I don’t know why it is that the Scandinavians have such an affinity for textiles.

They specialise in the sort of designs that lift the spirit: bold, bright and beautiful – gaining many admirers, myself included.

But it pains me somewhat that many of the designers names are not well known here.

Wanja Djanaieff was born in 1941 in Stockholm, Sweden and is famous within the Swedish textile design industry.

Her interest in textiles was awakened early, and after attending the University College of Arts, Crafts and Design (Konstfack) from age 16 she worked for famous textile brand Almedahls for the following ten years. 

Teaching, textile design and costume design for the theatre have formed her working life and in 1972 she was commissioned to design the clothes that the Swedish Olympic team.

But I’m willing to bet that few have heard her name in the UK.

Luckily, that doesn’t have to prevent us from appreciating Wanja’s designs.

You can see some of her current work here and here. ♥