"This is a very special issue, and not just because we have our first fuzzy character on the cover. I am thrilled to introduce Vogue Scandinavia Living – a magazine within the magazine with its very own inside cover."
While Scandinavia has a lot of stars, few are as enduring as the Moomins. Created by Swedish-speaking Finnish artist Tove Jansson in 1945, these charming white creatures are more famous than ever, their stories of acceptance and finding harmony with nature resonating just as strongly on the year of their 80th anniversary.
We’ve been planning for ages to celebrate this Finnish phenomenon in our own Vogue Scandinavia way. And so, we reached out to Finnish supermodel Suvi Riggs Koponen and invited her to travel all the way from her home in Florida to Moominworld near Turku, Finland to model with the Moomins. Like all Finns, Suvi grew up with these characters (she’s since introduced them to her children). The joy and nostalgia she felt shooting this story (and reading the books in Finnish) comes through on every page – especially the cover, for which she wears that stunning Alaïa look.
On these pages, we unravel the immense worldwide popularity of the Moomins, which spreads from Scandinavia to Japan and even Nepal. Along the way, we delve into the power of Tove Jansson, who remains a feminist icon (most notably because she was together with a woman when same-sex relationships were still illegal in Finland) and meet the two generations of Janssons steering her legacy forward. This is a thrilling tale of family, business and art – a rare occurrence where all three of these elements live in harmony.
This is a very special issue, and not just because we have our first fuzzy character on the cover. I am thrilled to introduce Vogue Scandinavia Living – a magazine within the magazine with its very own inside cover. While we have always covered Nordic design within these pages, our new Living special – which fills half of this issue – will delve deeper into the world of Scandinavian design, architecture and interiors.
For the debut of Vogue Scandinavia Living, we tapped one of the biggest names in architecture to appear on the inside cover: Bjarke Ingels. The Danish architect is quite literally shaping the global landscape with his large-scale projects, which integrate nature into otherworldly urban environments. Here, however, we highlight a property that’s notably more modest and intimate: Bjarke’s summerhouse. A classic Falu red home in Rørvig, Denmark, the project has been a labour of love for the architect. It’s a delightful story, through which you’ll get to know one of our region’s most unknowable figures.
Throughout the Living section you’ll find plenty of design inspiration – extraordinary homes, covetable design items and deep dives into the lives and legacy of our region’s icons (in this issue, we explore the unusual tale of Danish great Viggo Boesen).
Don’t fret – we haven’t forgotten the fashion. There is a misconception that as the weather begins to turn and the days get ever shorter, Scandinavians reach for black and earth-toned looks to mirror the incoming darkness. Here, however, we subvert that idea with looks awash in colour – vibrant layers to brighten your mood. The sort of fashion moments designed to make you smile, much like our Moomin moment. Cosy up in your favourite interior, and dive in.
