Image source: Allas magazine with reference to the NK textile chamber

Astrid Sampe

Astrid Sampe (1909-2002) was born in Stockholm but had her roots in Sjuhäradsbygden in the western part of Sweden. She was trained at the Swedish State School of Arts, Craft and Design (Konstfack) in Stockholm, and later at the Royal College of Art in London. In 1937 she started working as a designer for Nordiska Kompaniet, and one year later she became the manager of the newly created NK Textile Studios (Textilkammaren). The history of Astrid Sampe and Almedahls dates back to the nineteen-fifties. At H55, the Exhibition in Helsingborg 1955, the Linen Line was introduced, a revolution of the Swedish linen cupboard, initiated and created by Astrid Sampe and including new sizes, patterns, and colors of textiles, like napkins and tea-towels.

In the 1950s printed towels were quite new and they became very popular in Sweden. Astrid Sampe’s “Persons Kryddskåp”, dedicated to the ceramist Signe Persson Melin, who, in the early fifties, made a series of ceramic spice-jars with heads of cork, is one of the patterns that attained a lot of attention.

  
Image source: Designbybrismo.blogspot.com

Louise Fougstedt-Carling

Louise Carling is grown up in Norrtälje and studied at Konstfack in Stockholm. After two years at Konstfack she was asked to take a year off and go work for Astrid Sampe at "Nordiska Kompaniets Textilkammare". Together they changed home textiles from off white colored to colorful prints. She, later on, worked for the main textile factories such as Almedahls, Kasthall, Svängsta Mattor, and Duni. She has among other prints designed "Kafferepet", Skafferiet" and "Smörgåsbordet" for Almedahls.

Märta-Lena Bjerhagen

Märta-Lena Bjerhagen (1937 – 2004) was born in Värnamo, Småland. She moved as a 7-year-old with her family to the Zanaga mission station in Congo, where her parents worked as missionaries throughout her upbringing.

In the early 1960s, she studied to be a textile designer at the textile program at Konstfack, and after graduating, Märta-Lena and Toni Hermansson started the Stockholm-based design company Talento together. In the beginning, they designed shoes and gloves and got attention in various fashion magazines. They  continued their textile path and created patterns for Almedahls, Mölnlycke väveri, Borås väveri and others. Märta-Lena's designs are often generous, with flowers and strong colors.

Brit Bredström

Brit Bredström was born in 1919 (-1973) in the textile town of Borås. Against her father's will, she studied at "Textilinstitutet" during the 1930s. She, later on, moved to Gothenburg where she designed patterns for the main Swedish textile companies such as Almedahls. Some of her famous prints for Almedahls are "ABC-duken", "Feskeläget", "Kulturväxter" and "Folkhemmet". Her patterns range from creative and bold to traditional Christmas prints with pine trees, gnomes, and "lucior". She also designed patterns for rugs and curtains that were sold in Denmark, Germany and Austria. She stopped designing patterns in the 1960s and held workshops in weaving instead. 

  
Image: Victoria Möllgård private

Victoria Möllgård

Victoria Möllgård was born in England but already as a child moved with her family to Lagan in Småland. She lives and works in Gothenburg since 2013.

Victoria studied textile design in England, Winchester School of Art, and graduated in 2000. She worked for a few years for an agent in London before choosing to start her own business and establish herself in Sweden as a freelance textile designer.

Victoria has collaborated with Almedahls, Kinnasand, Kinnamark, Serholts, Hemtex and others. For Almedahls, she has, among other, designed the pattern "Apple".

Today, Victoria is an artist and has changed pattern making to a freer painting. But it is still the joy of combining colors and shapes that is the basis of her creation today as before. Click on the link to see Victoria's art today: Vicki Möllgård Art

Inger Åberg

Textile artist Inger Åberg (1923-2002) was born in Gothenburg in 1923. Her journey in the field of textile art began at the age of 17, when she started working at the company NIAB (Nordiska Industri AB) during wartime, mostly involved in providing support for cross-stitch embroidery. Over a period of approximately four years, Inger studied at the Gothenburg School of Arts and Crafts, taking evening courses in relevant areas for her future work. In 1945, she got a new job as a pattern designer. Almedahls announced a competition for patterns for woven linen cloths, and Inger won that competition. This marked the beginning of her long-lasting collaboration with Almedahls. The collaboration continued, and in addition to many cloth patterns, the idea of fabric calendars emerged. Every year since then, new calendars are produced, with at least one designed by Inger Åberg.

Inger Åberg continued to create textile patterns well into her later years. Her interest in landscapes, flowers, traditional costumes, animals, and nature resulted in various patterns. Her research for each project was meticulous, including her work on traditional costumes, birds, and even old Swedish boat types. She was an all-around artist in the Swedish textile printing industry.

  
Image source: Wikipedia

Ulla Birgitta Eson Bodin  

Ulla Eson Bodin (1935-2009), textile artist and designer, was born in Gothenburg but grew up in Borås, where her father served as the city architect.  

Ulla studied pattern design at the Textile Institute in Borås (now the Textile University) in the early 1950s, and from 1955 to 1958, she studied at the School of Crafts Association in Gothenburg (now the HDK-Valand University for Art and Design).  

As a textile artist and designer, Ulla Eson Bodin was associated with entities such as Bohus Stickning, Vadstena-Academy, and Almedahls. At Almedahls, she worked as the chief designer for interior textile patterns from the early 1970s for 25 years. Her colorful and vibrant patterns from the 1970s, with a playful and timeless expression, are considered to be the most significant aspect of Ulla Eson Bodin's work as a textile artist.  

In a project with Folke Sandvik at the university in the early 2000s, Ulla Eson Bodin developed the textile sound absorber Cullus. It is a knitted, egg-carton-like material originally intended for new applications in the performing arts. The material, being knitted and thus pliable and flexible, turned out to be suitable for improving the acoustic environment in public spaces and has been produced for use as a sound absorber in schools and preschools.  Ulla Eson Bodin engaged in various collaborations across subjects and materials. She was a boundary-breaking artist who left her mark in areas ranging from interior pattern design to futuristic stage costumes and the development of textile sound absorbers for public spaces.

  
Image: Almedahls

Toni Hermansson

Toni Hermansson (1937-2013) was a Swedish textile artist and designer. She grew up outside Stockholm and began her art and textile studies in the late 1950s at the textile program at Konstfack. During her studies, she got to know and became close friends with Märta-Lena Bjerhagen, who was also studying to become a textile designer. After graduating, the two of them started the design company Talento in Stockholm. Later, they also designed patterns for companies such as Mölnlycke wäveri, Gamlestaden of Sweden, Borås väveri, and Almedahls. Toni also designed wallpaper patterns for Duro.  

For a few years in the late 1960s and early 1970s, she was very productive and created numerous patterns while closely associated with Almedahls. Toni was also skilled as an illustrator and produced a multitude of drawings, often featuring animals, which were her great passion, but also flowers and geometric shapes. In the mid-1970s, she left the art world and purchased a farm outside Kungsör, where she engaged in horse-related activities. Source: the book "Retrotyger vi minns" by Sara Axtelius.

Marianne Nilsson

Marianne Nilsson was one of the talented employees who worked for Astrid Sampe at NK Textilkammare. Marianne came from the Konstfack art school and was one of Astrid's closest collaborators. Together with Astrid, she participated in the famous H55 fair in Helsingborg in 1955 where she worked on the Linen line (Linnelinjen), presenting two of her best-known patterns, "Sillsexa", which nowadays is simply called "Sill" (Herring) and "Bagare Bergström", which are still incredibly popular in today's home interior design.

  
Photo: The artist Marianne Westman 1959. Press image via Arbetarbladet

Marianne Westman

Marianne was one of Sweden´s leading designers. During the 1950s she designed the pattern "Picknick", among other famous patterns. Almedahls started their cooperation with Marianne in the summer of 2009. The first step was to recreate "Picknick" in a new more modern version. "Picknick" was followed by "Pomona", "Frisco", and "Belle Amie". When the magazine "Scandinavian Retro" asked her what she thought of everything she had accomplished, her reply was: ”I´m not sure how to answer that but I have always had a great time doing it”.

  
Image sourse: Falukuriren newspaper

Inga-Lill Westman

In 1949 Inga-Lill Westman finished her weaving and ceramic studies at "Norrbackainstitutets Yrkesskola" and in 1952 she started her own weaving studio. She worked for the family-run company called "Westmans Textilateljé" during the years of 1952-1957. Since then she has been running her own company making handprints, fashion, applications, and soft art. She has designed the prints "Snapp" and "Pricktyg" (1958-1959) along with other prints for Almedahls. Throughout the years she held many exhibitions and has been a part of collective exhibitions, ranging from local events in Dalarna at the Nordic Museum to Liljevalch in Stockholm and Taylor in New York.

  
Image source: Houzz magazine

Olle Eksell 

When Olle Eksell (1918-2007) was fourteen years old he decided to become a commercial illustrator. During the war, he went to school for illustration and graphic design. His most famous logo would be the well-known eyes of Mazetti (Ögonkakao). He illustrated logos for big companies and magazines and in every-day life, in Sweden, you can't go a day without spotting at least one company logo that he's designed. He loved illustrating pens and birds and did so in a quirky, smart, and playful way. Olle Eksell has among other prints designed "Italiensk Blomsterhylla", "Happy bird day", "Fåglarna berättar" and "Strömming" for Almedahls. 

Aune Laukkanen

Aune Laukkanen (1921-1990) was born in Finland on the 11th of November 1921. She worked with painting decorative patterns on porcelain for "Arabia" and later on when she was twenty years old she moved to Sweden to work for Rörstrand as a decorator and ceramicist. Carl Harry Ståhlhane was her manager during the years of 1940-1960. She has worked as a textile designer for Almedahls and is most known for her illustrations "Sommarmiddag" and "Skördefest".  

  
Image from David's own company website: www.opusartsupplies.com

David Van Berckel

David Van Berckel grew up in Vancouver, Canada. He traveled around the world in the 1970s. When he returned to Canada he wasn't interested in a regular office job and decided to open a small framing workshop instead. Later on, the workshop turned into the successful company "Opus Art Supplies". It is David Van Berckel who has designed the popular pattern "I Svampskogen" for Almedahls. He has studied "Printed Textiles" at "Middlesex University" and for the past 25 years (until 2 years ago when the studio was closed down) he worked for a collective called "First X1 Studio" together with Jenny Frean, where pattern designers, weavers, and embroiderers worked together. It was through First Eleven that Almedahls got to see the pattern "I Svampskogen" and decided to produce it. Something that David Van Berckel appreciates with Almedahls is that it is unusual for companies to pay attention to the designer's name and print it on the products. This is according to him the only time in all his years as a designer this has happened, and bear in mind that has sold many prints to many companies. He is still very happy with his design "I Svampskogen and he appreciates that Almedahls highlights their designers.

  
Photo: Uppsala Nya Tidning, UNT

Gunilla Gunnarsson

Gunilla Gunnarsson (1943-2023) studied weaving and silversmithing at "Stenebyskolan" and at "Textilinstitutet i Borås". She has throughout the years been a very successful and productive designer for several big textile companies both in Sweden and abroad. She has among other prints designed "Domherrar" and "Prästliden for Almedahls. She's mainly inspired by nature and second-hand treasures.

  
Photo: Lennart Nilsson

Josef Frank

Josef Frank (1885 - 1967) was an Austrian-Swedish architect and one of the leading representatives of modernism in Austria. Josef Frank created the "Bows" pattern during the period 1920-1930 as part of a larger collection of patterns mixing geometrical shapes with elements from nature. We proudly present a selection of products with the original Josef Frank "Bows" pattern.

  
Picture: Len Waernberg

Märit Hult

Hiram became a household name during her 25 years as the food editor for Svenska Dagbladet, where she wrote and illustrated many personal recipes. One of the most popular characters she drew was "Fru Bråttom" (Mrs. Hurry), a small, energetic lady bustling about her kitchen with pots, pans, and cakes. Born in 1912, Hiram was ahead of her time with her vision of using good and clean ingredients and her unpretentious cooking for family and friends. She studied at Konstfack and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, where her teacher was Isaac Grünewald and her classmate was Tove Jansson. Hiram Year: In 2012, Hiram would have turned 100 years old.

Lilo Hörstadius

Lilo Hörstadius (born 1936) wanted to work with stage decoration and become a set designer, but was forbidden by her father who didn't think it was good enough for her. Lilo has artistic lineage both from her father and her grandfather, both of whom were involved in furniture manufacturing and design. Instead, she was educated at the Crafts Association in Gothenburg and the Textile Institute in Borås. The education covered extensive areas including furniture, interior design, and textiles. Lilo furthered her education internationally, including at the shoe design school Ars Sutoria in Milan. After her education, she received many commissions from foreign and Swedish shoe manufacturers. During her professional career, she designed, among other things, bed linens and curtains for Borås Wäfveri, lighting for Bergboms, wallpapers for Duro, folders, letterheads, and more for Ljungdahls, and the Botanic Garden pattern for Almedahls. Lilo Hörstadius gained international recognition, including in American trade press, for her color collections "Ice Cream" and "Color Box," which she created on behalf of Borås Wäfveri. For Sandersons, an English wallpaper and interior design company, she designed a handful of classic motifs, and for the Swedish company Dux, she created interiors for their furniture catalogs.  Lilo Hörstadius is represented, among other places, at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Musée de l'Impression sur Étoffes in Mulhouse, France, Malmö Museum, and the Textile Museum in Borås, Sweden.
Source: Suzanne Ingvaldsson, Helsingborgs dagblad

  
Photo: Terja Bruhn/LinkedIn

Terja Bruhn

Teija Bruhn, a pattern designer from Borås, was born in Finnish Lapland. Terja moved to Sweden at a young age and pursued her textile education at the Textile Institute in Borås from 1973 to 1975.  

In 1971, Terja was employed by Borås Wäveri AB, followed by Ludwig Svensson AB from 1978 to 1989, and then Retex AB from 1989 to 1997. She now runs her own company, Borås Designservice AB. Terja has designed patterns such as Flood, Ilta, Liv, Saga, and Ton for Almedahls.  

Terja's love for nature permeates her creations, which radiate a harmonious blend of simplicity and vibrancy. Her pattern designs have received significant recognition abroad, particularly in Japan. Her breakthrough in the Japanese market came when her fabric patterns for Carl Malmsten furniture gained attention at a trade fair in Brussels. A Japanese company was captivated by her distinctive style and colors, leading to a fruitful collaboration that endures to this day. Her designs have struck a chord with Japanese consumers, blending the Finnish pattern tradition with her Swedish training, resulting in a unique and captivating aesthetic.

  
Photo: Expressen, photografer Helena Blom

Kerstin Boulogner

Kerstin Boulogner (1945) is a Swedish textile and clothing designer. Her parents were an architect and a writer, respectively, and she was early inspired to creativity. After completing her education, she delved into design studies at the Anders Beckmans School, specializing in fashion design under the guidance of Göta Trägårdh.  

In the early 1970s, she was employed by the NK design group and became a co-founder of Svenska Designbyrån. They later received a commission to create a completely new uniform program for SJ (Swedish Railways). The result was well-received among SJ's personnel, and they were awarded the Excellent Swedish Form award in 1984.  

Throughout her career, Boulogner has been recognized for her timeless clothing and distinctive patterns. Her works are represented at the National Museum and the Nordic Museum. For Almedahls, she designed the popular pattern "Surt sa räven" (The Fox Said Sour).  
Source: the book "Retro, Tyger vi minns" by Sara Axtelius.

  
Photo: unknown artisk with signature HH publiched in Palettskrap 1878, photographed portrait image from Allhems Svenskt konstnärslexikon

Signe Sohlman

Signe Sohlman (1854-1878) was a visual artist, illustrator, and textile designer. Sohlman grew up in a household where artistic and literary interests surrounded her from a young age. She studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm from 1872 to 1875, where she befriended fellow artists such as Carl Larsson and Ernst Josephson. She was a student of August Malmström.  

Considered a talented artist, both as a painter and as a textile designer, she was forced to interrupt her studies in 1875 due to pulmonary tuberculosis and spent several years as a convalescent in various facilities. Signe Sohlman illustrated a children's book and created patterns for Handarbetets Vänner as a textile artist. For Almedahls, she designed "Draken," a cotton damask tablecloth with a pattern in ancient Nordic style, still available for purchase.  She received commissions from royalty and major companies.

She won a prize at the world's first design exhibition in Amsterdam in 1877 for Almedahls' classic tablecloth "Draken." It was also woven as a ceremonial cloth for 110 years, from 1877 to 1989.  Signe Sohlman's works are represented at the Nationalmuseum with the drawing "Skolgossens sommarminne" and at various museums including Länsmuseet Gävleborg, Nordiska museet, Upplandsmuseet, and Järnvägsmuseet with her textiles.

  
Source and photo: Crafty Magazine

Betty Svensson

Betty Svensson has always painted, and after high school and working as an au pair in Paris, she studied at the University of Design and Crafts for four years.

Betty is inspired by the forest, nature's flowers, and leaves, and she enjoys Scandinavian design from the 1950s-60s era. This influence is evident in her nature-inspired patterns, such as "Fågelsång" from Almedahls.

Betty always starts with small idea sketches, like leaves, flowers, and fruits. She always hand-paints and can handle both watercolor and gouache. One of the highlights of her career was when Betty Svensson saw many of her patterns at the Furniture Fair in Stockholm.
Source and photo: Crafty Magazine