I strive to design furniture that not only tolerates repetition, but can also be strengthened by it.

83 Pages·2016·14.14 MB·English

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C O N T E N T S
06 Production
16 New CD
18 History
22 A-Z Index
36 Claesson Koivisto Rune
74 Staffan Holm
84 Roger Persson
92 Broberg & Ridderstråle
100 Yngve Ekström
114 Leila Atlassi
150 Image Index
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Ingrained in our walls.
Some find it strange that we’ve stayed in Småland all these years. But you see, here in the Småland forests
is where our heart is. This is where Yngve Ekström created the Lamino, and you can say, without a doubt,
that the love of good design is ingrained in our walls.
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P R O D U C T I O N
We’ve always been fascinated by the
qualities and the possibilities of wood.
This becomes obvious when you look
inside the workshop next to our office.
This is where carefully chosen pieces of
ash, beech and other types of wood are
glued together in order to eventually
become a part of a table, a stool or an
armchair. Wood veneer has become
one of our strongest trademarks. The
number of layers depends on what type
of furniture we’re making, but it’s always
an uneven number. Underframes, arm
rests and other details move through
production in pairs, never separated.
Always made from the same tree, with
the same type of grain pattern.
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P R O D U C T I O N
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P R O D U C T I O N
Beautiful wood structures stand in line waiting to be dressed in fabric or leather.
On the shelves are hundreds of rolls of coloured textiles – thick, thin, light, dark.
The seamstresses show the same craftsmanship and attention to detail as those
of the previous stages of production. Knowing that each piece of furniture will be
enjoyed, scrutinized and used for a long time ahead instills a sense of pride that
ensures that nothing is left to chance.
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P R O D U C T I O N
Caring for our staff has always been a
priority for us here at Swedese. We know
that well-being, kindness and consider-
ation create commitment. In the sixties,
we replaced a whole outer wall with glass
so that our staff would be able to see the
forest and the sky from their workstations.
You see, if it’s your job to make furniture
that makes people feel good, you should
have an inspiring workplace.
That’s the Swedese way of thinking.
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N E W C D Monica Förster is the
new Creative Director
of Swedese.
Monica Förster already has a 15-year relationship with Swedese
as a product designer. Taking on the role as creative director,
she hopes to develop the company in the spirit of its founder.
Her aim is to take advantage of Swedese’s history and tradition,
with Yngve Ekström’s humanitarian approach as a natural point
of departure.
“I appreciate the way the company combines its roots as a locally-
owned family business with the desire to be an international
player as well. We share a common vision in terms of managing
and developing the company. We want to transplant Swedese’s
positions and spread the notions of sustainability, balance and
simplicity to an international arena,” explains Monica Förster.
“There is a direct link between Monica’s working method and
that which Yngve Ekström and Swedese represent. It’s a Scandi-
navian sense of simplicity, an appreciation for craftsmanship and
the tactile; quite simply, producing furniture that makes people
feel good,” says Sonnie Byrling, CEO.
In parallel with the company’s work for Swedese, Monica Förster
Design Studio will continue in its role as designer for various
Swedish and international companies.
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H I S T O R Y
Friends for life.
When brothers Yngve and Jerker founded their furniture
carpentry shop in Vaggeryd in 1945, they had a clear vision.
They were going to dedicate their genuine skills to mak-
ing furniture with the human being in focus. The younger
brother supposedly said “Let’s just get started, and we’ll
figure it out as we go”, probably well aware that their con -
scientiousness and curiosity about nature’s own mate-
rial would echo through the forests of Småland. But the
question is: Did he even dare to imagine that his and his
brother’s work would later be natural parts of thousands
of homes and workplaces all over the world?
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