Interview: Iittala creative director Janni Vepsäläinen on rethinking Finnish glassware
We learn about the Finnish brand’s big plans for the coming year, including a showcase of the company’s modernist Scandinavian design in Tokyo.
Since 1881, Iittala has been a pioneering force in artistic and artisanal glassmaking. It’s a legacy that the Finnish heritage brand is continuing under the creative direction of Janni Vepsäläinen. After working abroad and in fashion for more than a decade (most recently as London-based JW Anderson’s senior knitwear designer), Vepsäläinen returned to Helsinki in 2023, trading knitting machines for glassware kilns. In her first year in the hot seat, she imbued Iittala with renewed creative vigour and she aims to keep up the momentum this year. We caught up with her to hear about her plans for the year ahead and the company’s home event, Helsinki Design Week.
Where can we expect to find Iittala in 2025?
We are heading to Tokyo for the first major retrospective of acclaimed Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala. This exhibition, called Tapio Wirkkala: The Sculptor of Ultima, will mark Wirkkala’s 110th birthday. Held at Tokyo Station Gallery in April 2025, it will feature 300 of the designer’s works, including Wirkkala’s revolutionary Ultima Thule glass collection, originally created for Iittala in the 1960s. There will be an installation of more than 400 Ultima Thule glasses, showcasing Wirkkala’s iconic design inspired by the melting ice of Lapland.
How will you continue to evolve your vision, bridging the gap between respecting the past and innovation?
Our vision is deeply rooted in Iittala’s rich history and core values. From the beginning, the brand has aspired to be a pioneer of modern design and that spirit remains at the heart of everything we do. The glassworks in Iittala village are still the beating heart of the company, where design innovation is born on the factory floor. Our products emerge from the fusion of forward-thinking creativity and traditional craftsmanship. As we move forward, we are committed to reigniting Iittala’s legacy while embracing transformation. This vision is our guiding principle, shaping not just our designs but also the experiences that we create – whether through product innovation, events or artist collaborations.
Why is Helsinki Design Week, held in September, still important to you as a brand?
Helsinki is our home base. We take great pride in our legacy as a Finnish pioneer in premium glassmaking and design. Iittala has shaped the modernist Scandinavian design movement, empowering visionary designers. But our mission is to challenge conventions in Finnish design, fostering an inclusive approach to luxury in home décor.
See some of Iittala’s archive at ‘Tapio Wirkkala: The Sculptor of Ultima’ at Tokyo Station Gallery in Tokyo, Japan.
