Dancer Mette Linturi Makes Movement A Way of Life

Mette Linturi isn’t one to sit still. A dancer and choreographer, the Finnish-born, London-based creative lives a life rooted in movement, from her incredible work with artists like British electronic duo Jungle to the off-duty activities she does to make the most of her days off. On the set with PORTER in London, she moves with an effortless fluidity as she models On’s latest co-created collection with Zendaya.

“Movement is everything,” she tells PORTER. “It makes me feel like a healthy, aligned individual. If I’m really upset, it’s probably the one thing that will always bring me back, to remember who I am.”

“Sometimes that means dancing,” she continues, “other times it’s just to create space, to expand, to relax, to release.”

That might translate as something as simple as lying on the floor and making tiny adjustments to her spine, or taking herself on a walk. And on days she’s not working on choreography, she’ll seek out a dance class purely for the fun of it: “I love anything with that feminine, pop-star energy – give me a hair wave, a sit on the hip… That kind of movement is close to my heart.”

Growing up in Finland, she took her first dance class aged eight, but it wasn’t until she was 13 that she began taking it seriously – largely due to her desire to “be like the Pussycat Dolls”, she admits, laughing. With little in the way of a dance industry back home, she took her development into her own hands, side-stepping the traditional dance school route in favor of seeking out inspiring teachers and training across the world. Alongside her best friend, she traveled to Sweden, Poland, New York and London, before finally settling in the latter at the age of 22. “I used to say that I wanted to come here and I wanted to be the worst,” she says. “Because if I’m the worst, I will become better quicker.”

The collection’s seasonal outerwear pieces were instant favorites: “I was obsessed with The Lightweight Jacket and The Half-Zip Anorak in python print,” says Linturi, noting how the ruching cord details can be used to create shape. The Studio Bodysuit was also a standout, which beyond looking incredibly sleek with its zip-front detail and biker-short silhouette, made her feel “very fit”.

As a dancer, Linturi is disproportionately focused on her feet. They are, after all, the most important tool for her work. What’s more, they’re often tired and in need of a little TLC. In the new Cloudnova Moon Mary Jane, she has found a shoe that works for her – a style that is chic while offering suitable support. “They’re so comfortable and cute,” she says. Featuring On’s signature CloudTec® cushioning and a flexible upper, the flats both trade on the current ballet trends while also being designed for all-day wear. “I would never do an uncomfortable shoe,” she declares. “It’s just evil.” She does, however, draw the line at actually dancing in them. “You can’t point your feet in them,” she laughs. “But they’re perfect after-dance shoes.”

Meanwhile, loose, laid-back pieces like the Oversized Sweatpants and Oversized Crew slot right into her typical off-duty uniform, which is all about clothes that are “easy to wear, but still make me feel fresh,” she says.

In fashion as in life, Linturi’s priority is not feeling restricted. Her schedule has “no rigidity whatsoever”, her days are ever-changing and intuitive, and when it comes to the future, she feels no pressure to map everything out. “I believe that the universe gives us what is needed,” she says. “My only hope is that I continue moving as much as possible, even if it’s just for myself.”