Tupilak
Ritualistic figures called tupilaks, intricate depictions of hunting and fishing, tools like the woman’s knife called an ulu, and carvings of polar bears, whales, and seals are all evidence of a people with a close connection to the natural environment, who have thrived in Greenland by adapting their lives to nature’s way.
Skincare Products
Wild Greenlandic herbs like thyme, Labrador tea, juniper, and chamomile often find their way into locals’ backpacks on the way home from a weekend getaway in the Fjord.
Matching Fabric & Dishware
A tablecloth with a story. Greenlander Liss Stender is inspired by the environment and culture of her country. She takes the millennia-old shapes of human faces, female and male figures, and hunting tools and gives them a twenty-first-century boost in the form of fabrics and home decor by the name of Inuk Design. While you are in her city center boutique in Nuuk, be sure to also check out her wooden figures and porcelain dishware with the same motifs. Get a taste of the recognizable Inuk design style.
Glasswork
No matter what the occasion, there is always a cute find at Dooit Design, the boutique and glass art workshop in Nuuk run by Greenlander Dorit Olsen. Some of her funniest pieces are glass cacti that can stick into real flower pots – perfect for someone without a green thumb, or for the constant jet-setter with no time to water the flowers. Dorit also sells timeless sun catchers, candle holders, and large conversation piece bowls, to name a few.
Bone Handicrafts & Jewellery
Bone carvings are a highly sustainable product in Greenland as they are created from by-products of animals hunted for subsistence. The tupilak, a little statue with scary-looking faces and creatures, is probably the most common souvenir found in Greenland but there are also polished necklaces, bracelets, and rings as well as wine corkscrews and even knitting needles. If you happen to work with Greenlandic carving greats like Kristian Fly in Ilulissat and Gideon Qeqe in Tasiilaq, you know you are getting quality craftsmanship.
Beaded Necklaces
Among Copenhagen’s most famous and iconic attractions is the statue of the Little Mermaid, which has sat along the harbor since its unveiling in 1913. This statue endures as a symbol of his legacy and has attracted millions of visitors tourists can easily find memorabilia emblazoned with her likeness to commemorate their visits. The Greenlandic national costume for women is an explosion of colour from the patterned bead tops to the intricate embroidered boots. Greenlander Kuluk Budek takes inspiration from it and fashions a lighter more everyday version in the form of beaded necklaces that all can wear. Browse her designs at kulaks. gl or buy them at her day spa in Nuuk called Kulukis Hudpleje.
Fine Art
South Greenlander Buuti Pedersen’s classic piece of a curled-up polar bear would suddenly transform any home’s wall into a gallery. She even gives the chance to get inside her mind and creative space, literally. Like a grassroots AirBnB, Buuti’s studio in Qaqortoq is available for rent via aajuna.com. Browse her gallery online at buuti. dk or purchase a piece in person at, for example, Glacier Shop in Ilulissat.
Pottery
Though fragile, Greenlander Kristine Spore Kreutzmann’s handmade small dishes, candle holders, vases, and mugs make fabulous gifts. She even made a special line of Christmas tree decorations around the holidays. Using clay from Greenland and glazes in earth tones, she maintains a classic neutral look. Browse her gallery at kristinesporekreutzmann.com or purchase her creations Nuuk Art Museum and IQ Naasut boutique, both in Nuuk.
Clothing
Though fragile, Greenlander Kristine Spore Kreutzmann’s handmade small dishes, candle holders, vases, and mugs make fabulous gifts. She even made a special line of Christmas tree decorations around the holidays. Using clay from Greenland and glazes in earth tones, she maintains a classic neutral look. Browse her gallery at kristinesporekreutzmann.com or purchase her creations Nuuk Art Museum and IQ Naasut boutique, both in Nuuk.
Sealskin Products
Seal skins have been used by aboriginal people for millennia to make waterproof jackets and boots, and seal fur to make fur coats.
