‘The Hemulen always wore a dress that he had inherited from his aunt. I believe all Hemulens wear dresses. It seems strange, but there you are.’ ¨ 

(Finn Family Moomintroll, 1948) 

The word ‘hemulen’ is the opposite of the old Swedish word ‘ohemul’ (engl. groundless, unreasonable). In Moomin books, hemulens are a diverse group of serious and straightforward characters with a strong passion for keeping things in order. When thinking of hemulens, the first one to come to mind is probably Hemulen, the passionate collector in the purple dress. Hemulens are not intentionally mean, but their tendency to keep things in order might cause resentment in Moominvalley—Snufkin heavily dislikes the Park Keeper and his notices about Forbidden Things, and Mrs Fillyjonk gets annoyed when hemulens organise things however they please. 

The real-life hemulens are safe to be around, feel at home in their everyday lives, and can craft all kinds of things with great attention to detail. They carry out big projects with great passion, and when one project is finished, another one (probably even bigger than the first one) is just around the corner. Hemulens often work as police officers, inspectors, or in other professions where they can make sure all regulations are followed. Outside of work, they thrive in their unique hobbies that keep them satisfied day after day. 

If you’re looking for hemulen-themed clothes or other accessories for your big projects, look at the products below. Could they be a fit for your collection?