Varusteleka's Jämä

Jämä is dead, long live Jämä

January 27, 2023: we have decided to end the Jämä brand. The nature of surplus materials always made it difficult to maintain the selection of products, and consistency was a struggle. At some point, we realized that the hit products Luhka and Blanket Shirt themselves were far stronger than the parent brand, and our efforts to make Särmä more sustainable have brought it to a point where these Jämä products actually fit nicely under that umbrella.

As military history shows, don't get into a war on two fronts if you can help it. To focus our efforts better, we're pulling the plug on Jämä but the two most popular garments, the Luhka and Blanket Shirt, become Särmä items. Small-batch projects from surplus materials are possible in the future and will be Särmä as well.

Särmä Blanket Shirt Särmä Luhka Show Jämä products

The Creative Laboratory

Jämä products are designed by us at Varusteleka. As our Finnish suppliers don't have large minimum order quantities, we are able to execute wild experiments! The designs integrate available surplus materials, user preferences and practicality.

Made from scraps

Jämä fabrics are exclusively surplus: factory rejects, surplus products that sold poorly, or leftovers from productions that weren't big enough for another complete batch. The available materials are the guide of what we do and how many of them we're able to produce. This makes the ideation and design fun and challenging and the results are unique without exception. At the same time, we give a new life to materials that would otherwise be thrown in a waste dump.

Made in Finland

All Jämä products are manufactured in Finland, most often by small sub-contractors. We used to do everything in-house but these days our sewing shop is the design headquarters and prototype chamber. Everything with a Jämä-label attached is made by hand in small batches because of the practical limitations of material availability. As a very delightful side-effect, you don't come across the same clothes and gear in the street too often.

The top Jämä picks

The nature of surplus materials and the experimental drive of Jämä makes it difficult to maintain a regular selection of products. Sometimes, a minimal trial run turns a spark into flames and as demand rises, we run out of material or something else happens. However, there are tendencies to what we do with Jämä, it's not supposed to be completely unpredictable. Click on the pictures below for more information or browse the products in the Jämä product group.

Blanket Shirt

Luhka

Circle Skirt

Kilt

Duffel Bag

Veshmeshok

Blanket Shirt

The Jämä Blanket Shirt is the favorite of bushcrafty folks. You can make a blanket shirt yourself or buy this one. With raglan sleeves and a 3-pieces hood, this garment is a pleasure to wear. We used to make these from surplus wool blankets but more recently found surplus wool fabrics that are more than suitable for this use!

Luhka

The Jämä Luhka is based on a Laplander's cloak, as the name suggests. The hem has wooden toggles to keep it facing forward towards adventures.

Circle Skirt

Once upon a time, we stumbled across some beautifully draping wool fabrics, which were originally intended for some kind of uniforms. We gave offiziers the finger and turned these into the Jämä Circle Skirt - with pockets. We must say it again: a skirt with pockets!

Kilt

For "reasons we can't possibly fathom", camo fabrics are thrown at us on a regular basis. We combined this supply with the long-time wishes of our customers (and employees) and made the Jämä Kilt.

Duffel Bag

A stylish tubular bag for all kinds of uses, sized to the carry-on luggage norms. The 20-liter (1220 cu in) volume is perfect for your gym gear and some books and accessories for the day. As usual, we'll make different variations based on material availability. The current Navy Blue offering is made from extremely durable awning fabric.

Veshmeshok

The Veshmeshok is an iconic piece of equipment for all who are into Eastern Bloc militaria. A simplistic sack at a glance, the closure system is ingenious: the shoulder strap is turned into a Lark's Head knot to keep your belongings inside and the grabby hands of thieving comrades outside. The fabric du jour combines this Soviet design with a Finnish camo pattern. It's not the first time we borrow things from our neighbors...

Browse Jämä products

As you're reading this, some items may be sold out or we have released new ones. For up-to-date info on all things Jämä, check out the dedicated product category!

Take me there!

Varusteleka's Jämä

Varusteleka's Jämä

Jämä is dead, long live Jämä

The Creative Laboratory

Made from scraps

Made in Finland

The top Jämä picks

Blanket Shirt

Luhka

Circle Skirt

Kilt

Duffel Bag

Veshmeshok

Browse Jämä products

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