Exclusive: Finnish Artist Kustaa Saksi on Designing Oribe’s ‘Golden Threads’ 2025 Holiday Collection

To ring in the holiday cheer, Oribe has launched Golden Threads, an exclusive set of festive gift kits designed by Kustaa Saksi. In this exclusive interview, we speak with the artist to get an inside look at the limited-edition collaboration.

Luxury, heritage, and craftsmanship go hand in hand, and Oribe has embodied the gold standard since its founding in 2008. The haircare brand champions these three pillars in every endeavour, whether it’s through its sensorial lineup of haircare essentials, its curated packaging, or its thoughtful partnerships.

For the 2025 holiday season, the brand once again unites its philosophies through a collaboration in artistry, design, and storytelling with Finnish multidisciplinary artist Kustaa Saksi. To capture the spark of the holiday festivities, Saksi interprets the brand’s iconic black and gold staples in a striking textile creation which adorns Oribe’s limited-edition holiday collection, Golden Threads.

Ahead, we speak with Saksi to glean the inspiration and process behind this exquisite collaboration.

How did this collaboration come about? What excited you most about this collaboration with Oribe?

KS: This was my first collaboration with a beauty brand, and it challenged me in a new way. Unlike my past collaborations, this project was more intimate and sensory, focused on how design connects with scent, touch and personal identity while telling a rich visual story. It was a unique chance to bring my world into everyday personal rituals. 

Where does the creative process begin for you?

KS: I find a lot of inspiration for my art in the patterns I see all around us. The way things repeat in the world.

This collaboration revolves around the theme Golden Threads. How did that concept first take shape in your mind, and what did it mean to you creatively?

KS: I took my inspiration from the story of the Norse Goddess Sif and her beautiful golden hair—her hair is a symbol of everything the earth provides to us. It’s that mix of beauty, change, and nature that inspired this piece.

What drew you to mythology as a storytelling device for your design?

KS: I grew up in Finland, surrounded by forests, the seaside and the strong traditions of Nordic design and folklore, all of which have influenced my visual language. That connection to nature and pattern still runs through everything I create.

The packaging features layered foils, embossing, and intricate prints—what went into developing those physical textures from your woven artwork?

KS: I draw from traditional weaving techniques, but I like to give them a modern, imaginative twist. I use natural materials like wool, mohair, and cotton, and combine them with unusual materials to bring texture and emotion into each piece. 

Precision and detail are essential in both your craft and Oribe’s. What is a detail in the final design that you’re particularly proud of? Perhaps something we may not notice at first?

KS: One detail I’m proud of is the micro-patterns that only reveal themselves up close. From a distance, the piece feels fluid, but as you approach, small shifts in texture and colour appear—little optical moments that reward anyone who takes the time to look more closely.

How do you approach the art of gifting in your own life?

KS: I tend to think of gifting the same way I think about making: it should feel considered, tactile, and a little unexpected. 

The Gold Lust Collection and Gold Lust Liter Set are available online and at selected Ken’s Apothecary outlets nationwide, and at selected Oribe Salons, including Makeover Salon Bangsar, Andy Ho Haute Coiffure, Her Maison Bukit Jalil, and Hairzone by Michael Poh.

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