Humana
Just like humana is international so are Humana People. Last Humana people was Rah from Brazil and today we introduce Humana People Elina from Finland.
Introduce yourself — who are you and what do you do
My name is Elina. On instagram I go by torimuija, which loosely translates to thrift girlie. I’m currently on parental leave from my teaching job, which gives me and my toddler a lot of time to thrift!
How did your relationship with clothes begin?
I have loved expressing myself through my clothes for as long as I can remember. I have gone through so many different eras style-wise. For example, in middle school I was really into rock music, so my enitre wardrobe was very rock / emo.
How would you describe your style in three words?
Comfortable, fun and…. LAYERS!
How much do trends influence the way you dress?
Trends influence my style, but don’t define it. I wish everyone realised you can follow trends without buying anything new. Trends can be about styling what you already own in new ways. Also, trends come in cycles, so thrifting really is the best way to find trendy stuff.
When did secondhand become your default way of shopping?
I got seriously into second hand as a teenager, during my high school exchange year in Australia. My host sister took me to all the best opshops. Back then, opshopping (which is the Australian word for thrifting) wasn’t really cool, and it was easy to find amazing vintage clothes for only a couple of dollars.
Do you remember your first time in Humana?
If any international Humana counts, I think it was Berlin in 2010. Loved the crazy vintage collection there.
Do you have a favorite Humana store?
Humana Vintage in Tallinn. 🫶
What do you usually look for first when you walk into a secondhand store?
It’s usually the animal prints – leopard, zebra, you name it – that first catch my eye! I have been obsessed with animal prints for twenty years.
A lot of the time I’m not looking for anything specific, though. I love to browse and be inspired by the unexpected things I see.
You travel from Finland to Estonia to thrift — when did that start?
Wherever I travel, thrifting is part of it. I love how it takes me to new parts of town I wouldn’t think to visit otherwise, and almost makes me feel like a local.
What would you tell a Finnish friend who’s never thrifted in Estonia before?
Humana Vintage is the vintage hotspot in Tallinn! The discount girlie that I am, I would tell them to book their day-trip for one of the Humana Vintage discount weeks.
How does thrifting in Estonia compare to back home in Finland?
In my experience thrifting in Estonia is pretty similar to thrifting in Finland. There’s something for everyone! Different types of stores from donation based to curated vintage, different styles, different price ranges…
What keeps bringing you back?
The flowy animal print skirts, the graphic tees, the y2k belts, the sheer mesh tops, the suede jackets, the silk scarves, the oversize crewneck jumpers… I’ll be back for sure!
