Mønster
Helsinki 2015
Task
The theme of my thesis Textile Design in Aalto University was pattern pants for men. I wanted to produce something concrete, which would be based on an analytical research. Textile teacher and pattern designer, Hilkka-Maija Fagerlund, guided me through the entire project and supervised my bachelor’s thesis.
Challenge
My goal was to produce elegant, but interesting trousers and sell the collection to a brand. This lead to several limiting factors. The colors and patterns in the collection could not be too wild and speckled. The focus in my collection was in the patterns, especially the size of them since they would be used on relatively small surfaces. It was also vital that the fabric I produced worked perfectly; neither too thin, thick, or stiff.
Solution
The collection is inspired by the Vikings because their designs were linear, unpretentious, and graphically interesting. The look and feeling of rune stones, Celtic knot designs, and Norse jewelry have felt perfect for the collection. “Mønster” is Norwegian and Danish for the word pattern.
Within the production I chose to use weaving and screen printing techniques. All the patterns are designed so that they can be produced industrially. The collection also contains a couple of thoughtful, small hidden details, that bind together the series. I collaborated with designer Ia Kähkönen, who tailored the final trousers.
