the night. Stores in New York come and go, but the IVANAhelsinki pop-up shop will never be forgotten.
