Ruskovilla-Catalogue_2026-2027_EN

In the beginning, there were just a couple, a van and a desire to make the world a better place through natural fibres. From these beginnings, a family business was born in 1981. It later became the first company in Finland to bring clothing made from organic fibres to market. Today, Ruskovilla products are worn as far afield as Japan, Australia and North America.

Anneli Wahlsten and Mauno Mattsson in autumn 1981. The original logo was drawn by Mauno and remains in use today, with only minor updates.

IT ALL STARTED WITH WOOLLEN NAPPY PANTS “My husband Mauno Mattsson and I worked for an electronics company in Helsinki, but we were drawn to the peace and quiet of the countryside. In the late 1970s, we first came to Artjärvi and became interested in organic farming. Before long, we were running an organic berry farm here. My own children were already grown up, but I had often heard how difficult it was to find proper woollen nappy pants and baby clothes in Finland. That is where the idea began”, says Ruskovilla founder Anneli Wahlsten, now affectionately known as the company’s ‘granny’. With no previous experience of garment industry, the couple travelled to Sweden to learn the trade. They returned with a van full of second-hand machines and their heads full of ideas. The original logo, still in use today with minor updates, was drawn by Mauno on the window of their first shop in autumn 1981. BUILT ON COURAGE AND PASSION Our first products were woollen baby clothes, including nappy pants, rompers and shirts. Updated versions remain in the Ruskovilla collection today. The sweet silk bonnet has also been part of the collection from the very beginning and has become a true baby classic. Popular demand soon led to the collection being

expanded to include clothing for adults and children, and the first seamstress was hired. Other natural fibres, including silk, silk wool and organic cotton, were introduced in response to customer requests. A FAMILY BUSINESS FROM THE HEART The growing company moved several times before finding a permanent home in the old dairy building in Artjärvi in 1991. The building has since been extended as the business has grown. International customers soon discovered Ruskovilla, and today orders from our online shop are shipped around the world. “In the early 1990s, my son-in-law Ossi Näkki came to help during a busy period. He ended up staying and became managing director in 1999. That same year, we launched our first online shop alongside our mail order and retail operations. My daughter Leena Näkki is responsible for our products, so Ruskovilla truly is a family-run business”, Anneli explains. A CHAMPION OF FINNISH CRAFTSMANSHIP “I grew up on a farm, so the values that guide me in running Ruskovilla are living in harmony with nature, supporting Finnish manufacturing and getting things right the first time. Above all, we aim to use valuable materials as carefully and efficiently as possible."

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