Marja Rautiainen is a driving creative force and key designer for Finnish weaving company Lapuan Kankurit. Educated at the University for Industrial Arts, her work reflects her strong professional skills and her passion for Finnish textile traditions. Marja Rautiainen has designed many of Lapuan Kankurit classics, which have been sold worldwide for years, including RUUSUNEN, MOTTI, and more. She even won the MUOTO 2015 award for Finnish design for her CORONA blanket, a French-inspired textile that was beautiful and multifunctional.

Finnish design has a long history and is know for simplicity, functionality, and craftsmanship. It's trademark designs emerged in the early 20th century, and gained international attention through pioneers like Alvar Aalto in architecture and furniture, as well as companies such as Iittala, Artek, and Marimekko. Their work emphasized clean lines, natural materials, and a harmonious balance between beauty and practicality. Everything must have a purpose. Iconic products like the Aalto vase, Artek’s Stool 60, and Marimekko’s bold textile patterns established Finland as a leader in modernist design. Over the next century, Finnish design became synonymous with high quality, technical skill, and timeless aesthetics—qualities that have earned it global recognition, particularly during the postwar years when Nordic design was celebrated worldwide, and still is. Today, Finnish products continue to enjoy international respect, not only for their aesthetic value but also for their reputation of reliability, thoughtful construction, and cultural authenticity.