Having graduated as a fashion designer from a Parisian school, Teresa
went on to complete her Master’s degree at the University of Art and Design in Helsinki. Her first job was designing knitwear, though soon she was also
working as a graphic designer. This detour sparked her interest in illustration
and textile design and encouraged her to show her sketches to the former
managing director of Marimekko, Kirsti Paakkanen. Kirsti liked what she saw,
and Teresa started designing for Marimekko. Her first patterns were called
Metsänhenki (Forest spirit), Koirat (Dogs) and Englantilainen puutarha (English
garden).