Metsovaara – one of the most significative textile designers of all time. No wonder she has made a significant contribution to the artistic reputation of Finland worldwide.
Founded in Finland, Metsovaara has now known the world over for its bold textiles and vibrant use of colour. The products of the Finnish textile house are sold in 40 countries across the globe.
One of the most productive and creative textile artists of all time, Marjatta Metsovaara, was known for bold, rich ideas in using new materials. She invented wefts in many different colours and material implementations unseen before.
Metsovaara’s story began in 1932 when Santeri Metsovaara, Marjatta’s father, established Suomen Matto Oy (Finnish Carpet Ltd) in Urjalankylä, Finland. Even as a little girl, she would accompany her father to choose carpet designs. This early influence and talent truly bloomed in the Helsinki Art Academy. She founded Metsovaara Oy in 1954 at the premises of her father’s carpet factory.
Soon, large interior design projects, hotel projects, and the awards in domestic and foreign exhibitions made Marjatta Metsovaara world famous.
In 1962, she created a modern spinning and weaving mill in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium. This was more than a factory. It was truly a textile research centre and with her diversified productions of interior textiles, Marjatta Metsovaara started developing furnishings and curtain fabrics. These home interior textiles and fabrics could be produced in large quantities.
Metsovaara textiles are complete works of art that unify different fields of design. In the 1960s and 1970s, Metsovaara’s woven and printed fabrics were the reference in modern textile design. Reactive dyes on the famous Lappi-satin cloth were a revolution.
Metsovaara’s success was based on the fabrics she developed. They were weaves of best material construction, best strength and best flexibility. The glorious appearance was always accompanied with absolute functionality and technical certainty which has always been Metsovaara’s business model.
Colours were an integral part of Metsovaara’s designer image with colour options for upholstery fabrics matching each other and the same shades repeated in the patterns of printed fabrics, fabric wallpapers and rugs. She favoured exotic aniline red (fuchsia red), green-green, and ripe lemon yellow.
A true pioneer in woven fabrics who led the industrial breakthrough of woven interior fabrics in Finland, Marjatta Metsovaara was one of the most interesting, inventive and innovative textile designers ever. Her work lives on in her iconic designs. From woven fabrics to cotton prints, buyers from around the world love Metsovaara’s creations and continue to use them to adorn their spaces and lives!
If you are looking for gorgeous interior textiles, made exclusively in Finland, such as the Panama Canvas Reactive Print Fabric, check out the amazing collection at Metsovaara.