Provincial artist Ulmanen works with Dimex! Has the industry expanded to include art or even design!?
This whole thing is a joint project with designer Henri Ulmanen.
We wanted to look at Dimex’s approach to workwear design from a slightly different angle and brought in
ulmanendesign to expand our horizons. A perfectly legal stimulant, I believe? Henri has designed, among other things, a very striking and award-winning sunglasses
collection, and he also works as the regional artist for South Savo.
Over the past few months we’ve met a few times, and the jacket, working title Dimex – more, has already seen the light of day, sewn by the artist himself.
The jacket is – surprise, surprise – black, but I’m almost green with envy at the artist’s many talents.
We quickly formed a picture in our minds of a product that carries moods and elements from different worlds we ourselves draw on.
We pondered, among other things, what “Finnish manliness” would mean in a positive sense in the character of such a product.
At least grit, perseverance, fighting spirit and Jouni Hynynen came up!
Maybe the words home + industry are also manly.
In the prototype I see influences from both uniforms and biker gear, and to my eye it looks great.
I’m really looking forward to the final product taking shape after the summer holidays, so I can put it on and enjoy it for at least a little while.
Then it’ll be time to think about the commercial aspects of the product. How many can we sell and through which distribution channels?
For me, the journey towards the finished product has already created a lot of added value. It’s been very educational to watch a different way of working.
The artistic process has actually looked pretty efficient. It wasn’t a beret-wearing daydreamer who came to visit,
but a regular Finnish bloke from Jäppilä!