Imagine a lamp without a light bulb. The People's light is an exciting new textile product developed by Finnish textile heritage company Finlayson. The People's light includes a LED embedded light film which lasts up to 10,000 hours. The lamp is light and can be folded flat, making it an ideal product for web stores and retailers.

The story of Finlayson began in 1820 in Tampere, Finland. Throughout its history, Finlayson has contributed to building Finnish society and well-being. The first electric lights in the Nordic countries were switched on in the Finlayson weaving hall in 1882. Today, Finlayson is one of the best known and most beloved Finnish textile brands: according to a study, in 90 per cent of all Finnish households you can find Finlayson products. Under new ownership, Finlayson continues to develop courageous and open-minded solutions to make everyday life better.

Finnish textile company Finalyason has launched fabric lights that are embedded with flexible LED films. (All photos courtesy of Finalayson)

The People's light is a lamp with no limits. It functions as a mood light, even in places where lamps have not previously been seen. The People's light combines modern technology with the beloved patterns of Finlayson. Ideal for a child's bedroom, the plug-in product is lightweight and doesn't heat up – you can even hold it in your lap.

The People's light was developed in cooperation by Finlayson, Aalto University graduates Thomas Welander, Vertti Sarimaa and Jaakko Nikkola, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Flexbright, a Finnish company specialized in led foils. The People's light is the first consumer product to utilize LEDFOIL-technology.

Finlayson displays its product range of LED fabric lights.

 "We want to challenge the way people see design products. A lamp doesn't have to look like a lamp if the new design serves its purpose better. An important aspect that influenced the design of the People's light was that it should be an ideal product for online stores. Due to it being flat when unassembled and light weighted, it can easily be shipped in an envelope anywhere in the world. When founded, Finlayson was the most courageous and open-minded company in the Nordics. We are bringing back that mindset," says Jukka Kurttila, CEO of Finlayson.

The product displayed at Maison & Objet in Paris is a prototype of the product. The final product will be in stores in autumn 2016 and it will be available in various patterns. Finlayson already has development plans for the future, including the possibility of a cordless light and the LED lights being woven into the fabric. The suggested retail price of the People's light will be around EUR 70–90 (US $76.48-$98.33). 

Finlayson LED lights seen up close.

Product information:

·         Textile cover is made from 100 % cotton

·         The lamp includes a LED embedded light film which lasts up to 100 000 hours

·         Low-power light, doesn't overheat, AC 230 V

·         All lamp parts have the CE-marking and are tested for product safety

·         The height of the lamp is 22 cm

·         Multiple options on design