Fashion collection of Finnish business icon Kirsti Paakkanen draws over a million at auction

A three-part auction of the late Finnish business icon Kirsti Paakkanen’s fashion collection concluded Sunday evening, raising a total of €911,030 including buyer’s premiums, Yle reports.

The final instalment offered 545 items, of which only five remained unsold. Helena Laakso, an expert from Stockholms Auktionsverk, noted that the previous two auctions had sold out completely—a rare occurrence.

Proceeds will go to the Kirsti Paakkanen Foundation, which, per her 2015 will, supports the internationalisation of applied arts, economics, and Finnish design, as well as education in these fields.

The auction drew over a million unique online visitors worldwide, with bidders participating from as far as Australia. However, most of Paakkanen’s collected treasures will stay in Finland.

“Many want to own a piece of Kirsti’s story, whether through an accessory or a garment,” Laakso said.

In recent months, the auction house’s South Harbour office in Helsinki has hosted visitors ranging from Paakkanen’s former driver and hairdresser to ex-employees of the luxury boutique Della Margherita and a large group of Marimekko staff. Even teenagers have visited, with 16-year-old girls calling Paakkanen “such a wonderful boss lady.”

The collection included nearly 100 boxes of clothing, shoes, and accessories from brands like Chanel, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, and Marimekko. Some garments bore traces of Paakkanen’s signature pink lipstick. In total, 1,500 lots were auctioned across the three sessions, with many containing multiple items.

Laakso described the decision to auction the collection as the only right one, ensuring the items continue their journey in the lives of those who appreciate them.