Scandimood

By association: livestock trading/climate change

Last week a live export trade ship carrying 14 600 sheep destined for Saudi Arabia, capsized in Romania. Left to sink with the ship, these gentle animals didn’t stand a chance from the moment they were sold into the live export trade. A few hours after the accident Animals Australia, a non-profit organization working to stop live export, set up a protest online. Add your signature here, and ask the government of Romania and the European Union to end this trade of suffering.

Romania’s live export disaster from Animals Australia on Vimeo.

Now you may wonder how this trade is connected to climate change? The answer is very simple: Many countries around the globe is suffering from water shortage which has affected the local raising of cattle, sheep and other animals (breeding cattle is one very water demanding ”business”). Since some years now the demand for meat in (mainly) the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey has made export of live animals into a big business. Huge leather and wool industries are putting profit before an ethical treatment of animals, workers and nature. The result is a suffering almost impossible to comprehend. You can read facts about the trade of live stock in numerous reports. An estimated two million sheep and one million cattle are transported each year from European Union member states to the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey. And every year app. 3 million sheep cast off from the wool industry are exported from Australia to the Middle East and North Africa where they’re slaughtered for meat.
By not avoiding the cruel facts of how animals, people and nature are used and abused in the face of climate change you can make a difference. Act on what you learn about the where, how, by whom and of what your design item, clothes and food is ”produced”.

What happens on live export ships? from Animals Australia on Vimeo.

Animal Rights, Compassionates, Scandimood 2019-12-01

Thank you Paris!

The city of Paris say’s no to wild animals on circus from 2022. Thus following 18 EU countries and lots of cities world wide. The use and abuse of wildlife in captivity is highly questioned today as we’ve learned about the dark side of trading animals for entertainment, labour, experiments and ”production” of ”natural materials” like leather and feather. Part from being an ethical question, the use and abuse of animals for the benefit of humans is connected to sustainability issues. Food production is one huge provider to climate change. The leather trade another. Always ask ”from where, by whom and of what” the design item is made. If a producer/shop cannot give this information to you, you should think twice before buying that handsome chair, blanket, cushion or rug…

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Say no to the abuse of wild animals in entertainment! Photo copyright DR/Shutterstock.

Animal Rights, Environmental friendly 2019-11-23

Montana – a Scandi role model

Danish Montana is world famous for their colourful shelving system designed by Peter J Lassen who founded the company in 1982. From start he declared the intention to work with a combination of contemporary design and sustainability. Montana became one of the first Danish businesses to run, as Lassen formulated it, ”a cradle-to-grave analyses of the environmental consequences of every given product”. No other Scandi furniture brand has achivied such high standard considering sustainable production, design level, working environmental and worksplace safety etc. In 2007 the brand developed their own, water-based, surface lacquer in collaboration with the Danish government. Earlier this Fall Montana was awarded, the official EU Ecolabel.

In August 2019 Peter J Lassen, shortly before he passed away at the age of 88, recorded this video where he explains how Montana Furniture came into existence and what constitutes the ”design DNA” of the brand. Take a few moments and enjoy! Video copyright Montana.

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In 2019 Montana launched a new palette developed in collaboration with colour expert Margrethe Odgaard. Photo copyright Montana.

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Montana shelving system palette by Margrethe Odgaard for Montana (2019), certified with EU Ecolabel and the Indoor Climate Label. Here a combination in colours Mushroom and White Oak. The objective of the EU Ecolabel is to reduce the overall environmental impact of the production and consumtion of goods. The label looks at the entire product’s life cycle and the environmental problems that might arise along the way – for the benefit of people, the environment and the earth’s resources. Photo copyright Montana.

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Montana uses exclusively PEFC-certified wood in their production, which takes place in Denmark, on the island of Funen.The production is certified according to ISO 14001 (environmental) and OHSAS 18001 (occupational, health and safety). 160 craftsmen work in the hyper tech factory. Photo copyright Montana.

Architectual moves, Compassionates, Contemporary Scandi, Eco Aesthetics, Environmental friendly, Montana 2019-11-20

Lazy Summer Vibes!

This time of the year my mailbox is bursting with pics of lazy summer life. This because the outdoor furniture of 2020 will soon be presented, at the international furniture fairs in Stockholm, London, Paris and Milan…Let’s indulge in summer beauties from Danish brand Skagerak – a family-owned company founded in 1976, working with the combination of contemporary Nordic design and sustainability. Skagerak is a certified B Corp business since 2016, which mean they strive to keep the utmost quality in three aspects: design, production and their relation to people and the planet.

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Gerda table and bench, by Included Middle (Chris L Halstrom and Margrethe Odgaard) for Skagerak (2020). The sleak minimalistic structure in environmental friendly aluminium has got very well drawn details, like the perforated top inspired by the work of Danish weaving pioneer Gerda Henning (1891–1951) who designed textiles for brands like Kaare Klint and Börge Mogensen. Photo copyright Skagerak.

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Gerda table and stool, by Included Middle for Skagerak (2020). Aluminium. Photo copyright Skagerak.

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Lily series of furniture for outdoor and indoor use. Designed by BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) for Skagerak (2020). FCS-certified teak, stainless steel. Photo copyright Skagerak.

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Over time the untreated wood in the Lily series will patinate into a silver-gray colour. During the summer you use the furniture outdoors, then you bring it into your home or office during the winter. I like the double function! Lily is beautifully manufactured and there’s an air of simple summer life about it. Photo copyright Skagerak.

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Lily bench by BIG for Skagerak (2020). The bench will last, at least, a lifetime of use, but the design also allows it to be used as a sidetable. The Edge Pot by Stilleben (Ditte Reckweg and Jelena Nordentoft) is hand-thrown in terracotta and comes in both an indoor and outdoor version. Photo copyright Skagerak.

Architectual moves, Contemporary Scandi, Eco Aesthetics, Environmental friendly 2019-11-14

Magic Mittens!

Winter… and it is time to start using the traditional Swedish mittens again. My colleague Jenny Bergström runs the fab handicraft shop Svensk Hemslöjd in Stockholm. To celebrate their 120 year anniversary this November, Jenny Bergström has produced DIY-sets of mittens (”stickkitt” in Swedish) in three slightly updated traditional patterns. If you have thought about giving knitting a try…this is your opportunity to make your very own handsome handwear! The material is the best quality certified wool from New Zealand, produced by Klippan. Don’t miss out!

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Swedish Mittens – DIY knitting set by Jenny Bergström for Svensk Hemslöjd (2019). Comes in a set with 100 g natural white wool and 10 g wool in chosen accent colours. Pattern and instruction included (in Swedish). Photo copyright Svensk Hemslöjd.

Compassionates, Contemporary Scandi, Eco Aesthetics, Environmental friendly, In the Season 2019-11-12

Mega Crux by Pia Wallén

It is snowing in Old Town and what could be more ”in season” than an iconic Scandi blanket in an updated contemporary colour scheme! Mega Crux is a playful exaggeration in scale and abstraction of the Crux Blanket, designed by Pia Wallén in 1991. As with all design by Pia Wallén there’s an interesting story behind the designprocess, but as for now let’s enjoy the high quality, including sustainable visuality, sustainable production and sustainable materials. The blanket is wowen and mended by gifted craftsmen in Scottland. Scandinavian contemporary design is a magic world of sophisticated colours. It might look simple, but it is a simplicity bringing about a beautiful aesthetic of reduction, which also has become the signum of Pia Wallén. Love it!

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Mega Crux Blanket by Pia Wallén (2019). Certified lambswool and cashmere wool. Size 135 x 210 cm. Comes in colours Sand/Offwhite, Yellow/Beige and Brown/Grey. Photo copyright Pia Wallén.

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Mega Crux Blanket by Pia Wallén (2019). Photo copyright Pia Wallén.

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Mega Crux Blanket by Pia Wallén (2019). Photo copyright Pia Wallén.

Compassionates, Contemporary Scandi, Eco Aesthetics, Environmental friendly, Fab Swedes, In the Season, Pia Wallén 2019-11-11

Traceability

Wool is the loveliest of materials but often comes with a dark back-ground of abuse. Hidden away abuse…of animals, humans and nature. Therefore, make sure to ask for traceability before purchasing a wool product: Where is it made, by whom and from what? Ask for certifications that guarantee that animals, workers and nature have been treated well. And take a minute to consider the concept of quality and how it is implemented in the development, manufacturing and distribution of the product. The Scandi brands have a long history of working with traceability, as it is part of the traditional focus on transparency not only for the final product but also in production itself. Today traceability is a world wide movement.

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Criss-Cross blankets by Faye Toogood for Teixidors. This amazing Spanish brand is located in Barcelona. Since their founding in 1983 they’ve worked to achieve social integration, and economic independence of people with learning difficulties. This is carried out through extraordinarily creative work on manual looms. Teixidors collaborate with small, eco-farms for the production of their wool. Photo copyright Teixidors.

”Tracing 200 kg of Merino Wool”, copyright Teixidors at Vimeo.

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A wool blanket of high quality, made in organic wool by skilled craftsmen for a transparent brand is something to cherish during many years. From the Criss-Cross collection by Faye Toogood for Teixidors. Photo copyright Teixidors.

Animal Rights, Compassionates, Contemporary Scandi, Eco Aesthetics, Environmental friendly, In the Season 2019-10-26

Iris Hantverk: Craftsmanship, Design, Sustainability

I recently produced a booklet for Swedish crafts industry Iris Hantverk. At their brush binding facility in Stockholm visually impaired craftsmen make functional and handsome brushes using traditional techniques. All in Scandinavian design and with sustainable materials.

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Iris Hantverk: Craftsmanship, Design, Sustainability. Booklet by Cia Wedin for Iris Hantverk (2019). Graphics by Sofia Ekvall, illustrations by Mats Johansson and photographs by Anna Kern. Proofreading by Rikard Lagerberg. Printed and bound in Sweden by Göteborgstryckeriet according to ISO 14001 on FSC certified paper Munken Lynx Rough 120 g by Arctic Paper. With cover in PCF paper Kraftpak 259 g by Papyrus. Photo copyright Cia Wedin.

Iris Hantverk also produces everyday products for the contemporary home, like the natural, non-plastic scouring pad. Made from 100% biodegradable organic loofah it will last at least 4–6 months before going into the compost. The pad is nominated to the design award ”Formex Formidable 2019”.
iris-hantverk-scouring-pad Scouring Pad by Iris Hantverk (2019). Made from 100% biodegradable, organically cultivated loofah. Grown and manufactured in Spain by using natural rain and recycled thermal water. No chemicals are used throughout growing and manufacturing. Photo copyright Iris Hantverk.

Anna Kern, Book Cradle, Compassionates, Contemporary Scandi, Environmental friendly, Fab Swedes, Iris Hantverk 2019-09-07

Safety can be beautiful!

Finnish brand Jalo Helsinki challenge my views of what a fire extinction product may look like… By collaborating with gifted industrial designers they transform safety products into functional yet interesting interior details.

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Kitchen Fire Extinguisher Oiva, by Oiva Toikka for Jalo Helsinki. Biodegradable extinguishant. The empty container is possible to recycle. Photo copyright Jalo Helsinki.

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Lento 10 smoke alarm, by Paola Suhonen for Jalo Helsinki. This sweet night fly comes in colours Black, Light Green, Rosa, Silver Grey and White. Photo copyright Jalo Helsinki.

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Are you in for Moomin or Tom of Finland!? The fire blankets comes with artwork by Erik Bruun, Harri Koskinen, Oiva Toikka, Erja Hirvi, Tove Jansson and Tom of Finland. Here, The Hero by Tom of Finland for Jalo Helsinki. Size 120×180 cm. Photo copyright Jalo Helsinki.

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Kupu 10 smoke alarm, by Harri Koskinen for Jalo. Comes in five fabric covers in the colours Dark Grey, Light Brown, Turquoise, White and Yellow. Also available in a sassy chrome version. Photo copyright Jalo Helsinki.

Contemporary Scandi, Environmental friendly 2019-06-26

The sustainable rug

This Summer we see lots of Scandi rugs aiming on sustainability. Wool, linen and cotton are still dominating materials but recycled waste turned into yarn is on the rise. Traditional handicraft techniques blend with high-tech knowledge and the result is comtemporary yet classic.

Ogeborg is known for their environmental friendly public space flooring. For 2019 the brand collaborate with gifted designers in ODC – Ogeborg Design Collection, bringing sustainable rugs into the private home. The Twine collection by Alexander Lervik is an example of a sucessful collaboration between a gifted designer and an experienced producer. With inspiration from hair braid techiques Lervik developed a new pattern out of traditional weaving methods and with a close eye to detail. The contemporary pattern in combination with a double knitted classic fringe is a really nice touch!

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Twine Aqua, by Alexander Lervik for Ogeborg (2019). Handwoven, loop pile, in 100% wool with latex/polyester backing. Twine comes in colours Aqua, Nature, Ochre, Petrol Green and Rose. Photo copyright Ogeborg.

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Another interesting player on the Scandinavian design field is Designtorget. Their rPET collection is a contemporary interpretation of the Swedish rag rug. Pet yarn looks and feel like wool yarn. It is interesting as it make use of waste plastic, turning PET bottles into new household products. A rug made from rPET can be wiped with a damp cloth and mild detergent but is not to be washed in a washing machine; if so the yarn’ll get slack and the rug looses its shape. No products made from plastic shall ever go into the washing machine: that’s to set micro plastic loose into the sea.

The production by Designtorget follow standards BSCI and SA8000 and the rugs are cerrtified by GRS – the Global Recycled Standard. That’s impressing from a sustainability point of view, but even so, it is not possible to recycle rPET products in Sweden. Hopefully in a close future, as I’d like to be able to recycle the recycled.

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Loop rug by Formgatan for Designtorget (2019). Made in rPet yarn (recycled PET). Photo copyright Designtorget.

Contemporary Scandi, Eco Aesthetics, Fab Swedes 2019-05-29

Märta Måås–Fjetterström

This coming October a major exhibition on Märta Måås-Fjetterström will open at the Royal Palace in Old Town, Stockholm, Sweden. More than 60 rugs by the famous Swedish textile artist Märta Måås–Fjetterström (1873–1941) will be on display. The vintage rugs are collectors items but you can still order a new rug from MMF, the Märta Måås-Fjetterström Studio, located in Båstad in south Sweden. Since the studio opened in 1919, skilled artisan weavers has made each and every rug into a gem.

”Look at the rugs – find me” – exhibition at the Royal Palace in Stockholm. 13 October, 2019 –19 April, 2020. Don’t miss out!

Mr G rug by Märta Måås–Fjetterström 1935. Photo by Emma Fredriksson/Royalpalaces.se. Photo copyright Kungl. Hovstaterna.

Akvarell av Märta Måås-Fjetterström skiss för Svarta Trädgårdsmattan, komponerad 1923, kallas ofta Märta Måås Fjetterströms ”Rolls Royce”. Inspirerad av de mycket gamla och höga ekarna i barndomshemmets trädgård har hon komponerat en praktflossa med orientalisk känsla. Mattan ses i utställningen på Kungliga Slottet 13 oktober 2019 – 19 april 2020. Foto: Anette Nilsson/Kungligaslotten.se

Svarta trädgårdsmattan by Märta Måås-Fjetterström in 1923. Watercolour sketch. The pattern was inspired by ancient oaks in the garden of the vicarage in Vadstena, where Märta Måås-Fjetterström spent her childhood. It is a magnificent flossa rug with an oriental feel to it. The rug as well as the sketch will be part of the exhibition at the Royal Palace. Photo: Anette Nilsson /Royalpalaces.se. Photo copyright Kungl. Hovstatena.

Eco Aesthetics, Fab Swedes 2019-05-29

Sustainable glass by Iittala

Remember the Raami collection by Jasper Morrison for Iittala? Released earlier this year, this well-drawn, functional and handsome table wear instantly became very popular. Perhaps because the design is nothing but perfect for a young contemporary household. Now Iittala take the step to recycle waste glass from the production of their Aalto vases, bowls and coloured tumblers. What’s interesting is that the waste from the production at Iittala = virgin raw glass material. And hence useful in new high-quality products, like the special edition of Raami tumbler (2019). The special green colour is like a soft rain in the summer. Very pretty!

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Raami tumbler by Jasper Morrison for Iittala (2019). 100% recycled (waste) glass, made in Finland. Available online only. During 2019 Iittala changes their packaging from boxes in bleeched (white) paper with printed photographs, to boxes in recycled craft paper with illustrations.

Contemporary Scandi, Eco Aesthetics, Environmental friendly, Iittala 2019-05-27

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