Weavers from Finland
Saara Obele joined forces with Lapuan Kankurit during her studies in the Aalto University through the PatternLab program in 2022. Her organic, unique style was an instant match for the brand. – It was very exciting for me to have Lapuan Kankurit as one of the first brands, if not the first, to take an […]
It all started with a Finnish jacket. Akira Minagawa, known for his brand minä perhonen, had his life’s course changed forever after one innocuous purchase in Rovaniemi nearly four decades ago. The jacket he found in a local store became a symbol of the kind of designs Akira wanted to aim for: not high fashion, […]
The last few years have brought tremendous changes into the life of Samu-Jussi Koski. He parted ways with his brand, Samuji, to focus on designing smaller collections for Finnish companies, and to discover what other possibilities life would have in store. One such avenue, costuming theatre productions for the Helsinki City Theatre, is what brought […]
When speaking with Matti Pikkujämsä, it does not take long for the value of freedom to come up in the conversation. From the liberty of a freelancer to choose the projects that inspire him, to finding inspiration from anywhere and anything, it is clear that to Matti, rigid structures and definitions appear stifling. This desire […]
Elina Helenius, nominated as Finnish Textile Artist of the Year 2012, has won several design competition awards, and her textiles are on display at Helsinki Design Museum, Röhsska Museum in Gothenburg, and the Kyoto Textile Research Center. She also gives lectures at Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, and Metropolia University of Applied […]
Harakka island is a place of culture and nature just offshore Kaivopuisto in southern Helsinki. A former chemical laboratory, the main building of the island has been colonised since 1988 by artists and artisans who have occupied studio spaces with a myriad of different practices and creative processes. Our designer Aoi Yoshizawa is one of […]
The daughter of a textile artist, and granddaughter of a skilled craftswoman, designer Helmi Liikanen grew up watching her mother and grandmother experimenting with different weaves, dyes and materials. The valuable tradition of textile craftmanship passed on to the next generation as she became a textile designer. “One of my most precious items is my […]
Designer Tong Ren finds inspiration from nature and his travels. Before beginning his studies in Aalto University, Tong Ren worked with industrial design. He became familiar with the craft early in life: his sister is a designer and his father a traditional Chinese painter. “I used to play around in his studio”, Tong describes, “I […]
Natural materials are dear to designer Anu Leinonen. When designer Anu Leinonen travels to her cabin to work, the surrounding nature immediately takes effect. “I can feel my energy changing here”, Anu describes. “The surrounding nature centres my thoughts.” Work days at the cabin begin with a morning swim and necessary breaks are taken as […]
A collaboration between The National Museum of Finland and Lapuan Kankurit resulted in a sauna collection designed by Reeta Ek. Hvitträsk was built between 1901–1903 by famous Finnish architects Herman Gesellius, Armas Lindgren and Eliel Saarinen. The main building, designed in National Romantic style, built of logs and natural stone, was both a common studio […]
Textile designer Reeta Ek (Young Designer of the Year 2017) sees patterns in places others might overlook. Surface, structure, rhythm. These elements are at the heart of textile designer Reeta Ek’s work, and they can be found everywhere, even in the smallest of details. They are patterns on the pavement and art her children paint. […]
Design company Mifuko merges Finnish and Kenyan elements to keep tradition alive. “Kenya is an important part of our life and business”, says textile artist and designer Minna Impiö. “It’s also where we draw our inspiration.” Minna and colleague Mari Martikainen founded Mifuko in 2009. The company’s products are known for being environmentally and ethically […]
Artist and designer Teemu Järvi’s work captures the wild simplicity of nature. Teemu Järvi describes his work as observing and interpreting nature. “I want to capture that moment of coming face to face with a wild animal, because it’s over in an instant”, he says. The animals may run away, but drawing them captures the […]
Dora Jung created a new language for textiles, which still appeals to our senses Dora Jung, Finnish textile artist, created a fabulous collection of tablecloths and napkins for Tampella linen factory in the 1950s to the 1970s. It has long been our dream to restart producing these unique textiles in our Lapua weaving factory. Dora […]