Finnish born designer Miia Turunen specializes in creating jewelry which fuses the whimsical with the raw and the diabolical with the sweet.
LaNinja jewelry is lovingly conceived in the studio in Stockholm, Sweden.
Using original artwork and a number of materials from brass, glass to resin and silver, the photographer-guitarist-designer, creates vintage inspired treasures with passion and humour.
The Story
It all began with the El Niño storm and a rainy L.A. winter. Between guitar lessons and music theory Miia went thrift shopping and treated herself to vegetarian burritos at Hollywood Boulevard. El Niño and its little sister La Niña became the inspiration for the wild and quirky Mexican-Japanese Ninja girl which is the playful core of LaNinja.
After a Las Vegas wedding the journey continued to Stockholm. As an Art Director Miia worked for many of Sweden´s largest companies. A few years later the “no dogs” at work policy made her decision easy.
With a puppy behind the counter the LaNinja boutique was opened in Stockholm. The LaNinja label got to a flying start. Magazines, travel books, bloggers and customers found the LaNinja store. As a supporter of indie design lots of handpicked vintage treasures and indie designers were presented side by side with LaNinja designs in the store.
The collection grew, as did the fan base and more retailers was added. A move to a studio and workspace with metalworking machinery was needed. After three years in wonderful Kungsholmen, Stockholm the physical store was closed.
LaNinja designs can now be found in a select number of independent stores over the world.
The jewellery has been featured in Magazines such as Plaza, Veckorevyn, Sköna Hem, Bröllopsguiden, Damernas Värld, Expressen as well as numerous blogs. We keep a list of our favourite blogs at the LaNinja Blog.
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