reindeer leather… now that’s swedish

Posted by Tiffany on July 13th, 2011    1 Comment »

This month’s featured Lapland bracelets by Anita Grönstedt hold a special place for me.

It was in the early days of getting to know my husband when often a little window would open up in him and surprise me with something about him I hadn’t known before. Even more so, because he came from a place I knew so little about. As I got to know him better, I also got to know Sweden.

unknown photographer, found here.

One night he presented me with a gift – a brown leather bracelet of immaculate craftsmanship… and it came with a story. The band wasn’t just leather, but reindeer leather. The button was actually handmade from reindeer antler. And the beautifully embroidered pattern in shiny pewter and silver thread traced its roots back hundreds – maybe thousands – of years, to the indigenous Nordic people who have inhabited the land of the midnight sun since long before even the Vikings.

photo by Torben Hansen from here.

unknown photographer, found here.

They are the Sami people who live in the far North, at the edge of the Arctic Circle, in a region called Lapland that spans the north of Sweden and Finland, and beyond that into Norway and Russia. They are a colorful and artistic people, whose culture and lifestyles evolved in the nomadic ways of fishermen, fur trappers and reindeer herders. Herding reindeer is so central to preserving the culture that today, they are the only ones legally allowed in Sweden to do it.

photo by www.fromsthlm.com

To me, Lapland bracelets with their natural handmade materials, earthy tones, and intricate patterns represent something real. Something solid. Something a little exciting, but also timeless and beautiful. All qualities I care about very much.

I went on to marry that man… and many years later I still wear my Lapland bracelet every day.

photos from here.

Anita Grönstedt grew up on the edge of Sami territory in the far north of Sweden. Today she runs her company, Grönstedt Design, out of a sunny studio in Boulder, Colorado; but her jewelry keeps her close to her roots. With painstaking attention to detail and quality craftsmanship, she spends 3-10 hours getting each bracelet just right.

We’re honored to have her this month at From Sthlm as our featured designer.

And if you happen to be in Boulder, Colorado this weekend, get out and meet her in person!

Anita will be exhibiting at Open Arts Fest 2011 along with lots of others in Downtown Boulder July 16th & 17th.

Of course you can also skip the crowds (and airline ticket, for most of us) and get Anita’s Lapland bracelets right here in the shop this month only!

---