Scan Magazine | Special Theme | The Best Christmas Gifts From Sweden
Contrasting colours
By Pia Petersson | Photos: Cooee
When Catrine Åberg came home to Sweden after several years abroad, she noticed that many of her fellow countrymen dressed and decorated their homes in black, white and different shades of grey. Åberg decided she should liven up Scandinavia with a splash of colour and some interesting designs. “Adding jewellery to an outfit will change the impression and it’ll be more interesting. The same goes for adding an interesting interior item to your home,” says Åberg. This is of course not to say that black and white are to be avoided – sometimes all that is needed is a bit of a contrast. In 2005, Åberg founded the design company Cooee. The name – which means ‘hello’ in an Australian Aboriginal language – is inspired by Åberg’s time overseas. Among its many exciting designs, a signature product is a round vase, appropriately named Ball. Hand painted with a matte, soft surface it has become something of Cooee’s hallmark. In addition to its permanent designs, Cooee is about to launch a stylish and minimalistic Christmas collection.
As well as interior design, jewellery is at the centre of Cooee. It has been spotted on the wrists of royalty and has been picked up by magazines like Vogue. “Quite uniquely, we create jewellery using acrylic glass. Some years ago, we designed a bracelet called Nutcuff, which became an interna-
tional success when it appeared in a leading fashion magazine,” Åberg remembers. The roots of Åberg and Cooee are interconnected with the design tradition of the Swedish province of Småland. However, with more than 200 retailers across the globe, the entire world is now its market. Web: www.cooee.se Instagram: @catcooee Facebook: Cooee Design
Nutcuff bracelet in acrylic glass and Cuffs in sterling silver.
Product news: Winterstar brass and Candlestick Ball.
Swedish design made with natural materials and fine craftsmanship
By Sara Wenkel | Photos: Anna Kern
Beautiful to watch; easing your everyday life; a conscious purchase – does that not sound like the perfect Christmas gift? For over 100 years now, the Swedish company Iris Hantverk has produced brushes for every type of need that have been handmade by visually impaired craftsmen. Today, five visually impaired craftsmen still make the modern design brushes according to an old Swedish tradition, while the range of beautiful and functional products has grown. The collection now includes many of the utensils we need for our everyday lives at home, such as cloths, dustpans and hangers, and all products are made using carefully selected materials that are mostly natural. “We are just releasing the new Multi Hanger, originally developed to stow away all rinsed-out disposable packaging while it’s drying, before recycling,” says Sara Edhäll, co-owner and vice president of Iris 32 | Issue 106 | November 2017
Hantverk. “I think it’s so beautiful though, so I wouldn’t mind hanging it in my bedroom, or any other room for that matter.” The Multi Hanger is available at Iris Hantverk’s webshop, along with their full assortment. Iris Hantverk’s products can also be found in physical stores across 43 different countries. “We have the pleas-
ure of being represented in beautiful boutiques all over the world,” explains Edhäll. She believes that the type of product Iris Hantverk offers attracts the same type of people globally. “It doesn’t matter where you live – our customers appreciate the natural materials, fine craftsmanship and Swedish design.” Web: www.irishantverk.se/en
Photo: Iris Hantverk