Scan Magazine | Special Theme | The Best Christmas Gifts From Sweden
Top left: A piece from the Märta Mattsson exhibition was purchased by the Swedish National Museum for their collections.
Beautiful, bespoke rugs with unique stories A vision to combine art and graphic design with utility, in the same way that fashion design combines aesthetics with function, is behind the success of Makeda, founded by Swedish designer Anna Forsberg. By Sara Wenkel | Photos: Makeda
Buying a rug from Makeda is a truly unique experience. “My customers often visit me in my studio in Stockholm to touch and feel the rugs. They then get to choose a pattern and measurements as the rugs are completely bespoke,” says Forsberg. Each rug is handmade in the high mountains of Nepal and takes four months to make. Up to 15 craftsmen, each specialised in their own niche, are involved in the process where only natural materials such as wool and silk are used alongside vegetable dyes to a great extent. “By using materials that age over time, each rug generates patina and depth and is therefore never entirely finished. Every rug tells a story,” Forsberg explains. But not only do they tell the story of their owner; they also represent a story from Forsberg’s own life and experiences. Her interest in nature and animals has in42 | Issue 106 | November 2017
spired Makeda’s collections, where fairy tale-like trees and illustrative insects are recurring motifs.
Different types of meetings Forsberg finds it important to constantly evolve and get inspired by colleagues in the art and design fields. Her studio, Birkagatan Ett, has turned into a creative environment where meetings and events take place. One of these meetings led to a celebrated show earlier this year, as she exhibited together with jewellery designer Märta Mattsson. “Working closely with people who share my artistic expression, but perhaps through a different material, stimulates my creativity and we get to support each other,” says Forsberg. In February next year, the Makeda rugs will be featured in a joint exhibition at Stockholm Furniture and Light Fair – showcased by Cindy Kan, who runs a plat-
form for design collaborations based in Hong Kong. The Makeda founder recently returned from a different type of meeting, where she shared her creativity and experience. “A few weeks ago, I arranged a trip to Lingbo for young refugees from Afghanistan. This small village in Hälsingland, Sweden, is the home of many knowledgeable women in Swedish weaving and sewing traditions. The meetings that took place resulted in a piece of textile artwork, inspired by both Swedish and Afghan traditions.”
Anna Forsberg.
Web: www.makedarugs.com Instagram: @makedaanna Facebook makedarugs