Program 2024

Thursday August 15th

10-17 Pop-ups and exhibitions are open

13-16.15 Opening event at Forssa Theatre (Torikatu 8)

The opening day will focus firstly on the role and possibilities of the designer in international manufacturing industry, and secondly on the work of a designer in the context of local small scale production. The talks are hosted by  Jenni Moberg, Patternsfrom Agency. The discussions are held in English.

13-14.30

• Karin Olu Lindgård, Designer, Consultant. A perspective on foreign collaborations, insights as a design consultant for a company abroad. 
  
• Noora Niinikoski, Head of Design of Nanso. Nanso & Prints.
• Elina Lappalainen, Design and Process Lead & Osmi Koskinen, Lead designer, Finlayson. Changing role of the designer.
• Sachiko Imaizumi, Agent of several Finnish designers and companies in Japan, Co-founder of AndFika. Value of designs and potential of licensing.

14.30-15.00 Coffee Break 

15.00-16.15

• Petri Juslin, CEO, Seriöösi. My life between design and production.
• Josabet Werkmäster, Textiltryck Malmö. Collective workshops — artist-run workspaces.
• Nanna Aspholm-Flik, Textile Artist. Textile artist as a social connector.

Picture: Forssa Textile Week 2023, Riikka Laaksoharju.

Arja Mattila and the Tähti textile family -exhibition
16.00 Guided tour (in Finnish)
16.30 Guided tour (in English)
Exhibition space Vinkkeli at the Forssa City Library, Spinning Mill Area, Wahreninkatu 4.

18.00 Afterwork reception at Rykkeri
Weaving Mill Area, Puuvillakatu 4 C 3
Local Forssa textile print studio and shop Rykkeri is celebrating its 15th year of operating. Congratulations! More information will follow.

Picture: Rykkeri

Friday August 16th

10-17 Pop-ups and exhibitions are open

13-15.30 Talk event at Forssa Theatre (Torikatu 8)
The talks focus on versatile textile production, the education and know-how. The session aim to spark ideas and conversation about the education, versatility and knowledge in textile. If you are studying textiles or aiming to be employed in the field, this day is especially for you. The discussions are held in Finnish. The talk event is hosted by Auri Kohola, Suomen Tekstiili & Muoti ry.

13.00-14.15

• Maarit Salolainen, Professor, Aalto University. Textile education at Aalto University - creative approaches and technology.
• Ida Korsström, Textile Designer. A perspective on textile design: School, Work and Inspiration.
• Tiina Karhu & Tuiti Paju, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. The mark of the maker in idustrial pattern design.

14.15-14.45 Coffee Break

14.45-16.00

• Mari Kuukkula, Chairman, Suomen Tekstiiliteknillinen liitto STTL and teacher of fashion and textile at Tredu. Future prospects in textile and fashion in Finland.
• Päivi Ihamäki, Salon seudun ammattioppilaitos. Greetings from field of vocational textile education.
• Raija Salo,  Lounais-Hämeen koulutuskuntayhtymä. SEiSC - Erasmus+ Project, Sustainable Entrepreneurship in Smart Clothing.

Picture: Forssa Museum Pattern Centre

16-20 Evening event: The Night of Waste and Recycling at Forssa Spinning Mill Area (Organiser: Loimi-Hämeen Jätehuolto Oy)
Wahreninkatu 13

• 16.00 Guided tour to Pattern Centre exhibition (in Finnish)
• 16.30 Guided tour to Pattern Centre exhibition (in English)
• 17-19 Forssa Art School: Try and be surprised - from biowaste to colors

18-19 Guided walking tour around the Weaving Mill Area. (5€)
Rykkeri / Forssa Fabric Oy
Puuvillakatu 4C3

Welcome to join a walking tour with the Rykkeri Print Studio Crew. Lets explore together the history of the area that printed the fist industrial fabrics in Finland. The tour starts from Rykkeri (Puuvillakatu 4C3). The tour is in Finnish.

Picture: Taste for Waste, Metropolia 2023.

Saturday August 17th

10-17 Pop-ups and exhibitions are open

12-14.15 Talk event at Forssa Theatre (Torikatu 8)
In Saturday’s program, we discuss patterns as a part of cultural heritage. We get to hear from the pattern archives of historical cotton factories and their own pattern designers in Forssa (Finland) and Borås (Sweden). We will also examine pattern design and textile heritage as a present-day resource.  The talks are hosted by Kati Kivimäki, museum directior, Forssa Museum. The language of the event is English.

12-13

• Johannes Daun, historian, Textile Museum/Textilmuseet. The Textile Museum of Sweden and our collections – a local heritage in Borås, Sweden.
• Kristiina Huttunen, art historian and museum lecturer, Forssa Museum. Do it in Lisbeths way - Elisabeth Lindahl, the organiser of Finlayson Forssa design studio
• Eeva-Maija Sovero-Syväpää, Helenius -exhibition team. E. Helenius Oy 1960-1993.
• Sachiko Imaizumi, Co-founder and president of Andfika Co., Ltd, Japan and a licensing agent & Reika Vesala, designer. A book project. The Story of Printing Textile Industry in Finland: a Japanese Perspecti.

13-13.30 Kahvitauko

13.30-14.30

• 
  
• Maria Jernkvist, textile entrepreneur and journalis. Introducing Viola Gråsten - Color & Pattern Rebel
• Minna Kemell-Kutvonen, Design Director for Home and print design, Marimekko. The Art of Pattern making.

Picture: Original design sketch by Elisabeth Lindahl, 1959. Forssa Museum collection. 

15.00  Documentary Film: Kudottu muistikirja (52min)
Elävien kuvien teatteri
Keskuskatu 1 

The documentary showcases the Finnish Textile Artist of the Year 2024, Ariadna Donner and her creative process. Meet & Greet with the artist after the showing. Tickets 5€/person.

Director: Lasse Naukkarinen
Music: Henrik Otto Donner

16.32 Avangarde F Show
Forssan Työväentalo
Kauppakatu 17

Shadowing the Forssa Textile Week, the Avantgarde F Show is an independent project that invites participants to design and make costumes and outfits to fit the theme Sweden. Attention! Catwalk Performance statrs at 16.32

18.00 Afterwork at Villaforss

Puutarhakatu 5

This jugend villa was built for a Forssa factory manager. Now the venue and home invites us for a get-together.

Picture: Original design sketch by Arja Mattila, 1972. Forssa Museum collection.

Sunday August 18th

10-17 Pop-ups and exhibitions are open

11-15
Workshop: Knit meet & pattern buffet
Maiju Ahlgren & Hanna Tamminen
Studio, Wahreninkatu 11
Entrance is located by the river rapids behind the large Spinning Mill building.

12-13 Guided walking tour around the Weaving Mill Area. (5€)
Rykkeri / Forssa Fabric Oy
Puuvillakatu 4C3

Welcome to join a walking tour with the Rykkeri Print Studio Crew. Lets explore together the history of the area that printed the fist industrial fabrics in Finland. Tour is in Finnish.

13-15 Meet the Artists: Linja-autoasema - The Essence of Matter.
Some of the young artists and designers in The Essence of Matter -exhibition are available for a meet & greet.
Linja-autoasema, Vapaudenkatu 4.

14-16 Meet the Artist: Meri Westlin, Liina-exhibition.
Galleria Moletti, Wahreninkatu 12

Arja Mattila and the Tähti textile family -exhibition
16.00 Guided tour (in Finnish)
16.30 Guided tour (in English)
Exhibition space Vinkkeli at the Forssa City Library, Spinning Mill Area, Wahreninkatu 4.

Picture: Forssa Textile Week 2023, Riikka Laaksoharju, Forssa Museum.