The collaborative collection between Voglia and Malva Museum emphasizes locality and history
Finnish fashion house Voglia's most important autumn projects include a collaboration with the Lahti Museum of Visual Arts, Malva. The process, which began last year, will culminate in October, when the unisex clothing collection created by designer Salla-Maaria Syvänen will be sold in Voglia's online store and Malva's museum store.
The collaboration began with a design competition, through which Salla-Maaria Syvänen was chosen as the designer of the collection. “From the beginning, it was important to us that our clothes were produced sustainably. We also definitely wanted to collaborate with a local designer. From these starting points, collaborating with Salla-Maaria Syvänen and Voglia was very natural for Malva,” says museum director Tuulia Tuomi.
Voglia's original founder, Pertti Virtanen, was from Lahti, and the company's current headquarters are located only about 40 kilometers from Lahti. Designer Syvänen also has a strong connection to the city, where he spent almost ten years as a student. "I used to live right next to the Malva building, and Lahti is still a big part of my life. I'm happy that the city has now received a worthy art and design museum, which has been long awaited there," Syvänen says with a smile.
Many other professionals who participated in the design of the Malva collection are also Lahti talents. Several of Voglia's employees live in the city, and the product photographer and models study at the Finnish Institute of Design. "It's wonderful to be able to create something new with local resources. We are very proud of this unique collaboration and wish success to both the new museum and our joint collection," says Voglia's CEO Katriina Virtanen.
In addition to local expertise and local production , the collaboration collection emphasizes the importance of history. Malva is located in the former Malt Beverage factory block, which inspired the designer in many ways. For example, he went through a lot of old photographs, studying the clothing of the factory workers in detail, and applied the information he gained in his designs. The products were designed to be timeless and unisex, so that they would serve the needs of as many different people as possible.
The collection is divided into two parts: museum workwear and commercial products. Employees wear the Alva patterned t-shirt, the Arvi denim jacket and the Malla sleeveless dress on a daily basis. These dark blue designs have been adapted into slightly lighter versions for purchase, which will be available in both Voglia’s online store and in the museum’s premises from mid-October. Voglia and Malva welcome everyone to check out their collaboration products! 
Voglia Oy is a Finnish fashion house founded in 1983 , with a timeless, thoughtful and soft style. The family business aims to create beautiful, long-lasting and high-quality clothes that last both visually and functionally. Responsibility is the starting point for all of Voglia's operations - the brand strives for concrete actions and transparency, from material choices to logistics.
Lahti Museum of Visual Arts Malva is a brand new, experiential museum in the center of Lahti. Located in the former Maltasjuoma brewery building, Malva presents art, posters, and design in its spacious exhibition spaces spanning three floors.
Katrina Virtanen
CEO, Voglia Oy
katriina.virtanen@voglia.fi
040 041 1395
Tuulia Tuomi
Museum Director, Lahti Museums
tuulia.tuomi@lahti.fi
044 482 6658
Salla-Maaria Syvänen
Designer
salla@sallamaariasyvanen.com
050 5603 450