Erja Hirvi

Priding herself on being able to retain a child-like sense of naïveté, textile designer Erja Hirvi creates playful printed patterns for modern design giant, Marimekko. Initially a student of weaving, by the suggestion of her teacher she applied to the University of Art and Design in Helsinki. Her design process comes from absorbing the world around her and always remaining open. “The idea for a pattern can come from almost anything. If you keep your eyes open and slip into “designer mode”, you can see ideas everywhere.” Hirvi’s Kissanminttu, Kumina, Lumimarja and Hedelmapeli print all have a bright spirit and involve an element of nature which is intrinsically Finnish.