Studio News
Honouring Finnish Raanu woollen textiles.
Elsa Montell-Saanio (1926–2019) was a pioneering Finnish weaver from Lapland who revolutionised the traditional raanu textile. By evolving these functional woollen weavings into modern art, she transitioned the craft from utilitarian blankets into sophisticated wall hangings characterised by subtle stripes, evocative colour gradients, and signature plaited tassels.
Building on her legacy of elevating heritage crafts into fine art, Montell-Saanio’s distinctive approach to the northern landscape has inspired my new collection of tapestry pieces.
My collection aims to honour the ethos of Elsa's Lapin Raanu Weaving Studio by treating handwoven textiles as unique artistic compositions rather than mass-produced fabrics, capturing the same beauty and tactile richness.
There is an inherent Japanese love of simplicity within these folk-art-led techniques. Much like the Japanese aesthetic of shibui, which finds beauty in understated, functional objects, these raanus achieve a profound impact through minimal means. The convergence of Finnish soul and a "less is more" philosophy ensures that each tapestry, with its signature plaited tassels and subtle stripes, serves as a meditative reflection on the natural world.
For more information, see Selvedge Magazine 127