Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Swedish Design Brands of 2016
The new Julius chair and sofa.
The Hedwig armchair.
Hard-won expertise and fresh thinking With a love for true craftsmanship and long-lasting quality, Gärsnäs combines traditional techniques with experimental and contemporary processes when creating its much-praised wooden furniture.
chair, Madonna, won awards by Elle Decoration and Residence, and Åke Axelsson’s chair, Ferdinand, was named Icon of the Year by Residence.
By Malin Norman | Photos: Gärsnäs
Founded in 1893, Gärsnäs is one of Sweden’s most prominent design-led furniture manufacturers. The family-owned business keeps production locally in southern Skåne and also has a showroom in Stockholm. Since 2003, Anna and Dag Klockby have run the company together with renowned designer Åke Axelsson, who created his first chair for Gärsnäs in the 1960s. They took over a brand with a long tradition in making design classics, and have turned it into a modern success story with sought-after clients such as Google and Microsoft. “We wanted to preserve our heritage and craftsmanship, but also work in symbiosis with new technology,” says Dag Klockby. As part of its efforts for renewal, Gärsnäs initiated a number of exciting collaborations with talented designers such as Nina Jobs, Pierre Sindre, Märta 24 | Issue 89 | June 2016
Friman and Inga Sempé. “By doing so, we managed to introduce new knowledge and give the company a push in a more modern direction. We have shown that it’s possible to stay true to the heritage and also move forward, a combination that can give new life to the designs and be perceived as contemporary.”
Experimenting with wood tailoring “We have been proactive in searching for new designers who work more with emotions to get the sensuality and flair back into our collection.” Klockby continues. With the ambition to stay true to the company’s own DNA instead of looking at what others are doing, collaborations have evolved naturally and the reactions have been incredibly positive. 2015 was a fantastic year, with a number of prestigious awards and heaps of attention in the press. David Ericsson’s
The design process at Gärsnäs is dynamic and fast, with classic pieces and a number of new launches usually presented at the annual Stockholm Furniture Fair. Amongst new standout pieces this year are a chair and sofa called Julius, by design duo Färg & Blanche. The designers have used an innovative wood tailoring technique, attaching the upholstery directly to the chair. Not only a creative and decorative element, the revolutionary solution also reduces the use of glue to keep in line with the company’s sustainability values. Gärsnäs will showcase its collection at Orgatech in Cologne, Germany, 25-29 October this year and at Stockholm Furniture Fair, Sweden, 7-11 February 2017. For more information, please visit: www.garsnas.se