In 1945 in a small village in the region of Satakunta, a young boy was cast away by his birth mother to live with his estranged aunt. They lived a very restricted and poor life. The young boy was forced to drop out of school at the age of 9, to go work at a factory so he could help provide for him and his aunt. He spent his days working hard to earn even the bare minimum of a minimum wage, cutting up pieces of leather for handbags. Days, months and years passed by. By the time this young boy had grown into a man, he had worked his way up to CEO of two leather bag companies. He was thriving and finally able to live a better life.

Unfortunately, the happiness was not everlasting. With globalization bringing in cheaper goods from overseas, the man was forced to shut down his businesses. The moment the factory doors closed for good, a piece of his broken heart was left within. He swore to never give his time of day to the bag industry, ever again! This man, Reijo, has an important role in another story:

Let’s take a moment to go back to the year 1970 in Turku, Finland. More precisely, to May Day Eve. On that day, a girl was born into an ordinary family, living in an ordinary house in an ordinary neighborhood. Little did her mother know at the time that she had just brought into the world one of the most significant visual artists in Finland: Johanna Oras.

From an early age, Johanna showed immense interest in art, and her family did everything they could to support her passion. Art school, an art-focused high school, hobbies, and her own art supplies at home. For a child in a single-parent family, none of these were a given.

After high school, Johanna went on to study fine arts in Tampere. There she fell in love with a man, Reijo. They shared a love for art, culture and aesthetics. Reijo showed her his world, a world of curated social events, high fashion and travel. After the two had started dating Johanna left to the Art Academy in St. Petersburg, and finally to Florence. Armed with the skills she gained from these institutions and a great partner by her side, she began her career.

Fast forward to a moment when Johanna was sitting in her studio, holding two calla lilies that she had used in a still life painting. The lilies entwined in each other’s embrace, their dialogue was stunningly silent, and like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky, Johanna experienced a moment that would forever change her future.

Kallary was born. Johanna just didn’t know it yet.

After years of Reijo’s hard work in the leather goods business seasoned with an inspiring legacy combined with Johanna’s 20 years of artistic groundwork and refining the magnificent forms of the calla lily, we arrive to the moment Kallary Design was founded.

Kallary is the result of two completely different stories in different generations, with a common theme: work hard and do what you love. Kallary is Johanna’s tribute to her family, her husband and her history. Kallary is determination, happiness, memories, family, community, and humanity. Kallary is a way of life.