Aarni

Production Locations

• China
• Hungary
• Switzerland 
• Japan
• Italy

The supply chain likely includes more locations.

Working Conditions & Living Wages

Most of Aarni’s production happens in China, a country with a high risk of poor working conditions, long hours and limited freedom of association. 
Hungary is an EU country, where labour laws are stricter and the risk is lower.

The brand states that its production has been built on fair treatment, fair wages and reasonable working hours from the start. On the website it says that its production is part of the BSCI programme (Business Social Compliance Initiative), with regular third-party audits. Good to know: BSCI is an audit system, not a certification or label. It checks compliance with a code of conduct, but it doesn’t guarantee living wages. However, Aarni doesn’t publish any audit results. The BSCI audits are explicitly mentioned for the watch factory in Shenzhen. It’s not clear whether the bag workshops in Budapest and Shenzhen and the sunglasses workshop near Shanghai are audited too.

According to the brand, the family-owned watch factory offers competitive wages and a good work environment. Aarni says it has worked with this partner for years and visits regularly. Competitive wages are not the same as living wages, and there is no evidence that workers earn a living wage. 

The sunglasses workshop employs around 30 people, and the brand describes a close collaboration with them.

Aarni works with a small number of production partners and says it builds long-term relationships with them. 

Materials

• Hardwoods: alder, ash, birch, curly birch, elm, oak, walnut, ebony, rosewood, zebrawood
• Cork
• Finnish elk leather
• Scandinavian bovine leather
• Merino wool 
• Mohair
• Stainless steel
• Carbon fibre 
• Polycarbonate
• Mineral or sapphire glass 
• Aluminium 

Some of the hardwoods are FSC® and PEFC™ certified. 

There is no info on the tanning method of the elk and bovine leather, and no leather certification is mentioned. The origin of the merino wool and mohair isn’t disclosed either.

Packaging

Aarni does not disclose what packaging materials are used, neither in e‑commerce nor in the supply chain. 

Water Usage & Chemicals

According to the brand, the wooden parts are treated with natural wood oils. 

The 316L stainless steel is described as nickel-safe.

Aarni shares no information about leather tanning chemicals, dyes, water usage or chemical management in its factories. There are no certifications on chemicals or water.

Circular Product Design

Aarni’s products are mostly made of mixed materials, which makes recycling harder.

Many products are designed to be adjusted and maintained. Customers can add or remove watch links at home, and Aarni says it sends extra links for free on request. The battery can be replaced at any watch shop. All sunglasses frames can be fitted with prescription lenses. Many watches and bags come with interchangeable straps. 

The brand shares a detailed care guide.

Circular Business Models

Aarni offers a 3‑year warranty on watches and sunglasses: the brand will repair or replace items with manufacturing or structural defects for free. For bags, wallets and wool accessories, Aarni only guarantees that products are free from defects on delivery. Normal wear and accidental damage are not covered.

There is no repair service for wear and tear, no take-back service and no resale or rental. 

Distance & Complexity of the Supply Chain

• China
• Hungary
• Finland
• Switzerland
• Japan
• Italy
• Aarni HQ is located in Helsinki, Finland.

Transportation

• Transportation in the supply chain: not disclosed. 
• Transportation in e‑commerce: not disclosed. 

• Elk leather: from Finland
• Bovine leather: from Scandinavia 
• Merino wool, mohair and wool: origin not disclosed

On the website it’s stated that all elk leather is a by-product of strictly regulated hunting, and that no elk is ever hunted for its hide. The brand doesn’t share proof or traceability for this. 

For the merino wool, there is no info on whether it’s mulesing-free, and there’s no mention of certifications.

Aarni does not publish an animal welfare policy.

Product Design

Aarni makes accessories for women and men: watches, bags, backpacks, sunglasses, wallets, Apple Watch bands, gloves, beanies, scarves and caps. 

The style is timeless and Scandinavian, and Aarni says it’s shaped ​“by time, not by short-term trends”.

Slow Fashion Processes

Aarni seems to have a steady core collection that it refines over time. On top of that, the brand regularly launches new products, limited editions and collaborations. 

Transparency on Product

Alongside the usual details such as price, dimensions and colour options, the brand lists the material. The pages also break down the product’s origin by production stage: where the design comes from, where the leather is sourced, where it is processed and where the final product is manufactured.
However, no specific suppliers, tanneries or factories are named, and claims are not supported by certifications or further evidence.

Transparency on Processes

Aarni names its production cities and describes its partners . 

However, there is no supplier list, no published BSCI audit results and no annual report on social or environmental impact.