Home is Where the He(art) is

As their respective work demands that actress Lotta Kuusisto and musician Iiro Rantala spend a lot of time apart, home is a sanctuary they return to gladly. It just so happens that this home is the historical Lallukka Artists’ Home.

Lapuan Kankurit is more than a brand: it’s upholding culture, it’s technique, it’s skill, it’s marrying tradition with today. Every time you wrap yourself in a large linen towel you feel a little sense of pride that we have this kind of know-how, creativity and skill used for good here in Finland!

Lotta and iiro

Lallukka Artists’ Home was founded by the Juho and Maria Lallukka’s foundation.

The legendary functionalist house has been a home to numerous painters, sculptors, composers, musicians, directors and actors. And, since 2015, to Lotta and Iiro.

“The Artists’ Home houses a community of artists from a variety of age groups, where you never have to be afraid of annoying your neighbours by playing an instrument or with the smell of turpentine,” they share.

“The house is beautiful and soothing. The harmony of the architecture might be why we’ve kept our apartment quite uncluttered, with plenty of open space. Our work consumes us year-round, and realising all the ideas and projects as performing artists involves lots of encounters, meetings and dimly lit backstage areas. That’s why it’s vital that, at home, there is peace, space and permanence. As our work is, by nature, ephemeral, we value things in our home that are lasting and live alongside us. It’s one of the reasons why we have such a wide collection of Lapuan Kankurit textiles.”

Lapuan Kankurit’s textiles are favourites for the whole family.

Lotta’s godmother was born in Lapua, so she’s been familiar with the company from an early age.

“During every visit we always stopped by the Lapua Outlet and I got to pick something to take home. Over the years our entire family, including our adult sons, have traded their old terry towels for Lapuan Kankurit’s linen ones – and there’s no going back. For me and Iiro it also has to do with the importance of the kind of things you surround yourself with, as we talked about earlier. It’s not insignificant what things look and feel like, and how they hold up in use.”

Products made in Finland are rare. Lotta and Iiro value local production greatly.

“Lapuan Kankurit’s products are, at their best, exactly what you hope for: natural fibres, beautiful colours, gorgeous patterns and local through and through. The fact that they are not only labelled “Designed in Finland”, but also “Made in Finland”, is fantastic. It’s a label that’s usually very hard to find and the one you most hope for in everyday products. Lapuan Kankurit is more than a brand: it’s upholding culture, it’s technique, it’s skill, it’s marrying tradition with today. Every time you wrap yourself in a large linen towel you feel a little sense of pride that we have this kind of know-how, creativity and skill used for good here in Finland!”