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2025 - A Jubilee Year For The nannasalmi Collection

Writer's picture: MSMS
Nanna Salmi’s horsehair jewellery collection has been on the market for 25 years now. That’s a long time. Over the years the collection has grown and the designs have evolved. Horsehair has been received and jewellery has been sent out around the world. The majority of customers are ordinary horse enthusiasts, but there are also breeders, Olympic-level riders and even members of royalty among them.

It´s very rare that an artisan comes up with an entirely new product as many handmade items are based on traditional techniques, materials and forms. Creating something truly unique and innovative requires creativity and a deep understanding of the limitations and possibilities of materials and techniques. Such moments of inspiration are valuable.

Nanna Salmi, designer, artisan
Innovator and designer of a jewellery collection with woven tail hair ribbons.

Ribbons have been woven from threads made of plant and animal fibers for centuries and horsehair has traditionally been used in weaving upholstery fabrics. But could horse´s tailhair be used to weave a ribbon? This is what textile artist Nanna Salmi pondered while brushing her horse’s tail more than 25 years ago. She decided to give it a try.

We are all familiar with braided and plaited horsehair bracelets and these braids are often used in rings as well. But now Nanna had in her hands a thin, dense ribbon into which it was possible to incorporate various patterns. No one had ever made anything like this before, nor had anyone combined a woven horse hair ribbon with silver, gold and white gold components crafted by a goldsmith.

"I may have come up with something entirely new!", Nanna thought.

A hand woven horsehair bracelet with hearts

In jewellery functionality is key, and since this is a precious piece, the most valuable part for its wearer, the horsehair ribbon woven from their own horse’s tailhair, must be protected as well as possible. This becomes especially important in rings.

A golden ring with a hand woven tailhair ribbon.

Although the challenges were significant, the creation of this jewellery collection has been made possible through creative and uncompromising work along with the expertise of the finest goldsmiths.

The market is full of various horsehair jewelleries and to come up with a distinctive and entirely new product is by no means a given. Horsehair is a challenging material: each strand is slightly different, even if it comes from the same tail. Weaving it into a fine, smooth ribbon requires practice and skill. Copycat pieces have appeared on the market from time to time, mainly in the form of rings. Rings only require a short piece of ribbon, but making a beautiful, flat and tightly woven ribbon for a bracelet or necklace is a feat that not everyone can achieve.

Necklace made with a woven horsehair ribbon, golden horshoe decorated with diamond

The jewellery is also valued beyond the equestrian community. Nanna Salmi has received international recognition for her high-quality, innovative craftsmanship (Michelangelo Foundation, Homo Faber Guide), and as far as we know, her pieces were the first modern horsehair jewelleries to be included in the collections of a museum (Museum of Horology and Jewellery Kruunu, Espoo, Finland).

Nanna Salmi,

"Horses are incredible, magnificent animals. From experience I also know how dear and important they are to their owners. That’s why I wanted to create a jewellery collection that is worthy of this bond, affection and love.

I want to thank my customers for their trust. Sometimes I hold in my hands the last remaining strands of a horse’s tailhair which are worth more than gold to their owner.

I´m happy and grateful for all the stories, both joyful and sometimes sad, that I have heard over these 25 years. These stories, these emotions, and sometimes also the comfort, I weave into each ribbon, hoping that the piece of jewellery will become one of the wearer’s most cherished and meaningful treasures.

I am also thankful that I have been able to do the work I love for so long, and I plan to continue as long as the weaving shuttle stays in my hand!"

- Nanna -

During the Jubilee Year 2025 we will have special offers for our customers. To stay updated order our newsletter or follow us in Instagram or Facebook!
Nanna Salmi´s weaving shuttle



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The original collection designed by Nanna Salmi.
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