Working with a roster of prominent industrial designers and architects such as Alvar Aalto, Renzo Piano, and Tapio Wirkkala, iittala produces glassware and tabletop pieces that are functional works of art. What began in 1881 as a glass factory in the small Finnish village of iittala is today a leading homeware design company. The brand is known for its iconic contemporary designs, including the world-renowned Aalto vase, Marimekko's Kivi votives, and Oiva Toikka's glass birds.