Textiles & rugs

The past is captured on Mina Karami’s cushions, with patterns made from old photographs found at a flea market – one showing a portrait of a woman and one showing cows grazing. As well as with the receipt from a flower shop in France dated 27 January 1907. It’s not surprising that we start to wonder who received the flowers.

These unique stories were then complemented with old Swedish wallpaper designs from the 19th century that were updated with new colours and applied as patterns on rugs, a quilt cover and cushions. All the different pieces join together to make the FJÄLLTÅG collection – which looks to the past, but is set in a more modern time.

There isn’t just one story to tell about the FJÄLLTÅG textile collection. There are many. All the unique pieces in the collection have a story of their own, literally. What about the old receipt from a flower shop in Chatellerault, France dated 1907 that adorns a cushion? Or the sewing accessories that designer Maria Bergström drew by hand on a quilt cover?

The style of FJÄLLTÅG textile collection is inspired by Europe in 1880-1920, a time that had one foot in the industrial era and the other in rural society. A time when new furniture, designs and styles were developed for public spaces, such as schools, hospitals, factories and shops.

Old, instructional school posters were something that inspired designer Maria Bergström. She liked their structured way of explaining how something works.

Although she doesn’t sew much herself, it was her love of graphics that led her to illustrate sewing accessories on a quilt cover. She was attracted, as many people are, by having the time to create by hand. And longed for the kind of practical knowledge that was so prominent 100 years ago, and captured it in a structured way in her design.