Finnish Granny Wisdom: Our Day at Myssyfarmi

When we visited Myssyfarmi in the small village of Pöytyä, we thought it would be a nice day out, sharing ideas between kindred Finnish brands. What we got instead was a masterclass in joy, purpose, and the art of living well at any age!

For those unfamiliar with Myssyfarmi (where have you been?), they create gorgeous woollen hats – or "myssy’s" as we call them in Finnish – each one hand-knitted by retired local women, affectionately known as the Myssy grannies. Every hat carries the signature of the woman who made it, connecting you directly to the hands and heart behind your cozy winter companion.

As we pulled up to their headquarters, we were greeted by a group of smiling grandmothers who radiated more enthusiasm and energy than most people half their age. Armed with VIBAe shoes and Lilja the Label swimsuits, we had a photoshoot plan that would make most people hesitate – especially on a freezing Finnish day. Not these grannies!

"Swimsuits in this weather? Not a problem!" laughed Sinikka as she changed into a colorful Lilja the Label one-piece, slipped on our shoes, and posed like she'd been modeling her entire life.

Did we mention that Sinikka does 1000 rounds with a weighted hula hoop EVERY SINGLE DAY? When we asked her secret to staying so vibrant, she simply shrugged: "The knitting keeps my fingers nimble, and the community hall exercise classes keep the rest of me moving!"

Marja-Leena told us between poses that being part of Myssyfarmi had given her a "tight-knit community" (her pun, not ours!) where gossip flows as freely as the coffee. "We laugh more than we knit," she confided, "and we knit a lot."

What struck us most throughout the day was how these women had completely rewritten the retirement rulebook. While society often treats retirement as an ending, these grannies showed us it can be a magnificent beginning. Working at their own pace, setting their own rules, having purpose and community – they have lives filled with meaning, connection, and joy, thanks to Myssyfarmi.

As Finnish companies who value craftsmanship and authentic connection, our day at Myssyfarmi resonated deeply with everything we believe at VIBAe. We exchanged stories, talked about our cats (obviously!) and discovered our shared values of quality, community, and the human touch that goes into everything we create.