The manager of wine bar Apotek, Helsinki’s style king, and all-around cool guy, Santtu is here to show us how style is done – and done right. Even as the days grow dark and wintery, these photos serve as a quiet reminder that sunnier days are ahead. Take a peek into Aleksanteri Ronkainen’s wardrobe, and start daydreaming.
Purple jacket is custom-made for me by Mori Collective (now MORICO) – designers Jenni Koli and Tytti Alapieti. The fabric is from thick satin drapes from the ’70s.
Purple glasses are A.M.O.D., model Kyykky.
When did I realize that clothes matter?
Probably around fourth grade, when I started listening to rap. That’s when it clicked for the first time that clothes actually do matter.
Heart necklace is my girlfriend Katri’s. She bought the heavy silver chain second-hand and the heart pendant from another second-hand source, and combined them into a beautiful necklace.
The Silver Tiger necklace is a birthday gift from my ex Stella and friends Ida, Sonny, Noora, and Tarja – in loving memory of my late brother Tiger, who passed away at 21 due to aggressive leukemia in January 2019. I never take it off.
My earliest clothing memory is from when my classmates all got Mic Mac jeans and I didn’t. I felt left out, but looking back I’m glad I didn’t have them – I never wanted to dress like everyone else anyway. I always tried to come up with my own styles. I remember wanting baggy jeans, which I eventually got from my dad’s travels, and rocking a red bandana under a red Oakley cap.
In high school, I came back to my hip-hop roots. I started working at McDonald’s and spent most of my money on clothes. I’d go to Grey Market Helsinki or Turnin’ Point to grab the dopest Nikes and New York street-style hippity-hoppity gear :) After high school I shifted toward a more hipster look – tight jeans, big T-shirts – and listened to a lot more electronic music, minimal house and techno, which definitely influenced how I dressed. I also started riding a brakeless fixed-gear bike, which I still do today. That bike became a defining part of my identity.
Black long hoodie from Aito Studios, which used to be my friend Eetu Räisänen’s clothing brand. An OG Helsinki designer.
Camera is Nikkormat FT3 – my grandfather’s camera from 1977 that I’ve shot with around the world for the past 15 years.
Black glasses are A.M.O.D. NBK 1st edition by Adrian Mustelin in Helsinki. Adrian is a friend, and these glasses are one-of-a-kind because the arms and front frame come from two different colorways of the same model.
For me, clothes communicate how I feel. Of course they’re also a representation of your aesthetics and style. Sometimes I feel very masculine, other times very feminine, and it shows. Even functional clothes – like sailing gear – can look purely practical or fabulous and functional. With small details you can change the whole message. You always communicate something with your choices, and a lot can be read from how someone dresses. And at the same time, a lot can be missed if you judge someone only by their clothes. Not everyone cares about clothing or appearance, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t amazing in every other area of life.
I enjoy hunting for special pieces – it’s liberating to find something that feels like you when you fold it into your existing style. It can be something unique, or something super common that no one “stylish” would wear, but you elevate it by pairing it in an unexpected way.
The earring I bought together with my girlfriend Katri as a shared pair for Christmas 2024 from a jewelry shop in Tallinn’s Old Town Square – it’s gold and amber.
Levi’s old denim jacket was bought second-hand from Variety Vintage in Helsinki, with artwork done in permanent marker by my friend Niklas Hallman, Helsinki-based visual artist.
Clothes definitely carry memories. I still have some from high school for that exact reason – I keep them as memorabilia.
Black leather shoes are Tricker’s Burford boots, which I ordered as a 30th-birthday gift to myself. The white salt stains are from my sweat two weeks before the photo – I danced in Berghain for 15 hours. Custom made and unashamedly worn-in.
The skirt is the first skirt I ever thrifted – cost about 2 euros. I had been looking for one for ages but nothing fit. This one did perfectly, and I love it.
I’ve also lost so many clothes, sometimes my favorites, often “to the night.” It annoys me, but at the same time the night takes its taxes, and maybe that’s how it should be. I try not to get too attached to anything material – partly because I tend to lose sh*t anyway.
The bag has been with me every summer for eight years and is originally from my friend Niklas Hallman (same guy who did the jacket). It’s by Pop Trading Company. The smiling sun pin is also my favorite :)
My everyday outfit depends on my mood and where I’m at mentally. Sometimes in the fall I just need comfort: clean lines, colors that fit my vibe and the surroundings. What matters most is that it feels right that day. Listen to yourself. It can be safe and comforting or a big statement – it’s all between your ears.
Whose style has caught my eye?
In Estonia it’s been Tommy Cash for the past 10 years – he’s a fucking ICON. In Finland I’d say Katri “Lil Katri” Koivula, Miika Kemppainen, and Niklas “Leppis” Hallman. They all have very different but very original styles. That’s what I love: originality.
Questions by Anne VetikPhotography by Silver MikiverIntro and edit by Paula-Stina Tasane