Piia Vähäsalo

Entrepreneur, chief designer
An inexhaustible source of creativity, the spirit and soul of Utua. Piia is inspired by anything and everything, and as a skilled artist, she gets to work immediately and not after a while, and soon a new project is underway. And they are not left unfinished, but reaching the finish line is more the rule than the exception. Utua grows and develops under Piia's steady guidance: new collections are created, the online store develops and only the sky is the limit!

Marja-Kaisa Linna

Collection coordinator
There is nothing in Utua's store or office that this active and accomplished all-rounder can't do. And if she can't, just wait a minute and she'll be up and running in no time. "Maika" is a girl from Kokkola who has traveled the world in her previous jobs. She has solid expertise in both purchasing and sales. The world of bags has captivated her and the leather qualities and features are at her fingertips. Maika can handle Excel, Canva and Shopify, and the power lady keeps Utua in overall management with a bang.

Merja Hammar

Sales and Marketing Coordinator
Most often, this former advertising agency entrepreneur can be found working on graphic design and content production, but sometimes also in the store. Blogs, newsletters, social media updates and other necessary texts are a favorite part of her job, but newspaper advertisements, brochures, labels and other printed banners and cards that require a graphic designer's touch are also part of the job description. Utua requires a wide range of skills and versatility is Merja's trump card. It is pulled out of her sleeve whenever a suitable vocabulary or a stylish advertisement is needed.

Kati Kastelli

Sales lady
Kati's gentle voice is recognizable both from the Utua store and from the phone at Lang's Trading House. This supreme sweet-talker in the service industry always tells the Utua story with equal enthusiasm to new and old customers. Her favorite encounters are making admiring tourists laugh and showing them the sights of Old Raahe. Hearty laughter echoes throughout the store as Kati gets visitors involved in interesting conversations. And when there are no customers, she effortlessly makes up fascinating social media updates about Lang's life.

Oona Similä

Chief Operating Officer / Lang's Trading House
Piia's daughter has inherited a busy nature and the ability to organize things. Oona holds dozens of threads in her hands all day long, running between Lang's kitchen, café, party rooms and the office. Utua's bags are as familiar to her as the recipe for cinnamon rolls, and she even fills in for Utua's people in the shop when needed. Oona has also performed excellently as Utua's mannequin. No task in managing this manor complex is foreign to her. Sometimes she throws on a 19th-century shopgirl's costume and presents Lang's history to groups. A real powerhouse, but she can handle it at a young age!

Pasi Siipola - kuva tulossa

Man of the hosue and servant
If there is a loose spot somewhere or a hinge needs oiling. Or if you need to build a sleeping nook for the Christmas elf in the window or heat up the captain's experience sauna for the guests of Lang's Trading House, Pasi is already there.
Piia's husband's job description includes all repair, restoration, construction and entertainment work. He goes out every day to crack a joke or two for the joy of the women of Utua, and there is no situation for which the cheerful Pasi cannot come up with a suitable proverb or light comment.