The history of Modelia Oy dates back to year 1933 when Naim Weinstein founded a clothing shop specialising in women's garments. The original business name was Viipurin Leninki Oy ("Dress shop of Vyborg"). During the second world war, the business moved to Turku. Initially, Modelia was a proprietary brand name of Leninki Oy. This brand name symbolised "continental fashion tailored of imported textiles." Over 50 people worked for the company, the sewing machines filled the production hall with their steady buzz and the clothes rails were soon filled with crimplene dresses. In 1969, the business was acquired by the Järvinen family. The famous and successful brand name was soon adopted as the name for the entire business. Modelia Oy was born.