"Being part of a global company has its perks – I find it fascinating to stay connected with various subsidiaries worldwide. Hearing updates from South Korea, Australia, Japan, and other offices gives a refreshing perspective. I really appreciate the opportunity to meet so many new people again and rebuild our company again with all these skilled people."

Q: How did your journey at Kvadrat begin?

In 2018, we took a significant step by teaming up with Kvadrat. We decided to sell some shares to Kvadrat, kickstarting an exciting new chapter for us. Back in 2013, we founded our own company and during those years, we dedicated ourselves to growing and building it from the ground up. All the hard work paid off, and by the end of each year, we were thrilled whenever we had enough funds left to hire new team members. Over time we expanded our team, bringing on board specialists in finance, logistics, and sales. However, we reached a point where we faced challenges in maintaining the level of quality we aspired to achieve. That was when partnering with Kvadrat turned out to be a real game-changer. Working alongside knowledgeable and skilled individuals within Kvadrat, we found the opportunity to rebuild and start anew.

Q: How would you define that as a workplace?

Becoming part of Kvadrat opened a world of opportunities and introduced us to so many new people with a lot of knowledge. I feel like there is so much to learn again. When we established Kvadrat Febrik, we thought we had reached a certain point, but joining Kvadrat was like starting a new chapter. We could grow and we could learn again on a lot of different levels. Being part of a global company has its perks – I find it fascinating to stay connected with various subsidiaries worldwide. Hearing updates from South Korea, Australia, Japan, and other offices gives a refreshing perspective. I really appreciate the opportunity to meet so many new people again and rebuild our company again with all these skilled people.

Q: What is your passion and how does it fit in your current role?

You might think it is all about knits for me, but my true passion lies in textiles and everything related to them. When we founded Kvadrat Febrik, I became a specialist in knitted textiles. It has been a journey of constant challenges, seeking new solutions, exploring untapped markets, and experimenting with techniques. Knits have always been associated with fashion, while woven textiles found their way into both fashion and upholstery.

With a background in furniture (thanks to my father, a furniture designer), it felt natural to explore using knitting techniques for upholstery textiles. People thought I was crazy, saying knits were not strong enough and only suitable for sweaters and garments. But I was determined to prove them wrong. Our journey began with a collection of ten selected and stocked textiles.

 

Q: What are you most proud of accomplishing in your role as Creative Director for Kvadrat Febrik?

There are several things I feel proud of. First off, our team is incredible, and I could not be happier with how we have come together and supported each other. When we started Kvadrat Febrik, knitted upholstery textiles were practically unknown, and many doubted if they could work at all. But we did not let that stop us. In the end, it was like unveiling a hidden chair in a crowded room, building this new market for knitted textiles. That is something I am proud of accomplishing.

Working with yarns has been fascinating too. I developed a special yarn strong enough for knitting textiles. But our supplier, accustomed to white yarns for mattresses, faced the colourful challenge. We then combined colours and textures, giving each textile a fresh and unique appearance. This approach also enabled easy mixing and matching of textiles from our collection.

Q: How are you able to fulfil your potential at Kvadrat?

Being a part of Kvadrat empowers me and makes me feel like I am contributing to a creative and innovative company. Initially, our journey with Kvadrat Febrik focused on creating circular knitted textiles. However, we have now expanded our horizons and begun experimenting with designs on flat-bat machines, which has opened up a whole new world of possibilities. One of our projects at Kvadrat was creating the Cilos textile for their showroom in Los Angeles. It is a great example of our curiosity and our desire to explore new developments and techniques.

Our goal is to offer a wide range of knitted solutions. We have already ventured into producing small tubes for chairs by Moustache and even for audio systems. We want to highlight the diverse applications of knitted products and the unique offerings they bring. Ideally, our next step would be to demonstrate our ability to create beautiful products using flat bat knitting machines. While this is relatively new to us, we are excited to see if we can succeed in this area.

Q: How do you think of Kvadrat as an inclusive company?

I believe we are making good progress in that direction. We are all aware of the importance of being inclusive, and although there might be some areas where we can improve, I can see a positive trend towards greater inclusivity.

I am particularly proud of what we achieved with KNIT! It allowed us to give opportunities to new designers from diverse backgrounds. It is like providing a stage for unique perspectives, and I feel fortunate to work with such a diverse group of talented individuals. As a company grows in size, there is a responsibility to bring in new talent. KNIT! Was instrumental in this aspect, as it enabled us to collaborate with designers from various areas and backgrounds, fostering a culture of inclusivity within our organisation.