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Finnish design company Finarte celebrates 40 years of pioneering textile and rug design at Copenhagen´s 3 Days of Design in June. Finarte’s Anniversary Collection embraces family history, local practices, and the company’s sustained international relationships to the fullest.

A reformer of the Finnish textile heritage with avant-garde designers

Finnish woven history refers to the traditional and evolving practices of textile making, deeply intertwined with the country’s cultural identity, folklore, rural life, and design heritage. For example Ryijy (decorative woolen rugs) are examples of Finnish textile art that carry deeply symbolic, almost magical meaning while maintaining their functional roots.

In 1985, Pro Finlandia Medal-winner (the medal is the highest recognition in Finland in the field of design) and textile designer Eija Rasinmäki and businessman Erkki Immonen established Finarte, a Finnish leader in global rug design. Rasinmäki’s iconic rag rug designs, a nod to the craft that she first took up in 1970, would lay the groundwork for a company that has continuously explored design heritage and innovation with equal vigor.

Under the direction of Rasinmäki and Immonen’s daughter Larissa Immonen-Sharma since 2016, Finarte’s reach has expanded through collaborations with young avant-garde designers including Juslin Maunula, Saana and Olli, and the Fair Trade company, Mifuko. Amongst various global accolades in recent years, Finarte´s head designer Marianne Houtari won the NYCxDesign award at last year’s New York Design Week for her Baden rug design.

“It’s great to see the growing appreciation of new Finnish textile design. Our decades-long focus on design, responsible materials, and quality sets us apart. History has shown that these values carry you through even challenging times,” says CEO Larissa Immonen-Sharma.

Celebrating 40 years at 3 Days of Design

To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Finarte will host a number of events and programs related to the brand’s legacy and future mission. At 3 Days of Design, Finarte pre-launches part of their 40th Anniversary Collection and also opens the contract sales to the design industry with the launch of “Finarte Project”.

”This exclusive collection features a harmonious blend of past and present: new era rag rugs that honor Finland’s rich weaving traditions while looking boldly to the future, and reimagined classics that breathe new life into iconic styles from our history. Adding a vibrant touch to the collection are all-new throws and cushions bursting with joyful color and modern flair. Design legacy runs deep in this collection,” Immonen-Sharma says.

The rug designs of the new collection are the work of Finarte’s esteemed founder, Eija Rasinmäki, who turns 80 on June 18, the same day as the company’s Copenhagen press event. The playful yet sophisticated cushions and throws have been created by celebrated contemporary Finnish designers Marianne Huotari and Antti Kekki.