Raita/black-white 140×240

Additional information

The Raita/black-white design, originally created by Marjatta Metsovaara in 1955, is one of her most enduring modernist statements. It gained significant international recognition when it appeared in U.S. product catalogs by 1960 and was sold in the world's most prestigious department stores.

Colors of the Raita/black-white
The 1950s original was defined by its stark, high-contrast palette:
• Snow White: A crisp, bright white that provides maximum luminosity.
• Deep Charcoal and Jet Black: Used for the bold vertical stripes and structural borders.
• Shades of Gray: Mid-tones that bridge the gap between the black and white, creating a sense of three-dimensional depth when the fibers are brushed.
Artistic Expression and Intent
With the Raita (meaning "Stripe" in Finnish) design, Metsovaara sought to express several core modernist principles:
• Essential Identity: By using "opposites"—white as pure light and black as its absence—she explored fundamental questions of identity and balance.
• Architectural Humanism: The rigid, linear "Raita" pattern reflects a modernist desire for order. However, by brushing the material into a classic, "fluffy" form, she softened these hard lines, expressing her belief that modern design should be architectural yet tactile and comforting.
• Material Mastery: She used the natural sheen of mohair to ensure that even a monochromatic palette would "vibrate" or glow, avoiding a flat or "dead" appearance in large, sunlit modern rooms.

Advantages of the Modern 140x240cm Luxury Throw
Transitioning from the 1950s travel rug (135x180cm) to a modern luxury throw (140x240cm) with 72% mohair offers enormous advantages for contemporary architectural environments:
- Architectural Statement size.
- Featherweight warmth; airy and luxurious.
- Maximum light reflection; appears "furry" and luminous.

Why this is better for Today's Architectural Context:
1. Furniture Compatibility: Modern luxury sofas (like those from Minotti or Cassina) are much deeper than mid-century furniture. A 240cm length allows the throw to drape properly across a large sectional, acting as a structural element rather than a small accessory.
2. Luminous Softness: High-percentage mohair is exceptionally light and has a lustrous sheen that captures and reflects light in large, glass-filled architectural spaces. It provides a soft "counter-balance" to the hard surfaces of concrete, steel, and marble.
3. Modern Durability: Produced on slow-speed power looms with yarn-dyed fibers, the modern version offers high color resistance and a genuine sense of heritage while being more reliable for 21st-century home use.

This beautiful mohair and wool throw blanket with the original Metsovaara fringes at the ends will keep you warm this winter. At newly built state-of-the-art combing and spinning facilities, these natural fibers are transformed into unique variations of yarns. Woven in the original Raita pattern, the fabric is brushed to create a classic, fluffy form. All this means that a throw from Metsovaara not only adorns any room but also provides high comfort and a genuine sense of craftsmanship and heritage. With today’s improved production methods, the throw blanket is more reliable and resistant to washing.

BODY SIZE:

140 cm x 210 cm
FULL SIZE:

with Metsovaara fringes 140 cm x 240 cm

SLOW MACHINE WOVEN FABRIC
MAIN MATERIAL: 72% Mohair / 28% Pure New Wool
WEIGHT: 280 g/m²
MATERIAL WEIGHT: approx. 941 g

Fluff up the throw after use. Brush it lightly against the pile from time to time. Dry cleaning is recommended. Hand wash or machine wash with natural detergent, with no spinning at washing and drying and no hanging at drying.