NEW YORK (April 13, 2016) – Helsinki-based 5th Wave Brands, the global licensing agent for Finlayson, has appointed Knockout Licensing to launch and manage licensing for the popular Scandinavian design and fabric brand across the United States and Canada.
“Finlayson is THE brand for Scandinavian fabric and design. Given the growing popularity of the Scandinavian aesthetic in the U.S. and Canada, particularly across home, apparel, and accessories, we are fortunate to be able to license Finlayson’s best-selling designs, as well as other selections from their abundant archives including contemporary patterns and newly-created patterns,” said Tamra Knepfer, President, Knockout Licensing. “Working closely with Finlayson and using local trend research, licensees will be able to choose from curated design collections and classic perennial best-sellers. Finlayson represents nearly two centuries of design history and we are excited to be working with them and 5th Wave Brands to license this cherished brand in America for the first time ever.”
Established in 1820 in Finland, Finlayson is a pioneer in the Scandinavian fabric design movement and is widely known for its beautiful interior textiles such as bedding, bathroom and kitchen fabrics. Finlayson‘s extensive design collection includes more than 100,000 different designs with a carefully curated and ever-growing selection already available in digital format for licensing.
In 1951, Finlayson was in the first wave of Scandinavian fabric design to sweep the world with its original, minimalist, colorful, and fresh approach. Today, Finlayson remains a leader among Finnish and other design houses driving the latest Scandinavian design trends in bedding, fashion, housewares, and more.
“Scandinavian design – with Finnish designers at the forefront – is enjoying tremendous visibility and success applied to today’s product and fashion trends,” said Risto Voutilainen, Chairman of the Board at Finlayson. This is the perfect time to make Finlayson’s design collection available for licensing and we are excited to be working with Knockout Licensing to secure U.S. and Canadian licensees and extend our build across a wide variety of products.”
Knockout has been entrusted by 5th Wave Brands to bring the Finlayson brand and its designs to a wide range of products including home furnishings and home décor, housewares, fashion accessories, gifts, paper products, and fabrics.
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About Finlayson
FINLAYSON is a famous and highly regarded home textile and design brand. Established in 1820, Finlayson is a pioneer of Finnish textile manufacturing and one of the leaders in Scandinavian design. As a leading designer and manufacturer of quality interior textiles for almost two centuries, Finlayson offers one of the world’s largest collections of classic and contemporary Scandinavian design patterns.
About 5th Wave Brands
5th Wave Brands (www.5thwavebrands.com) is a Helsinki, Finland, based licensing agency specialized in custom made licensing programs for the properties with global ambition. Founded by ex-Rovio Entertainment (Angry Birds) employees in 2013, 5th Wave Brands currently represents properties from the various fields from digital entertainment to Nordic design and fashion.
About Knockout Licensing
Knockout Licensing (www.knockoutlicensing.com) is a dynamic, full-service boutique licensing agency that creates customized, innovative, and strategic merchandise programs for a varied portfolio including entertainment, digital media, fashion/trend, publishing, corporate brands, characters, and children’s properties.  In addition to Finlayson, notable Knockout Licensing client properties include television drama Downton Abbey™ (NBCUniversal International Studios); Outlander™ (Sony Pictures Television), and Poldark™ (iTV Studios); social media canine celebrity Boo, The World’s Cutest Dog™; beloved classic family franchise Little House on the Prairie®; the Smithsonian Libraries’ Seed Catalog Collection, The Michelangelo Collection™, designer Tanya Whelan, Rita’s Water Ice™ and more.  Formed in 2012, Knockout Licensing is a joint-venture headed by CopCorp Licensing’s Carole Postal and TK Brand Group’s Tamra Knepfer, bringing together two of the most well-respected professionals in the industry.
Press Contact:
 
Ken Wong
Knockout Licensing
(212) 947-5958
kwong@copcorp.com