14 Years of Lastu – The Story, Growth, and Future Direction

In 2011, two friends from Oulu, Finland – Sakke and Jussi – wondered if the typical plastic phone covers could be replaced with something more authentic and durable. They believed that phone cases could be made from Finnish natural materials – like wood and leather – bringing a piece of Nordic nature into the world of technology. This idea gave birth to Lastu, a brand that began handcrafting wooden phone cases in Finland. Fourteen years later, Lastu has grown from a small idea into an internationally known name, and Lastu’s phone covers have found their way to users in over 30 countries. In this blog post, we share Lastu’s unique journey from its inception to today and look ahead to where the brand is heading – not forgetting to thank the loyal customers who have been along for the ride.

2011 – The beginning of Lastu’s story

Lastu’s story truly took shape in 2011, when Sakke and Jussi officially founded the company and launched its first products. The very first Lastu cases were crafted from Finnish wood, enchanting users with their genuine feel. It was unique to have protective phone covers made of real wood – each case was one-of-a-kind, like carrying a piece of the Finnish forest in your pocket. From the very beginning, Lastu remained committed to Finnish craftsmanship and high quality, creating a strong foundation for the years to come.

2014–2016 – First recognitions

Three years after its founding, in 2014, Lastu received a major recognition: it won Finland’s Design Deed of the Year award. This esteemed honor validated that Lastu’s approach of combining Nordic materials with sleek design was on the right track. A couple of years later, the recognition continued as co-founder Sakari was chosen as Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2016 in Finland. These honors brought Lastu more visibility and encouraged the company to continue innovating.

2018 – The world’s first M05 camo cases

In 2018, Lastu once again made history by expanding its material selection in a new way. That year, Lastu was the first in the world to introduce the Finnish Defence Forces’ M05 camouflage pattern on a phone case. This iconic camo design quickly became a popular addition to Lastu’s lineup and reinforced the brand’s reputation as a bold trailblazer.

2019 – Color prints and personalization

In 2019, Lastu took another big step toward personalization. The company introduced full-color image printing, allowing customers, for the first time, to print, for example, their own photograph or a company logo onto a case. Phone cases with your own logo or personal photo became possible, taking customization to a new level. With the advent of color printing, every customer can design a protective case that perfectly suits their style without compromising Lastu’s renowned craftsmanship.

2020 – Partnerships and global expansion

The 2020s brought new partnerships and international growth for Lastu. In 2020, Lastu began a collaboration with the Finnish design brand RATIA, and over 20,000 of these stylish RATIA cases have been sold to date. That same year also marked a partnership with the non-profit group Your Finnish Friends, through which Lastu has supported charitable projects and Finnish volunteers. In recent years, Lastu’s products have reached farther than ever: today, Lastu ships phone cases to over 30 countries, with Finland, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, and the USA among its biggest markets.

2022 – Digital leap: design and preview online

In 2022, Lastu invested in the digital customer experience. The company introduced a design tool on its website that allows customers to customize their own case online and see a real-time, lifelike preview of it. This innovation made creating one’s own unique case easier and more fun, as customers can immediately see how a beautiful phone case made from the chosen wood will ultimately look. Lastu demonstrated that traditional craftsmanship and modern technology can go hand in hand even in an online service.

Looking to the future

The development of high-quality, homegrown cases continues strong in the years ahead. Lastu will ensure that new phone models quickly get their own protective covers, while continuously experimenting with new materials and designs. Nature-inspired values and responsibility remain at the core of our mission – we will continue to use sustainable, eco-friendly materials and create products that stand the test of time. Over the years, there have also been companies attempting to copy Lastu’s ideas, but only genuine Lastu cases can offer the quality and originality that the brand is known for. That’s why we encourage our customers to choose the real Lastu when looking for beautiful and durable phone cases.

Thank you to our customers

Finally, we want to thank our customers for these 14 years. Many of you have been with us from the beginning – some are already on their fifth Lastu case. We wouldn’t be here without your support and feedback. It is thanks to you that Lastu continues to grow and evolve, and we hope to keep protecting your phones for years to come, as authentically and uniquely as ever.