Marjatta Metsovaara and Tampella
Though it was a side activity, Metsovaara has been at the forefront of printmaking since its close collaboration with Tampella Oy in 1962 and the invention of the famed Lappi-satin cotton fabric. This fabric was conceived by Marjatta Metsovaara and was woven at Tampella’s weaving department in Lapinniemi, Tampere. From there, the name Lappi-satin is quite often mistranslated as Lapland satin. This satin was the ideal fabric for taking in reactive dyes and improved in 1966 when the reactive dyeing technique came at its best. The material made now is also solid with a wearing test value of 27.500 Martindale and a formidable concept as a multi-purpose fabric with its silky touch.
The Lappi-satin cotton fabric was conceived by Marjatta Metsovaara in collaboration with the engineers at Tampella and was woven at Tampella’s weaving department in Lapinniemi, Tampere.
Today we redesign the original print designs by hand to meet today’s standard width of 150 cm vs. the standard of 131 cm until the 1970s and increase the repeat without changing the scale of the original design. This way, we reproduce the extraordinary creations of Marjatta Metsovaara just done right for your joy.
Metsovaara cotton prints produced today are high-end reactive prints and works of art. The very best organic cotton fabrics woven in Germany are used as base cloth. These are washed before printing. After printing, the fabrics are always washed several times in clean Finnish water. The last wash goes from 95 °C to 100 °C, and wet steaming goes right after the last wash. This guarantees a lifelong lasting of the vivid colors. The reactive dyes are non-toxic.
Our cotton fabrics are certified according to
the STANDARD 100 by OEKOTEX®, meeting the requirements of product class 1 – the highest classification, suitable for baby and toddler articles. The certificate guarantees that the fabrics are free of harmful chemicals.