Lapuan Kankurit

Pattern Lab20 x Lapuan Kankurit

Pattern Lab20

Pattern Lab is a year-long study project at Aalto University of Art, Design and Architecture. The project gives students a possibility to experience what it is like to work as a professional freelance designer in the textile industry. During the training, students create their own designs in co-operation with a design company, such as Lapuan Kankurit.

Lapuan Kankurit started co-operating with Pattern Lab in 2012, which resulted in a large number of beautiful designs from today’s top designers including Reeta Ek. “Working together with students on a long-term project such as this requires open-mindedness, commitment and, above all, consistency,” says member of the Lapuan Kankurit design team Elina Helenius. “Students are seldom held back by old habits or fixed mindsets, which is refreshing,” Jaana Hjelt from Lapuan Kankurit adds. “This kind of co-operation is beneficial for both parties. To us, it is a possibility to get fresh ideas and work with upcoming talents. The students, on the other hand, learn how to create commercial designs in a genuine business environment.”

Maarit Salolainen, professor of Textile Design at the Aalto University, has been supervising Pattern Lab since 2003. She sees the study project as an important steppingstone for young designers. “To our students, this real-life training opportunity with Lapuan Kankurit is an eye-opening experience. It is extremely important that students get to see the production and design process from the client’s point of view as well,” Salolainen says. Both Hjelt and Salolainen emphasize that the best designs and innovations are born out of creativity and co-operation. “At Lapuan Kankurit, we believe that working together and learning from each other is the right way to the best result,” Hjelt says. Maarit Salolainen agrees: “During the project, our students learn that success comes from listening to the client, from open communication, and working together as a team.” To Lapuan Kankurit, the Pattern Lab co-operation is of an even greater significance. “We believe that design is more than just a beautiful product. We aim to design and manufacture sustainable, longlasting, and versatile products for multifunctional purposes,” says Hjelt. “It is our responsibility to make sure that both the weaving skills and design work in the industry are preserved for future generations.”

IN COOPERATION WITH THE FINNISH ASSOCIATION FOR NATURE CONSERVATION

Lapuan Kankurit has released the SAIMAANNORPPA collection in cooperation with The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation (FANC) year 2019. One of the FANC’s aims is to protect the endangered Saimaa ringed seal. The Saimaa ringed seal (saimaannorppa in Finnish) is the most endangered seal in the world. It lives only in the Finnish lake Saimaa. Today, there are only around 400 seals.

The association’s specialist Kaarina Tiainen has designed a pattern that works beautifully as woven textiles. SAIMAANNORPPA products, wool blankets, hot water bottles, linen towels and sauna textiles combine the craftsmanship of Lapuan Kankurit with a deep understanding of nature.

Each SAIMAANNORPPA hot water bottle cover is cut from a different piece of fabric, replicating the unique rings that are found on each seal. Lapuan Kankurit donates a fixed amount for each of the SAIMAANNORPPA products sold to the FANC for the protection of the Saimaa ringed seal.

Hava a look at SAIMAANNORPPA collection.

Lapuan Kankurit has raised 32.000 euros for FANC before until 2024.

22.1.2024

LAPUAN KANKURIT FLAGSHIP STORE IN TOKYO

Lapuan Kankurit opened their first flagship store in Omotesando, Tokyo with their long-term distributor in the beginning of October 2019. With this store Lapuan Kankurit strengthen their presence in Japan and bring their company values and way of life closer to the customers.

"The opening of the store in Tokyo with our partner felt like a natural step," Marketing Director of Lapuan Kankurit Jaana Hjelt states.

"Japan is a significant market area for us, and our professional importer and several reliable partners are located here. Lapuan Kankurit opened a shop-in-shop in the Slowhouse store of Futago Tamagawa two years ago, and it was very well received. We now had the brilliant opportunity of opening Lapuan Kankurit flagship store in the distinguished area of Omotesando."

Trendy Omotesando is situated within walking distance from Shibya, the central shopping area in Tokyo. The store of Lapuan Kankurit is located by one of the charming little streets in this distinguished area.

"Omotesando has more peaceful and unique atmosphere, which suits us perfectly. Other Finnish brands, such as Marimekko and Artek, are also active in this area, and so it seemed the best place for us."

Biotope, the Japanese partner of Lapuan Kankurit, has put a lot of work into marketing and designing the new store. Lapuan Kankurit has a broad retailer network and great press visibility in Japan. Mana and Takashi Kobayashi from Tokyo have designed the store, as well as the stores of Lapuan Kankurit in Lapua and Helsinki. The fresh Scandinavian decoration in the Tokyo store displays Finnish materials and colours. The light wood and concrete are accompanied by furniture from Nikari and Gedigo. Apart from the product selection of Lapuan Kankurit, in the flagship store in Tokyo you will also find other Finnish lifestyle products.
"At the opening we displayed also the beautiful pottery of Marianne Huotari" Hjelt says.
"In addition, there is a small wash basin in the store so that you can try out different types of towels."

In the concept store, monthly events are arranged at which the products, history, production and designers of Lapuan Kankurit are presented, along with Finnish lifestyle and culture.

"We wish to offer our customers a complete Finland experience with attention to every detail," Hjelt explains. The high quality of Lapuan Kankurit products, and the transparency and responsibility of the production are appreciated in Japan. Also, the long history of Lapuan Kankurit as a Finnish family business and their successful co-operation with young designers interest the Japanese customers.

"The Japanese and the Finns are united by a similar fondness for aesthetics, as well as a sincere appreciation of nature and natural materials," Hjelt concludes. "The Finnish brands are enormous trendy here."

An Oasis in Torikorttelit, Helsinki

We have combined traditional Finnish elements with Japanese minimalism to create a light infused and peaceful environment in our completely renewed Helsinki Flagship store.

Locals and Tourists of Helsinki are now able to enjoy their new "living room" when we re-opened our doors to Katariinankatu 2, during May 2019. In the space, you can enjoy Finnish textiles, flip through design, food and lifestyle books or just come in from the hustle and bustle of our busy capital and relax.

"We invested in our Tori Quarter's store because we believe in the Old Town of Helsinki, which offers experiences with a slight modern touch to all who wander in." Marketing Director Jaana Hjelt of Lapuan Kankurit, explains.

Our new store has been designed by the Japanese design office IMA design Mana and Takashi Kobayashi, who have also designed the Lapua Kankurit factory outlet in Lapua. The store's interior highlights peace, the hue of birches and birch shingles in new modern forms. "The aroma of tar in the store and the seasonally changing music strengthen the good feeling and laid-back atmosphere", Hjelt says.

The roots of Lapuan Kankurit are deeply tied to Finnish know-how and their textile tradition – the first textile company in the family was founded in 1917. Today, Lapuan Kankurit is known not only for its luxurious linen and wool products, but also for its product innovations. The continuous product development is made possible by the heart of the company: the jacquard weaving mill, which works still in Lapua today.

"We want to be a part of moving the textile tradition and know-how to the next generation. We believe in traceability, transparency and sustainable development. That's why we want our renewed store to introduce these values and provide us the space where people can get closer to our textile tradition."

HVITTRÄSK

– a gem of design and architecture.

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 and a home for Eliel Saarinen and Armas Lindgren for some years after it was completed. The Saarinen home is a museum today, and within the courtyard there is a restaurant and a rental sauna. Hvitträsk and its lovely English style garden are surrounded by beautiful nature near the shore of Lake Vitträsk in Finland.

A collaboration between The National Museum of Finland and Lapuan Kankurit resulted in a sauna collection designed by Reeta Ek. Reeta is a textile designer from Helsinki and a MA graduate from Textile Art and Design department in the Aalto University. In the HVITTRÄSK sauna collection, Reeta was inspired by national romanticism, especially the roses that are found in the garden and in many interior details in Hvitträsk. The collection combines traditional patterns and rhythm with relaxed ink painted strokes that flow beautifully on the woven surface.

Design Forum Finland awarded Reeta Ek with The Young Designer of the Year prize of 2017.

Have a look at the RUUSU X HVITTRÄSK collection.

OPEN DOORS AT THE WEAVING MILL

We at Lapuan Kankurit enjoy when people reach out and interact with one another. We value that interaction and feel that it is exactly how we like to run our own business, as we place that same value within our doors and hope to create a warm and familial atmosphere.

Lapuan Kankurit has a staff of about 30 people, each of whom plays an important role in creating our high quality products. We are bound together in our know-how and all of the learned practices of decades of inherited knowledge within the communality of our family business. We know each other and we value authenticity and traceability. We also think it is important that our customers get to know the people who make the products they buy. That's how we change the world into one with more transparency and sincerity.

We will inform here about our next OPEN DOORS date.

We can also arrange tours for groups at other times, please contact info@lapuankankurit.fi for more information

Welcome to visit us!

LAPUAN KANKURIT RAISES FUNDS DURING GOOD SPIRIT FRIDAY

Lapuan Kankurit celebrates with good deeds. Instead of Black Friday sales, the company's stores, Outlet, Store & Studio, and online store celebrates Good Spirit Friday. On Friday, Lapuan Kankurit donates also this year 20% of all sales to the Hyvä Joulumieli campaign.

The Christmas Spirit fundraising campaign is run by the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare and the Finnish Red Cross together with the Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle. Its purpose is to donate food vouchers to families with children, so they can buy food for Christmas. Lapuan Kankurit emphasises responsibility and sustainable development in everything they do. The company has celebrated Good Spirit Friday since year 2016 and aims to make it into a lasting tradition.

By 2024, we will have donated a total of EUR 11,300 to the campaign.

11.11.2024

Lapuan Kankurit helping the Baltic Sea

The linen and wool weaving mill Lapuan Kankurit has begun a cooperation with the John Nurminen Foundation at 2017. The Foundation's Clean Baltic Sea projects advance the protection of the joint, unique marine environment, so a cooperation is a natural part of the activities of a responsible, design weaving mill using natural materials.

The new Lapuan Kankurit AALLONMURTAJA (breakwater) collection is designed by Reeta Ek. The nautical series designed in shades of blue includes a linen towel, a hand towel, a bag, as well as a sauna seat cover and pillow. The products include the Clean Baltic Sea – Woven in Finland logo, and Lapuan Kankurit donates a fixed sum to John Nurminen Foundation's Clean Baltic Sea projects for each delivered product. The donated amounts are marked in the Lapuan Kankurit online shop, and on the product cards in the shops.

Esko Hjelt, Managing Director of Lapuan Kankurit, is happy about the new cooperation.

– Our customers value clean nature, and they identify Lapuan Kankurit as a responsible, ecological operator. Now, we want to invite everyone to do small good deeds for the good of the nature. By buying AALLONMURTAJA bath products, it is easy to support the wellbeing of the Baltic Sea. Hopefully future generations will get to enjoy the natural clean waters as well, says Hjelt.

Minna Korpela, Fundraising Director of John Nurminen Foundation, is delighted about the new cooperation possibilities in the field of international design.

– The support of Lapuan Kankurit in the projects aiming to reduce the nutrient load of the Sea helps us lessen the amount of blue-green algae that comes about every summer. Bathing and sauna products also act as a great messenger: you want to take a dip in the water when the water is clean, and this is our joint goal.

Over 50 % of Lapuan Kankurit net revenue is comprised out of exports. Global strengths of the Finnish linen and wool weaving mill, in addition to Scandinavian top design, are technical innovations, natural materials and the weaving mill's responsible and ecological operations.

The John Nurminen Foundation's Clean Baltic Sea projects improve the status of the Baltic Sea with concrete measures that reduce the nutrient load and environmental risks faced by the Sea. 25 projects have been launched between 2005-2016 in Northwest Russia, Poland, the Baltics and Belarus. 17 of the projects have been completed, and as their result, the Sea's annual phosphorus load has reduced by over 2000 tons. The Local Fishing Project, launched in 2015, as well as the NutriTrade and BEST projects continue to cut down the Sea's nutrient load. Funding for the Clean Baltic Sea projects is received from private donations and public funding.

See all AALLONMURTAJA products

Psst.

Together with our customers, we have already donated 49 000 euros to support the Foundation’s valuable work for saving our unique Baltic Sea.

22.8.2023

Lapuan Kankurit to make a 2,5 million euro investment in Finland in 2016-2019

This innovative export company is making a massive investment of 2,5 million euros at its weaving mill in Lapua 2016-2019. By doing so, Lapuan Kankurit is proving that the textile industry in Finland is alive and well.

Esko Hjelt, the CEO of Lapuan Kankurit, is putting corporate responsibility into action and believes that the inspiring story of Finnish know-how will bear fruit worldwide. His belief is backed up by hard facts: over the last accounting period alone, the company's exports grew by 50%, and now make up more than half of its revenue of over 5 million euros. The company's designer textiles are selling particularly well in Asia and Central Europe.

"We stand out in the global market, because we have woven truly forward-looking characteristics into our fabrics and we offer high-quality, well-finished designs. Our whole business concept is based on our own production, continuous product development, cooperation with top designers and our own technical innovations," says Hjelt.

Known for their beautiful bathroom, place setting and wool products, Lapuan Kankurit have received awards over the last couple of years for their Dora Jung damask tablecloths and napkins, their washed linen, their absorbent bathroom textiles made of a mix of linen and tencel, and their new kinds of light-weight wool blankets, to name just a few. In 2014, the company won the esteemed Taito-Finlandia Award.

Large investments bring jobs for locals

To ensure continuous product development and growth, the family business with over 5 million euros of revenue wants to invest 2,5 million euros specifically in Finland over the next two years.

"We will be investing in our core know-how: the extension of the weaving mill in Lapua, the preliminary work stages of weaving, new jacquard looms, fabric finishes and data transfer," Hjelt explains.

The European suppliers of the weaving mill's machinery and equipment are an important part of Lapuan Kankurit's network of partners. Together with local mechanical engineering and installation experts in South Ostrobothnia, the machine manufacturers make a valuable contribution to product innovations at the company's weaving mill in Lapua. The investments will expand the mill by about a third, with a local building company in charge of the construction. In terms of building materials and equipment, Lapuan Kankurit puts its trust in Finnish suppliers. The neighbouring area has plenty of building expertise and building material and equipment industry on offer.

In 2015 Lapuan Kankurit moved their factory outlet into larger, stunning facilities at the Cultural Centre Vanha Paukku, located in an old factory in Lapua, and 2019 their flagship shop in Helsinki to larger facilities on Katariinankatu. In 2016 the company upgraded its website and started a factory extension 2017.

Skilful workers and traceability

Textile companies that purchase their production tend to decentralise their manufacture, making it a long global chain, but as Lapuan Kankurit own their own production facilities they do not have to do this. In order to ensure the traceability of the whole chain of production, Lapuan Kankurit intend to keep control of their operations also in the future, from yarn to ready products.

The raw material can make or break the end product.

"We know the makers of our products and we are proud of their expertise. As well as our own professionals, our certified European yarn suppliers play an important role in our product development. The linen fibre we use is 100% European, and our yarn is dyed in our European yarn suppliers' own dye-houses and domestically in our neighbouring municipality of Lappajärvi," Hjelt explains.

The most important part of the textile production, i.e. weaving, mainly takes place at the company's own factory in Lapua. Assembly by sewing is performed in weaving mill and at their subcontracted sewing shops in the neighbouring area and at their associated company's premises in Lithuania. In addition to the 25 experts at their own weaving mill, Lapuan Kankurit has a wide network of professionals in Finland, including suppliers of equipment and material, and also experts in marketing and technology.

"Although we operate globally these days, we want to continue to provide employment for people in Finland and in this way to implement our corporate responsibility," says Hjelt. "I firmly believe that the basic concepts behind Lapuan Kankurit's business operations will carry us through also in the future: keeping control of our own production, continuous product development, our own technical innovations and collaboration with top designers."