Mukava was started by my self, Ben Beaudoin, who grew up in Fitchburg MA, the home of Saima Park. My Mother was full Finnish and was a self taught artist. My uncle was very active and would take me to Saima Park as a kid for physical activity and to enjoy the park with it's forested surroundings. This early experience of being both Finnish and creatively supported by my Finnish mother is what inspired the Mukava brand.
Fast forward, I spent my working career as a graphics and Textile designer for large apparel companies. I also had a fine art studio and exhibited my work. I had always been drawn to Finnish and Scandinavian modern design almost by default, unaware of how deeply ingrained that sensibility was in me from my upbringing. When I was 7, we visited the St Louis Arch, not yet realizing the architect was a Finnish American. When I was working as a designer in NY for a children's brand we would use Marrimekko fabrics as a reference. There I found out Marrimekko was from Finland, and finding that out really hit home and deepened my connection to Finnish design even further. I had also been primarily drawn to Mid Century Modern styles of design and architecture. And as I learned more about it, I come to find that some of the most iconic pieces of modern furniture and architecture are designed by Finns. My awareness of my own culture was slowly blooming.
This leads us to now. The years of connecting the Design dots, and later learning more about specifically Finnish and Danish Design, is culminating in what I am offering here at Mukava. When coming up with the name and refining the brand concept, June Filkstrom opened up the Library at Saima Park and let me spend time combing through the art and design books. It felt like coming home after a long Trip, and there was 'Mukava', waiting for me all along.
