Astrid Sampe

Astrid Sampe is a legend of Swedish textile design. She coined the concept "Order is freedom" and her patterns came to be characterised by straight lines and structure. However, Astrid Sampe was also full of creativity and her designs were anything but boring.

After Astrid Sampe graduated from Konstfack in Stockholm and the Royal College of Arts in London, she gained a job as a designer at the Nordiska Kompaniet in 1935. Just one year later, she became head of a new company, Textilkammaren where she remained until 1971 when the company closed. Astrid Sampe was not only a skilled designer but also a successful innovator. She revolutionised the traditional use of linen with the collection ‘Linnelinjen’, launched at the Helsingborg exhibition in 1955. Tablecloths, napkins and towels were given new sizes to suit the modern man and the former white linen was transformed using colourful patterns.

One of the most famous patterns from Linnelinjen is the Person's spice cabinet that Almedahls still produce today. This pattern was dedicated to the ceramic designer Signe Person-Melin who designed a remarkable series of spice jars in ceramic during the 1950’s. Person's spice cabinet is a beloved retro classic still today and can be found on everything from kitchen towels to tiles and coats.