Our Story
My journey with Isleande started in 2017, inspired by an unusually hot summer in Helsinki. After struggling to find comfortable and versatile pieces for my little ones, I found myself overwhelmed by the abundance of loud prints and synthetic textures – completely unsuited for sweltering temperatures. With this in mind, I set out to create a children’s brand that celebrates my own Caribbean heritage and also reflects my love for Nordic – especially Finnish – way of life.
A year later Isleande was founded. Starting with our signature styles the Naantali and Nagu, our mission is to create soft yet sustainable children's clothing with a focus on timeless pieces that are inspired by Nordic and Caribbean summers. Each piece is meant to be lived in and passed on – for little ones to explore the joys of recreational living, and for parents who want to pass on their way of life.
Lots of love, Peta
How We Work
We work with a small, family owned factory where we can see the process from beginning to end. Relationships are at the heart of our business and our vendors, producers, and partners reflect our own values. We believe in transparency, ethical production and worker protection. We create our collections in small batches, ensuring that each piece is made thoughtfully, with time and care. We are not trend driven, instead we create and try-out styles on our own little ones, each piece lived in and loved, and strong enough to be passed down to the next generation.
Details We Love
We’re all about the details. As a brand you’ll notice that we seldom use prints. We love the bodies of the collection, the details in the cut, and the lightness of the materials. We don’t want to take away from the amazing craftsmanship that went into creating each piece. What we do specialise in, is color blending and embroidery. In fact any style that features a motif has been embroidered by hand from start to finish, each stitch expertly applied by experienced hands. Additionally, our Chanderi - a special silk & cotton blend that we use is also woven by hand from an artisan with over two decades experience, creating a uniquely light yet strong textile.
Our Materials
Our collections use natural, raw materials lacking synthetics of any kind. In making each piece we strive for minimal environmental impact, taking the time to responsibly source each textile. Generally, our collections are comprised of two materials: Linen and Chanderi. We use linen, as this beautiful textile is revered for its breathable, hypoallergenic properties and eco-friendly manufacturing. Chanderi, our other textile, is a silk and cotton blend originating from its namesake village in north India. It is a popular fabric for elegant daywear and it is easy to see why; this mixture of 35 percent silk and 65 percent cotton creates a stunning textile that is both breathable and brilliantly bright.
All pieces are made in India with love.