The history of Finnish design
It was the sometimes harsh Finnish climate and the long winter nights that influenced the importance of indoor comfort in the home. Finnish architects and designers have always favoured a relationship where buildings adapt to their surroundings. They are designed to be integrated into their environment. It is also important to capture as much natural light as possible, hence the many bay windows.
What is interesting in the history of Finnish design is to see how it was a source of independence from the Russian Empire. Let's go back to the beginning of the 20th century. Exhibitions were to become the vehicle for the existence of works of art. And since design objects were present in these exhibitions, exhibited, admired..., they took on a new status: from everyday objects, they became art objects.
By participating in universal exhibitions, for example, you enhance the value of your nation in the eyes of others. One makes oneself known, one shows what one knows how to do... One shows the wealth of the country. Through these exhibitions, Finnish design is shown to the world and made known. Finland participated for the first time in the World Exhibition in London in 1851, in the Russian section. From then on, Finland sought to break away from the Russian flag and gain cultural independence. In 1889, Finland had its own section in Paris. The World Exhibition celebrated the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution; Russia did not wish to participate. A year later, the 1900 World's Fair is considered the first European-wide recognition of Finnish art. The pavilion was a success and the popularity of Finnish design continued to grow.
At the 1937 World's Fair, Alvar Aalto built the pavilion, it was a success and the press was thrilled. Kurt Ekholm, the curator of this exhibition, said: "A brilliant architectural solution was the winner of the Paris 1937 and New York 1939 exhibitions, but it seems to me that it is only since this exhibition that the true face of Finnish art was revealed. "
In 2012, Helsinki was named World Design Capital after the capital of South Korea, Seoul. Every two years since 2008 (Turin) is elected a city that gets this title. In 2020, it was Lille's turn!Famous names and pieces
Some Finnish designers are very famous and you only have to set foot in Helsinki to hear about them.
Alvar Aalto, born in 1898, is a designer and architect. He is one of the pioneers of modern and organic architecture. He prefers curved lines, is concerned with harmonizing his buildings with their environment and does not work with metal tubes or other artificial materials, which are too far from nature.
As an architect, he has built several buildings in Helsinki such as the House of Culture. Pragmatism, elegance and boldness are the key words of Aalto, who left an indelible mark on the Finnish urban landscape and on certain Lapland communities ravaged by German troops at the end of the war, for which he designed reconstruction plans. Among his works is the Savoy vase, co-created with his wife Aino Aalto. If the name doesn't ring a bell, you'll probably be familiar with its shape.
The Aalto couple went on to create their own brand: Artek
, which became known for its unique design and its focus on pure lines. The Paimio armchair is one of the most beautiful symbols of this. Representing a new breath of life after the Second World War, these objects won all the votes at the Milan Design Triennials.Fiskars.
The foundry company was founded in 1649 in the small village of Fiskars. In 1832, they started the first cutlery factory in the country and in 1967, they became world famous with their famous orange scissors.Arabia.
Specialized in porcelain (tableware and interior decorations) since 1873. This pioneer of Scandinavian design is characterized by a clean and practical style.Iittala.
Since 1881, the company has been working with glass. Over the years, it has developed and diversified to work with other materials such as ceramics. It was for this brand that Alvar Aalto designed his famous Savoy vase. Today, the company offers decorative objects, some textiles and, above all, its speciality, tableware.Let's also mention Eero Aarnio's balloon chair and bubble chair, and other creations by Kaj Franck (Kilta dinner service, now Teema), Tapio Wirkkala (he designed the Finlandia vodka bottle, among other things!), and Timo Sarpaneva (notably his Festivo glass candlesticks).
The people of innovation have been able to explore their talents and turn them into successful industries: Iittala glassware, Arabia ceramics, Artek corrugated furniture and Hackman kitchenware continue to be designed and produced in the spirit of the design masters. At the beginning of the 20th century, Iittala distinguished itself from its Swedish origins by developing a new design, winning a number of competitions: Aalto's vase, often compared to a body of water or even to the leather trousers of an Inuit woman, was to be the spearhead, followed by the works of Tapio Wirkkala, Timo Sarpaneva, and, for the new generation, of Harri Koskinen and Annaleena Hakatie. Other products were born, with brands such as Aarikka and its wooden accessories and jewellery, Kalevala Koru, precious jewellery in gold and silver inspired by Kalevala, Pentik and its interior objects recently imbued with the Sami universe and shaman drums.Evolution of Finnish fashion
What is fashion? We could define it as a collective way of doing, acting, dressing... at a given time, a way of expressing oneself through a style. It is temporary and collective
If there is a fashion brand to know in Finland, it is Marimekko. The brand was founded in 1951 by Armi and Viljo Ratia. It will be known for its bold and very colorful patterns. In 1960, Jackie Kennedy discovered the brand and often wore its creations, notably during her husband's presidential campaign. Put on the front of the stage, the brand knows a huge success. If the 1980s were complicated, the brand will experience a new boom from 1991
In recent years, the concept of "Slow Fashion" has gained ground in Finnish fashion. The idea is to produce less but better. It is a more ethical, responsible and sustainable fashion, taking into account the working conditions and the environmental impact
Globe Hope is a Finnish brand created by Seija Lukkala in 2001. All items are made from recycled materials and waste clothing. In 2003, the brand presented the world's first recycled fashion collection in Helsinki and in 2005 received the Amnesty International Designer of the Year award. It is easy to see why recycling is important: many second-hand shops have opened.
Helsinki Fashion Week: a pioneering event!
The year 2018 marked a turning point in Finnish fashion at Helsinki Fashion Week. It was held in an eco-village with a "zero waste" objective.
In 2019, it made a major decision: leather is now banned from the catwalk. For the 2020 show, the organizers intended to confirm this and issue a new statement regarding this topic as well as what they believe are the biggest challenges in the leather industry today.
Today, the biggest challenge for this event is to find sustainable partners to work with. They don't want to work with brands that are just looking for visibility, but they want a desire, a deeper purpose behind each partnership.
The organizers of Helsinki Fashion Week also want to foster interdisciplinary connections and support collaborations between different fashion actors.
For them, two brands in particular stand out: Lovia, which creates clothes and accessories, and Mirkka Metsola.Helsinki, in the footsteps of designers and creators
You can start with the Design Museum in the city centre, ideal for a global view of Finnish design. From there, you can go shopping in the Helsinki Design District. If you are visiting in November, you can take advantage of the Design District Market.
For those who wish to follow in the footsteps of Aalto's work, don't hesitate to read our short walk, in the "Visit" section.
You can also opt for a walk in the Arabia district. This former working class district located in the north-east of Kallio, still home to the factories of the famous porcelain manufacturer Arabia and other key brands of Finnish design, has become in recent years a student and fashionable area. In the middle of the old factory buildings, new buildings have been constructed, modern but in perfect harmony with the omnipresent nature.
Between two stealthy visits to the heart of a district that never stops moving and building (sometimes with the most astonishing architectural results!), don't hesitate to take a look at the recent Tapio Wirkkala park, a small and original square designed by the American artist Robert Wilson in collaboration with the students of Aalto University, combining elements of nature (pebbles, logs, rocks, grass) and revealing clever plays of light in the winter night. Continue your walk along the sublime promenade along the sea (Arabianranta) before arriving in the heart of old Helsinki, where the river Vantaa (Vanhakaupunginlahti, nicknamed Viikki) still flows. You can enjoy the breath of the nearby rapids, lulling the ever-present birds on the wooden path leading you through the forest into the most secret corners of Lammassaari. Opposite, the Kivinokka peninsula is another area dedicated to nature lovers, dotted with a few wooden workers' houses from the 1920s.
