Obituary: Pentti Suhonen, a joyful textile entrepreneur

Pentti Suhonen, a prominent figure in the Finnish textile industry, passed away at the age of 88 on April 23, 2026, in Helsinki. Born in Savonranta on December 5, 1937, Suhonen was a true salesman from a young age, selling flower seeds, newspaper subscriptions, and postcards door-to-door.

His career in sales led him to Helsinki in the 1950s, where he represented Mattinen's textile wholesale, becoming familiar with iconic items like James jeans. This role involved extensive travel across Finland, during which he could pinpoint local clothing retailers and the best routes to reach them with remarkable precision.

In 1967, Suhonen established Farmariteollisuus Oy in Lahti, a company that operated until 2002 before merging with Ivana Helsinki, founded by his daughters. Farmariteollisuus played a significant role in building the Finnish textile industry, at its peak employing nearly 80 people. The company manufactured clothing on an industrial scale, initially focusing on denim jeans and later producing garments under brands like Laredo, Madcap, Bitter, Fate, Kamazzo, and Pepita. They also manufactured private label clothing for major retail groups.

Suhonen also ran a clothing import business, with products sold in his own retail stores. His Italian business partners recognized him as a trustworthy Finn, noting that one could set their watch by his timely payments. He was described as social, warm-hearted, enthusiastically boyish, humorous, and a well-liked companion, fond of storytelling. His life was filled with real-life anecdotes, from manually applying stickers to 5,000 flannel shirts to purchasing an entire truckload of t-shirts.

Family was paramount to Suhonen, including his wife Senja, daughters and their husbands, granddaughter Kerttu, and their rescue dogs, Affe and Mauri. Despite his dedication to work, his family always came first. He cherished his self-designed home in Marjaniemi, Eastern Helsinki, and enjoyed woodworking and hosting friends at his summer cottage in Vääksy. He often shared life advice with loved ones, such as "Remember to be diligent," "Trade is what pays," and "Always have new ideas." Suhonen was also actively involved in Lions Club and the Senior Association of Salesmen for decades. He passed away peacefully on a warm spring evening, a week after a sudden illness.