Pattern Lab – 16 years of success

During its successful history, Pattern Lab groups have sold hundreds of patterns to companies all over the world, including Tiger of Sweden, Hennes&Mauritz, Finlayson and Nanso. The patterns are done both by hand and digitally through a combination of different techniques. Aalto students apply colours and materials in a skilful manner that has attracted a lot of international interest recently.

Originally launched by Professor Helena Hyvönen, the project is now supervised by Professor Maarit Salolainen, who is also responsible for the bold and constantly developing textile design teaching.

'Pattern Lab provides young textile designers with the opportunity to learn important professional practices that are not only limited to design work. Students become familiar with teamwork, branding, marketing and sales through Pattern Lab," says Salolainen.

Each year, Pattern Lab brings together a new group of talented master's students. This year the collective is called Tickle, which is an excellent description of the group's bubbly creative spirit and cheerful atmosphere. The collective his very international and multidisciplinary, and its members include students of textile design, fashion design, architecture, design and graphic design. 

Tickle released its collection of nearly 400 patterns in September. This will be presented to companies at customer events in Finland and abroad, and at the most important international events in the sector. The collection was on display in a showroom at the Finnish Cultural Institute during the Paris Fashion Week in October, and will also at the Heimtextil trade fair in Frankfurt in January 2016. More information is available on the Tickle website at www.patternlab.fi.

The work of Tickle designers is being used in this year's Red Nose Day products from the popular Finnish company Sinituote Oy. The campaign pattern was designed by Heli Mattinen.