Helsinki Fashion Week ditch leather

In a stand against the leather industry’s cruelty to animals and the huge environmental devastation, leather will be prohibited on Helsinki Fashion Week catwalks from July 2019. The event – held annually in Finland’s capital – is world leading in promoting sustainable fashion. There’s nothing sustainable about the leather trade. In fact, the leather industry is one of the world’s biggest polluters, kills over a billion animals each year and also harm and kill people.

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On a couch near you? Every day hundred thousands of animals are abused in the leather trade.

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Perhaps your next designer chair? The ”life” of  animals in the leather trade is nothing but misery.

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Which Furniture Fair and Design Week will be first to follow Helsinki’s example and ditch leather? Photo copyright Anna Kern.

Innovative, high-tech options made from sustainable, plant-derived materials is on the rise. Alongside fab looking natural materials from a sustainable production. Let’s go Cruelty Free and never buy design products of animal origin. Leather, feather, fur and skin? No thank you!

Animal Rights, Compassionates, Contemporary Scandi, Videos 2018-08-16

The recycling of a classic

In 2018 the upholstered chair is back at the core of the contemporary Scandi style. With upholstering comes a possiblity to work with different fabrics and play with colours. And, you can re-upholster an old chair as long as the shell is intact. The Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR) had a bunch of 30 year old No 7 by Arne Jacobsen. These classic chairs have been in use every single day over the years and when the original fabric had worned out DR decided to re-upholster instead of buying new furniture. The result is fab! Spot on the contemporary look combining qualitative fabric with well chosen colours into a sleek yet pragmatic elegance.

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Chair No 7 by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen (1955). Re-upholstered by architecht Tommy Topp at the Danish Broadcasting Corporation in textile from Kvadrat (2018). Shell in pressure molded sliced veneer, legs in steel. Photo copyright DR.

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Chair No 7 by Arne Jacobsen recycled with new textile from Kvadrat (2018). The upholstered Series No 7 Chair is one of the most comfortable chairs you can imagine. Originally designed for the SAS hotel in Copenhagen. Photo copyright DB.

 

 

Architectual moves, Arne Jacobsen, Contemporary Scandi, Eco Aesthetics, Environmental friendly, Fritz Hansen, In the Season 2018-08-11

The possibility of error: Castiglioni

When Achille Castiglioni was asked to describe the design process he said: ”Experience does not bring certainity or security, but rather increases the possibility of error. I would say it is better to start from scratch each time, with humility, because experience is not likely to turn into sillyness”. Sounds good to me: let’s embrace the possility of error! And celebrate a free minded, curious take on design.

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Achille Castiglioni (1918–2002) was an Italian architect and designer, especially interested in every-day objects. His oeuvre of work is impressing. Castiglioni designed the now iconic lamps Gatto, Arco, Parentesi and several others for Flos. Photo copyright Fondazione Achille Castiglioni.

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Gatto by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos (1960). Steel, cocoon. Height 310 mm and 580 mm. Photo copyright Flos.

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Splugen Brau pendant by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Flos (1961). Aluminium. Photo copyright Flos.

 

 

Architectual moves, Castiglioni, Eco Aesthetics, Environmental friendly 2018-08-10

No Plastic update: ghost nets

Longtime readers of Scandimood might remember my series ”No plastic”, ”No food waste” and ”No textile shopping”. And how I made an effort to reduce my private and professional consumtion of plastic, never throw away food and develop a strategy on how to buy less clothes and textile for the household. Some of you’ve now asked me for un update. You can read more under ”No Plastic” to the right of this page.

In Stockholm it is possible to recycle almost all kind of plastic. Unfortunately this make no incentive for people to consume less. On the contrary! Plastic is everywhere, it is difficult to avoid, and the main part of used plastic products end up as waste in the nature. A lot end up in the sea: it is app. that in 2050 there’ll be more plastic than fish in the seas.

An urgent problem with plastic is abandoned, lost and discarded fishing nets, lines and traps that threats sea life. A staggering 640,000 tonnes of (plastic) gear is left in our oceans each year. This gear traps, injures, mutilates and kills hundreds of thousands of whales, seals, turtles and birds annually. In July World Animal Protection called on all FN countries to investigate the possibility of using RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) and other ways to ID all commercial fishing gear. Follow their campagin Sea Change for more info.

 

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Turtle in the Saragasso Sea trapped in plastic waste.

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Kaskelot wale (aka Sperm whale) trapped in a ghost net. This giant have lived on earth for more than 25 million years! Photo copyright Alberto Romeo/Marine Photobank.

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Seal trapped in a ghost net in the waters of UK (2018). Photo copyright World Animal Protection.

 

 

Animal Rights, Compassionates, No Plastic 2018-08-09

Icon goes electric!

The iconic EM77 vacuum jug by Erik Magnussen has adorned coffee tables around the world for over 40 years! Stelton now complete the EM77 series with a cordless electric kettle. Not as sleek as the original but yet handsome and with great functionality. If the kettle turns out as popular as the jug we’ll hopefully soon see the famous Stelton colour palette in use; for some years now they’ve upgraded the colour schemes of the 60s, adding a contemporary feel to their classic Scandi style. Meanwhile the EM77 kettle is available in colours white, black and light grey.

EM77 kettle by Stelton

EM77 vacuum jug, tea/coffee maker, electric kettle, by Erik Magnussen (1940–2014) for Stelton (1977 and 2018). Kettle in ABC plastic/stainless steel, cordless with removable limescale filter, dry boil safety switch, automatic switch off after boiling, size 13,3×20,5 cm (1,5 l). Photo copyright Stelton.

Contemporary Scandi, Eco Aesthetics 2018-08-08

Sustainability: kitchen

Take a look at our pic from a fetaure for an interior mag; do you find it stylish? Do you acknowledge some contemporary design? Or perhaps something classic? Do you consider the setting sustainable?

It is not always obvious why one interior is environmental friendly, and another not. Here the kitchen is a standard Ikea, environmental friendly produced in certified wood. The top though is exclusive, bespoke environmental friendly carrera marble. The glass wall is chosen for its ability to cope with longtime wear and an easy recycling. The classic handles are simple, massive brass, also very easy to dismantle and recycle. Dishbrush, washing-up liquid and handsoap are of organic, recycled origin. The dishcloth is from Växbo Lin, woven in linen and possible to use, wash and reuse during many years! The small storage is by Iittala, an international Scandi brand with sustainable production scheme. The pair of scissors, in steel with wooden handles are made by Granit, a small Swedish producer keen on sustainability. So is the plastic hanger for the dishbrush. And finally, the paint used for wall, window and cabinets is eco-certified and the herbs are of organic origin.
What does this tell you? Perhaps that with the slightest effort you can find environmental friendly ”alterantives” while decorating your home. And it will look great! With a bit of planning and reserarch even the smallest budget will make fab!

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Sustainability in the kitchen. From a feature by Cia Wedin for Lantliv. Photo copyright Stellan Herner.

Contemporary Scandi, Eco Aesthetics, Environmental friendly, Fab Swedes, Iittala, Ikea 2018-08-07

The contemporary Scandi cabinet

The Scandi cabinet is perhaps the best kind of storage ever invented. It may look simple with its sleek body, high legs and preference of natural materials. But a closer look often reweal well drawn, unexpected details. New this Fall is Jut Cabinet by British designer Thomas Jenkins for Danish brand Skagerak. Notice the way Jenkins has placed the legs on this piece of furniture: on the outer corners, which brings about a small negative space where light and shadow may interplay. It also conceal the brass-handles which are aligned right under the table top. Well done!

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Jut Cabinet (detail) by Thomas Jenkins for Skagerak (2018). Oiled oak with top in oak or marble. Photo copyright Skagerak.

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The small size, 126x39x74 cm, make Jut Cabinet useful for spaces where you need storage but don’t want or have room for a dominant piece of furniture. Perhaps in your bedroom, home office or  kitchen? Photo copyright Skagerak.

Contemporary Scandi, Eco Aesthetics, Environmental friendly 2018-08-06

Light a candle

August came with shorter days and, suddenly, very dark evenings. As usual this brings out an urge for some soft candle light. This Fall we see a new take on the classic Scandinavian candle stick; poetic yet pragmatic design in cool pale metals. Like the beautiful Liv Candlestick by Andreas Engesvik for Norwegian silver manufacturer Arven. Part from the almost breathtaking experience of world class design, it is nice to be invited to take part of the industrial part of the production, see some pics below!

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Liv Candlestick by Andreas Engesvik for Arven (2018). Handmade in silver with subtle traces of the production and therefore each is slightly different. Limited edition. Photo copyright Andreas Engesvik.

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Andreas Engesvik, Compassionates, Contemporary Scandi, Eco Aesthetics, In the Season 2018-08-05

Rain is in the air…

…and we LOVE it! Stockholmers never miss out the possibility to dress up in their rain gear and when rain is in the air we see Stutterheim all over town. Stutterheim has made an incredible journey as a brand; from the first Arholma green, designed more or less a copy of founder Alexander Stutterheim’s grandfathers raincoat, they’ve surprised us with new takes on rain wear. The Fall of 2018 is no exception. Stutterheim has teamed up with Italian Marni for a stylish black raincoat!

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140 Opal by Marni for Stutterheim (2018). Rubberized cotton with a shiny opal black finish, contrasting yellow stitches and a matte black panel at back. Available in two lengths. Photo copyright Stutterheim.

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Arholma is still a fine day-do-day choice for the pragmatic (?) Swedish man! Arholma green raincoat by Stutterheim. Photo copyright Stutterheim.

Compassionates, Contemporary Scandi, Eco Aesthetics, Environmental friendly, Fab Swedes, In the Season, Stutterheim 2018-08-04

Cradle-to-cradle flooring with Bolon

It is interesting that one of Sweden’s leading companies when it comes to sustainability produce plastic flooring. Bolon show us that with hard work and new ideas it is actually possible for a brand to work with an environmentally ”difficult” product in a highly environmental friendly way.

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This summer the Ulricehamn based company launched a new non glue product, a tape that allows their flooring to be easily installed and removed without contamination. Previously, the glue used to affix Bolon’s flooring contaminated the material and made recycling difficult. They have also developed a new technique for installing tiles and studio products that does not affect the product’s recyclability. ”We see a possible future in which our product have no negative impact on the environment and can be recycled and reused over and over again,”, says Marie Eklund, Bolon’s CEO.

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Bolon are also testing new ways to recycle postconsumer waste. Hence they have developed a take-back service for worn-out flooring, to be up and running in 2020. They are currently looking at the possibility of a leasing service for flooring fixed with the new No Glue technique. N B Bolon flooring are installed world wide!

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Bolon also stated that their goal is to use 100% of the waste in new products; so far 33 % of the waste from the production in Ulricehamn is used as backing.

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Bolon’s updated sustainability strategy is due for release on October 1st, 2018. Don’t miss out!  Photo copyright Bolon.

Architectual moves, Bolon, Compassionates, Contemporary Scandi, Eco Aesthetics, Environmental friendly, Fab Swedes 2018-08-03

Perfectly Iris

Earlier this year Iris Hantverk won the Formex Formidable Award for ”best product”. Now the handsome brushes by Lovisa Wattman are in production. And as usual they’re perfectly manufactured by the gifted craftsmen at the Iris Hantverk workshop in Stockholm. Iris Hantverk has a long history of working with visually impaired craftsmen; the 6 craftsmen in Stockholm make brushes according to an old Swedish tradition but the design is contemporary.  Every brush is a wonder of aesthetics, function, environmental commitment and splendid craftsmanship.

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Porch broom by Lovisa Wattman for Iris Hantverk (2018). Oil treated birch and arenga fibre. The broom is intended for cleaning up around the patio or entrance. Lenght 55 cm and 125 cm. Photo by Anna Kern, copyright Iris Hantverk.

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The Porch broom may be stored with the help of a clever birch clampboard, also by Lovisa Wattman for Iris Hantverk (2018). The clamping board comes with 1 or 3 clamps. Photo by Anna Kern, copyright Iris Hantverk.

Anna Kern, Compassionates, Contemporary Scandi, Eco Aesthetics, Fab Swedes, Iris Hantverk 2018-08-02

Marimekko flowers and stripes

In the Marimekko ready-to-wear Spring collection 2019 I especially look forward to new work by Maija Louekari. And, from the archive, some of my favourite patterns from the 70s!

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Aurington alla (”Under the sun”) by Maija Louekari for Marimekko, pattern in 2017, clothes in 2019. Photo copyright Marimekko.

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Piccolo stripes by Vuokko Eskolin-Numesniemi (1953) will be available as the classic unisex Jokapoika shirt (2019).  Photo copyright Marimekko.

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Milliruuti by Pentti Rinta (1973). Used to come as loose fitting shirtdresses…let’s hope of a relaunch of those fab garments! Photo copyright Marimekko.

Contemporary Scandi, Eco Aesthetics, Marimekko 2018-08-01
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