Designing with Finnish lace

In March 2025, Finnish winter was in full swing. One of my favorite cold-weather activities was sifting through the vintage textiles at Fasaani, an antique store in downtown Helsinki. It has industrial metal shelves piled high with 70s and 80s Marimekko printed cotton fabric, thick, nubby linen tablecloths and bolts of madras with the perfect amount of fade.

At Fasaani I discovered a bin of colorful, embroidered doilies and table runners. The fabric was in great condition, the cotton was crisp and white, and the embroidery done in really fantastic bright pinks and greens.

I was inspired by images I’d seen on Pinterest of women piecing together old doilies and lace into modern dresses and tops. I laid out the fabric on the floor and after a few iterations of piecing things together, I arrived at the halter-top with crossed straps across the back. I sewed the lace to the cotton fabric by hand.

I finally got to enjoy the top in the summer in Italy and Portugal when the breezy design was the perfect answer to some super scorching days.

Alpine flora, vintage Finnish textiles, laundry drying in the summer, intricate stonework of the Duomo in Siena, old photos of Finnish women enjoying summer.

Alpine flora, vintage Finnish textiles, laundry drying in the summer, intricate stonework of the Duomo in Siena, old photos of Finnish women enjoying summer.

Details from the embroidered table linen that made up the bodice of the top. Wearing the top out and about in Portugal.

Details from the embroidered table linen that made up the bodice of the top. Wearing the top out and about in Portugal.