Meet our designers

Akira Minagawa is a famous Japanese textile designer and illustrator, best known as the founder of the minä perhonen design company. In addition to his own brand, Minagawa has now also designed textiles for Lapuan Kankurit, among others. Akira’s style is often described with words such as romantic, naive and imaginative. Akira himself doesn’t submit…

Anu Leinonen graduated from the Lahti Institute of design and then began a long career with Finnish clothing brands. She further honed her professional skills in Paris at the Centre de formation des Modélistes and designed collections for a French clothing company for ten years. Upon returning to Finland, she started over 10 year long…

Originally from Tokyo, Japan, Aoi studied for an MA in textile design at Aalto University and currently works as a textile and surface designer for both interiors and fashion in Helsinki. Aoi creates graphic and expressive surface designs for different textile materials. Lapuan Kankurit started working with Aoi 2015 and the first design was AINO…

In her day, 1906-1980, DORA JUNG was known as a bold reformist and a pioneer in crafts and arts. She developed her own weaving techniques – with a unique sense of aesthetics, colours, and shapes and a perfect hand with the finest linens. Her designs garnered important awards both in Finland and abroad. Her vision…

Elina Airikkala graduated with a Master of Art degree in Textile Art from the Art and Design University of Helsinki. Prior to that she graduated as a weaving artisan. “The texture in textiles creates the warm feeling like a friendly hug.”

Textile, color and surface designer, Master of Arts Elina Helenius was graduated from University of Art and Design Helsinki, now known as AALTO University. Over twentyfive years she has been working extensively in the field of textile, color and surface design with domestic and international clients. Since the beginning of the year 2018 she has…

Elisa was born and grew up in Belgium. After studying Product Design in Brussels, she continued in Textile Design field at Aalto University in Finland. Since 2021, she is running her design studio in Helsinki, while working between Finland and Japan. Inspired by nature, her designs aim to bring warmth and coziness into daily life.…

Textile artisan Essi Vuontisjärvi has designed the towel pattern MY FINLAND. She comes from a little island in Southwestern Finland, and that landscape can also be seen in her work; there’s a certain roughness and edge to it. She is especially fond of Lapuan Kankurit washed linen’s lively surface. Essi also works in her family…

Hanna Galtat is a visual artist and textile designer based in Finland and France. In her work, Hanna examines spatiality, materiality and perception. As a textile designer, timelessness, sustainability and respect for the distinctive qualities of the materials are central to her. She feels that textiles are a natural way for her to express stories…

Heini Riitahuhta graduated from Aalto University, Ceramic and Glass Design department, in 2002 and now works as an independent artist in the Arabia Art Department. This versatile designer is well known internationally: she received the honourable mention in Mino, Japan. Heini and Lapuan Kankurit share the same values: respect for nature, striving for beauty and…

Heini Turunen has graduated from the Aalto University with a master’s degree in art education and is currently in the process of completing her textile design studies in the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences.  Turunen’s first design for Lapuan Kankurit, SAVU design, was created as part of Sauna Finland’s project to develop an idea or…

Helmi Liikanen is a Aalto University graduate, surface designer and a woven fabrics enthusiast. Helmi met Lapuan Kankurit on a study visit to the weaving mill – and an idea for a collaboration sparked. Many of the linen pieces that Helmi has designed for Lapuan Kankurit were created as part of her MA thesis. Often…

Ida Korsström is a Finnish textile designer and Aalto University graduate. Her work is characterised by the straightforward yet expressive designs and her strong sense of colour. With the intention of making products that stand the test of time, Ida tends to find inspiration from both the past and the present. Ida works intuitively, paying…

The lifetime goal of textile designer Kaarina Tiainen is to protect the endangered Saimaa ringed seal. Besides conservation work in the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation. The idea for her unique textile pattern of the Saimaa ringed seal originates from the popular wildlife animal patterns such as leopard and zebra. The Saimaa ringed seal craved…

Kaksikko is a Helsinki-based design studio that specializes in ceramic tableware and wooden furniture, founded by Salla Luhtasela and Wesley Walters. The duo shares an interest in functional, understated forms that highlight each material’s tactile qualities, as well as in the production process itself. They met while studying at Aalto University School of Arts, Design…

Leonardo is originally from Bogotá, Colombia, and came to Finland to study for an MA in textile design at Aalto University. He is currently a doctoral candidate at the Department of Design at the same university. His research explores biocolours and dyeing practices within local contexts and examines the intersection between ecological knowledge, colour, aesthetics,…

Maëlis Ray is a French textile designer who was born and raised in Lyon, the city known for its silk weaving tradition and the invention of the jacquard machine. Studying her bachelor’s at ESAAT and ENSAIT in Roubaix,another town with a history of textile industry, she pursued her master’s degree at the Swedish School of…

Marianne Huotari is a Finnish ceramic and textile artist known for her open-minded approach to combining different materials and forms. Her works reflect her deep respect for natural materials, sustainable design and Finnish traditions – which she interprets in fresh, new ways in her designs. Huotari works as an artist at the Arabia Art Department.…

Educated at the University for Industrial Arts, Marja Rautiainen is one of the secrets to success at Lapuan Kankurit. Marja’s work reflects her strong professional skills and her passion for Finnish textile traditions. Collaboration between Lapuan kankurit and Marja Rautiainen started during the LOUHI-project already 2000, when she was still studing at TAIK, nowadays Aalto…

The Japanese designer Masaru Suzuki is renowned for his work on various international projects and has been collaborating with Lapuan Kankurit since 2009. After earning his degree in Dyeing and Weaving Design from Tama Art University, he honed his skills at the Hiroshi Awatsuji Design Office before establishing his own practice in 1995. Today, he…

The illustrator Matti Pikkujämsä is awarded grafic designer. He won the Finnish Illustration State Award in 2015 and Illustrator of the year award 2019. He graduated from Aalto University of Art and Design and draws from the specific features of the Finnish everyday life and finishes the pictures with warm humour. Matti Pikkujämsä has been…

The founders of design company Mari Martikainen and Minna Impiö combine elements from both Scandinavian and African culture and nature in their design. For them working as a designer means fun and ethically sustainable co-operation between different countries, companies and cultures. Textile designers Mari and Minna have graduated from Aalto University of Art and Design…

Reeta Ek is a freelance designer from Helsinki and a MA graduate from Textile Art and Design department in the Aalto University on Arts, Design and Architecture. She has also studied Fine Arts, and already in her paintings she became interested in repeats, patterns and building a surface. She sketches by hand; plenty of drawings…

Saara Obele is an illustrator and graphic designer originally from South Karelia, who has since settled in the Helsinki metropolitan area. She gets inspired by colors, childlike playfulness, strong contrasts and on the beautiful, diverse nature of Finland with its varied seasons. Saara has studied for a Master of Arts at Aalto University in the…

Samu-Jussi Koski is a fashion designer and the founder of the brand Samuji. Koski has studied at the Institute of Design and Fine Arts in Lahti, Finland and at the Polimoda Fashion School in Firenze, Italy. Before setting up his own brand, Koski worked at Marimekko as an intern, designer and finally Creative Director. His…

Sari Myöhänen represents Finnish designers with success both in Finland and abroad. She graduated as a certified designer from the Danish Design School in Copenhagen and works in Paris. Her open attitude and strong faith in her own abilities has opened doors for Sari and she was discovered in the urban centres of the design…

Lapuan Kankurit has a long history of collaboration with one of the oldest design organizations in Finland, The Friends of Finnish Handicraft, starting in the 90s. Year 2023, as the company celebrates its 50 years of business, Lapuan Kankurit wanted to refresh this collaboration. Raija Rastas designed the “Juhladamasti” tablecloth as an artist of The…

Developing the best textiles in the world is our passion. Our own mill and the young, open-minded professionals who work there allow us to make our products a little better every day. Since the beginning of the year 2018 Lapuan Kankurit internal design team has been; designer Elina Helenius and Sara Bengts, marketing director Jaana…

Teemu Järvi is an artist and designer who specialises in wilderness themes. His art and projects include a wide range of printmaking, book and magazine illustrations as well as product designs and concepts. The works derive from the artist’s lifelong love of nature. A ceaseless explorer of Finnish woods and lakes, Teemu is familiar with…

Tong is living in Helsinki since 2010, but originally from Henan, China. He has studied in Fashion, Clothing and Textile Design department, Aalto University. He also has a background in Industrial design. His works focus on story telling through the color and material. His studies also brought him and Lapuan Kankurit together in the spring…