AD
For me, great design is about way more than just good looks. I love learning about its history, its inspiration and how products are made.
One of my favourite design brands, Lapuan Kankurit, has a fascinating legacy stretching back over a hundred years. During this time they have become renowned in Finland and beyond, for producing soft furnishings that are useful and considered, as well as extremely beautiful.
So when I was given the opportunity to chat with their designer Elina Helenius to find out more about one of Scandinavia’s leading names in design as well what the new season has in store I jumped at the chance.
Here’s what Elina had to tell me:
Lapuan Kankurit has always had nature at its heart. How does this shared vision influence you and your fellow designers on a daily basis?
Nature is an endless source of inspiration for everyone at Lapuan Kankurit.
From the skilled crafters based at our weaving mill in Lapua, to each talented designer we work with, wherever they are in the world, a shared love for nature as well as an aim to create timeless and useful things brings us together.
Our starting point for the new Autumn Winter 2019 collection was celebrating how intelligent nature is and how it’s our responsibility to take care of it.
Nordic homeware brands like Lapuan Kankurit are leading the way in sustainable design and manufacturing. We all understand the environmental impact, but why does this approach make better products?
At Lapuan Kankurit our motto is ”quality is sustainability”. That’s why we create textiles that can be passed down for generations and used in several different ways.
It is always better to buy quality instead of quantity, and why every step of our production, from yarn to readymade product, really matters to us.
All the linen, wool and cotton we use is certified ethical and ecological. We avoid cutting waste and only weave what we need.
Lapuan Kankurit products are made for long-term use, and our designs, colours and patterns are timeless and modern. You can use our products for years and they still feel and look fresh. Also, if you no longer use something, just return it to us and we will recycle it.
For me, what makes Lapuan Kankurit so special is the combination of quality craftsmanship and contemporary designs. How do you choose which creatives and artists you work with?
At Lapuan Kankurit we pay a lot of attention to design and constantly follow what is happening in the creative world around us.
It has been our pleasure to work with so many young and forward-thinking designers. There is always a little bit of intuition when creating a new collection, but at Lapuan Kankurit we don’t just buy patterns, we work closely together to make the best products possible.
This season Lapuan Kankurit have joined forces with renowned graphic artist and environmentalist, Hanna Linkola on a very special collection. Can you tell me more about it?
In eastern Finland lives the Saimaa ringed seal, or ‘saimaannorppa’ in Finnish, and it is the most endangered seal in the world. There are less than 400 left in existence.
Environmentalist Hanna Linkola from The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation (FANC), as well as Lapuan Kankurit, share the same belief that wild and rich flora and fauna are important for the future diversity of Finnish nature, as well as our planet overall.
Together we wanted to do something to save the Saimaa ringed seals and help people realise the impact our way of living is having on our environment, so created the Saimaannorppa collection.
These very special products are made from wool and linen that has been woven in a pattern that beautifully imitates the unique ringed seals skin and from every product sold we will make a donation to help fund a project dedicated to its protection and preservation.
Today’s consumers are looking to buy carefully, invest in things they love and pieces that will last. Why should they choose Lapuan Kankurit?
Whether it’s our blankets and bed linen, kitchen, dining or bath textiles everything we design and weave at Lapuan Kankurit is created with care.
As a fourth generation, family-run business, we are passionate about our people, our products and our planet and hope you will sense this woven into every piece.
Thank you so much to Elina for chatting with me. To find out more and to shop the Autumn Winter 2019 collection please visit the Lapuan Kankurit website.
Lapuan Kankurit kindly gifted the products featured in this post, but all words and opinions are my own.
All images by Nicola Capper.
Exciting news!
I’ve teamed up with Lapuan Kankurit to create an Instagram competition. One lucky Nordic Notes follower will win their very own Ulappa Beach Towel and Guest Towel from the new collection designed by Elina Helenius, worth £83.
To enter: Just follow Nordic Notes and Lapuan Kankurit on Instagram, like the competition photo, and leave a comment tagging a friend who may be interested. You can tag as many people as you like, and each tag counts as one entry.
Disclaimer: The giveaway is open to those in the UK only and ends at midnight on Monday 12th August 2019. The winner will be announced on my Instagram account afterwards. Good luck!
Please note this competition is in no way associated with or endorsed by Instagram.
Leave a Reply