Fiskars 375
Throughout 2024, Fiskars will celebrate its 375th anniversary. Among the oldest brands and companies in the Western world, Fiskars has championed the ageless principles of high quality, timeless design, and unparalleled functionality ever since the company was founded as an ironworks by the Fiskars river in Finland.
During the 375 years, the world and our understanding of its possibilities have changed in countless ways. Breakthroughs in gravity, electricity, healthcare, industrialization, and technology have shaped the everyday – yet, the essentials remain the same. It’s the little things that we do each day that have the potential to make the everyday extraordinary.
Cooking, creating, gardening are at the core of Fiskars’ offering, and the award-winning, ever-creative design team behind the Fiskars brand are endlessly inspired by Nordic minimalism, pure nature, and the opportunity to do things just a bit better.
“It would have been tempting to create all kinds of anniversary gimmicks, but when we think about it, the Fiskars brand is never about decorations and unnecessary frills. Instead, we focus on the essentials, and make sure every little detail serves a purpose. The same spirit will guide our anniversary celebrations – we want to honor our heritage with a sharp focus on the things that make us Fiskars”, says Nathalie Ahlström, President & CEO of Fiskars Group.
The anniversary events
Fiskars was founded in 1649 as an ironworks by the Fiskars river, in a place known as Fiskars Village. What’s unique about the company heritage is that the company is still very present in its birthplace, taking part in the everyday of the creative art & design community that has taken over the spaces previously occupied by Fiskars manufacturing.
To celebrate the anniversary, Fiskars has published a unique book about its birthplace Fiskars Village. The anniversary book offers a glimpse into the everyday life of the creative community in Fiskars Village. The book covers nine inspiring personal narratives and four stories by acclaimed creative writers, and it is full of beautiful images taken during the year’s four seasons.
“Fiskars’ purpose is to increase people’s happiness by making our daily routines more enjoyable, smoother, and more sustainable. In this anniversary book, we want to pay homage to the everyday, to daily life in Fiskars Village, its people and their homes. We also want to celebrate our roots, which are continuously strengthened by ordinary, yet special, everyday moments,” says Head of Public Affairs and Head of Fiskars Village at Fiskars Group, Jan D. Oker-Blom.
During the summer months, the Fiskars Village Art & Design Biennale will offer inspiring views into architecture, art and design, in the beautifully preserved old village. The Biennale combines art and design and will engage artists, designers, local communities and various audiences. The Biennale will offer a topical, egalitarian platform for encounters between makers and enthusiasts.
Another of the Biennale’s Main Exhibitions celebrates the 30th anniversary of the artist cooperative Onoma. An exhibition called Fragile is curated by Marja Sakari and will take place at the Copper Smithy.
The Surprise Guest Main Exhibition on the first floor of the Old Granary is inspired by the wonderful Finnish summer villa culture. Village Works not only embraces the village’s social landscape but also explores living concepts beyond urban settings by examining what is essential and superfluous in our urban domesticity.
FISKARS FESTIVAL is a festival unlike any other. The festival has grown into Fiskars Village, home to a creative community with centuries of history always looking ahead. At FISKARS FESTIVAL, you can experience a unique intersection of time and place. The festival creates a shared space that connects younger talent to the original source – a source of inspiration, artistic authenticity, tradition and integrity, and pioneering design that makes the everyday extraordinary.
Fiskars Group is proud to partner with the LEAD Foundation and the Fiskars Village community in making this extraordinary experience a reality. The festival takes place July 29 – August 3, 2024.
