A Bright and Peaceful Easter

Fashion Diary…

A pair of worn-out jeans, a polo shirt, caps and sandals – the revival of the early 1990s trends continues into spring with easy essentials featuring sporty, minimalist, relaxed references. Skip into spring with styles suited to city leisure or active days in nature.

By Åsa H. Aaberge | Press photos

A casual yet elegant white shirt is a seasonless wardrobe staple to wear and cherish forever. The Liv shirt from Norwegian brand Julie Josephine offers a feminine, classic silhouette. It looks nonchalant and chic tucked into jeans with rolled-up sleeves and paired with minimalist gold or silver jewellery. Julie Josephine, Liv shirt, €210 www.juliejosephine.com

Keep an oversized, comforting crewneck handy all spring – and summer too. The white and navy striped crewneck from Swedish Soft Goat, knitted in a delicate cotton and cashmere blend, looks smart thrown over the shoulders and tied around the neck. It is ideal for crisp spring days when it’s not warm enough to go without a sweater, yet not cold enough to keep it on all day. Soft Goat, striped crewneck, €250 www.softgoat.com

With miniskirts being one of the biggest trends for spring, opt for one with a washed denim look for a casual 1990s vibe. Pair with white trainers, tennis socks and a chunky sweater through spring. Sporty, cute and comfy. Rodebjer, denim skirt, €215 www.rodebjer.com

This is a two-in-one kind of jacket as it is reversible with forest green harlequin quilt on one side and soft, beige teddy material on the other. The Summer House Jacket from Danish H2O Fagerholt works as nicely with jeans, a shirt and wellies at the cabin as it does with a flowy dress for sunny café hangouts. H2O Fagerholt, New Summer House Jacket, €270 www.h2ofagerholt.com

Athleisure is in fashion and with it comes the cap – for both leisure and movement. The Eli cap from WoodWood is a great option to add a pop of colour and comfort to your outfit, with a breathable cotton fabric and an adjustable back strap for a comfortable fit. Plus, with a cap, you are guaranteed no more bad hair days. WoodWood, Eli cap, €55 www.woodwood.com

The versatile options of a shirtand-jeans combo are endless. Wear the shirt open and the jeans a size too big for an everyday look as suggested by Danish Samsøe & Samsøe. As for shoes, slip into leather sandals that take you through the upcoming warmer months with a casual, sporty ambience. Jeans, €129 Leather sandals, €119 Linen and cotton shirt, €129 www.samsoe.com

Knitted in a spring-appropriate mix of wool and cotton, this polo shirt from Swedish Filippa K is a key piece for numerous occasions onwards. Filippa K, knitted polo shirt, €150 www.filippa-k.com

A light cotton coat is a must-have for spring. It is perfect for layering when the temperatures swing between lingering winter and full-on summer. This dark olive Acne Studios coat has a relaxed fit with pleating at the back and a buckled belt for events that call for a more fitted silhouette. Acne Studios, relaxed fit coat, €770 www.acnestudios.com

We Love This

In Scandinavia, Easter is marked by a slew of charming but idiosyncratic customs. Norwegians go skiing, Greenlanders go to the fjord and Swedes go to the summer house. Finns decorate willow branches and Danes exchange anonymous, handmade greeting cards. Distilled, they come down to this: saying farewell to darkness, embracing spring’s new life, and feasting like a king. So, here are our design picks to bring light, greenery and dinner-table cheer to your Easter.

By Lena Hunter | Press photos

Stockholm-based designer Kunsik Choi created the arresting Ihop Glass Vase as an homage to a ‘mystical’ glassblowing atelier he stumbled upon in southern Sweden. “The way the craftsmen handled the softened glass and shaped it with their breath was divine,” recalls Choi. ‘Ihop’ means ‘together’ in Swedish, and the vase accordingly marries two conflicting shapes and techniques: a cylindrical, moulded base and a ballooning, hand-blown neck. “Two forms become one, each emphasising the other,” says Choi. Ihop Glass Vase by Kunsik Choi, €195 www.kunsik.com

It is a Finnish custom to burn bonfires to ward off witches and evil spirits. Light your own mini bonfire with Swedish design studio Lith Lith Lundin’s exquisite Dawn tealight holder, made of charred birch wood. Its weighty look is both grounded and graceful, and every piece is unique. Lith Lith Lundin sources and manufactures every design within a 50-kilometre radius of Torsåker – a petite rural parish steeped in ancient Pagan history. Dawn Candleholder by Lith Lith Lundin, €62 www.lithlithlundin.se

In Scandinavia, the Easter feast is punctuated by shots of fiery schnapps. They’re a mark of respect and camaraderie. Whether you prefer an ice-cold Danish akvavit or the Swedish brännvin or vodka, the stately Glass Leopard Bottle by Madam Stolz, crafted on the Danish island of Bornholm, will add finesse to the whole affair. The pattern and dark mahogany tones pay homage to mid-century Danish glassware, while the voluptuous form references art-deco. If you’re going to serve schnapps, do it with panache. Glass Leopard Bottle by Madam Stoltz, €43.50 www.madamstoltz.dk

Danish label Rosendahl believes the everyday can be beautiful. Easter brunch – which turns an ordinary ritual into a ceremony – is grounded in the same thought. Bring a little poetry to your brunch with the Hammerhøi Poppy series: the bonbonniere is perfect for hiding Easter eggs, while the matching eggcups complete the set. Watercolour artist Rikke Jacobsen painted the floral motifs in varying stages of bloom to capture the idea of ‘budding’ – “as when a new day starts at the breakfast table”. Rosendahl Hammerhøi Poppy bonbonniere, €47 Rosendahl Hammerhøi Poppy eggcups, two for €31 www.rosendahl.com

Finland’s Easter traditions are rooted in Russian Orthodox rituals, in which willow branches – the north’s answer to palm – are decorated on Palm Sunday. In her line of folk-chic pendant lamps, Finnish designer Maija Puoskari finds a playful, functional approach to bringing willow – and a little fantasy – into the home. The Hiippa lamp series, with lightshades of turned willow wood and a willow-root ‘stem’ that is pulled to switch the light on, is inspired by Finland’s “undisturbed forest and the tiny mushrooms that grow there”. Hiippa Lighting by Maija Puoskari, from €2,200 www.adorno.design

Inspired by the space where digital and physical artforms meet, Swedish atelier Wang & Söderström creates sculptural vases that double up as objets d’art. First, 3D designs are used to build models, which are then moulded in porcelain and stoneware at a local ceramic workshop. In an imaginative range of organiclooking designs and colours, they breathe fresh air into displaying spring’s first flora in any interior context. Vase by Wang & Söderström for Hay, from €79 www.hay.dk

DockATot baby pods marry fashion with function

When Lisa Furuland Kotsianis founded her mother and baby care product brand in 2006, it offered just one product – pods. Today, DockATot has become a global brand, relied on by millions of parents, with an award-winning product range that includes everything from futons and baskets to play tents.

By Linda A. Thompson | Photos: DockATot

It’s not uncommon for parents-to-be to feel overwhelmed by the transition into parenthood. Many new parents also feel forced into preconceptions of the products they need and what those should look like.

Lisa Furuland Kotsianis felt the exact same way after the birth of her first son. Determined that fashion and function could make a happy marriage, she set out to make a change.

The business she ended up creating from her home in Norrtälje, a town on Sweden’s east coast, offers new parents premium pods and loungers that balance aesthetics and functionality – a rare combination in the mother and baby care products market.

“Whether someone comes to DockATot because they’re attracted to our aesthetics or because we were recommended to them as a ‘must-have’ for function, I think parents are surprised to find that we offer solutions that combine and balance both,” Furuland Kotsianis explains. “We subscribe to the quote by the celebrated British designer William Morris: ‘Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.’” The DockATot pods provide safe and comfortable spaces for the supervised lounging, cuddling and playing of little ones, and at the same time have become industry leaders in design, testing and fashion. “We seek to develop products that create lasting memories and stay with families for generations, with safety, functionality and luxury at the forefront of everything we do,” explains Furuland Kotsianis, adding that all their docks are made from the highest-grade materials and that they undergo extensive testing before being brought to the market.

Award-winning products in homes across the globe Over the years, the business that Furuland Kotsianis founded has developed into a global company, with the company’s team, supply chain and networks of suppliers today operating in multiple time zones across the world. The deci-

sion was also recently made to merge the brand’s name from SleepyHead of Sweden into that of its global sister company, DockATot. “By consolidating the two brands, we are better able to communicate with and bring together our community of parents and caregivers,” Kotsianis explains.

The company’s award-winning product range has also expanded with time and today features a broad range of statement-making solutions for feeding, travel, playtime, rest and the home. This includes, for instance, futons, nursing and decorative pillows, baskets and play tents, with dreamy, playful names like Strawberry Thief, Brer Rabbit and Ginger Shibori. The available styles are equally varied, from William Morris to highly fashion-led, on-trend patterns.

“What makes our brand truly unique is our approach to design and attention to detail,” Furuland Kotsianis explains. “Whether it’s achieving the most functional design of a dock or the prettiest tassel on a nursing pillow, every detail has been handcrafted and meticulously thought out.”

All the company’s products – no matter their aesthetic or function – meet DockATot’s key ethos of being both family-friendly and parent-proud. Furuland Kotsianis explains: “This means they should spark creativity, joy and imagination, or answer a very real need. We are dedicated to making things that enrich everyday life and enhance spaces in which memories are created.”

It’s an approach that has resonated with millions of new parents. Some products, like La Maman Wedge, for instance – a chic nursing pillow that also serves as a decorative cushion – have sold out numerous times.

How does Furuland Kotsianis look at the path she has travelled so far? “It’s been an incredible journey,” she says. “What started in Norrtälje as a solution for a frustrated parent has grown to be welcomed into families’ homes across the globe.”

The road ahead promises to be equally exciting, with new products on the horizon for the company’s line of baby essentials and its home collection product range.

Furuland Kotsianis will also be deepening the DockATot commitment to sustainability in the years and decades to come. “This is something our industry needs to provide more focus on as we think about the families we will serve in generations to come,” she says.

Web: www.dockatot.com Facebook: Dockatoteurope Instagram: @dockatoteurope

Lisa Furuland Kotsianis founded DockATot after the birth of her first son.

Ro Copenhagen: Reconnecting with inner peace

Jewellery can be evocative and inspirational, and do much more than simply enhance a look, an outfit, or a certain style. At Ro Copenhagen, they have a passionate approach to creating beautiful and meaningful jewellery, and they want each piece to help lift your spirit, to remind you to stay in the moment, and to centre yourself in you.

By Trine Jensen-Martin | Photos: Ro Copenhagen

Established in 2015, Ro Copenhagen (directly translated as ‘Calmness Copenhagen’) is a unique concept in jewellery making. The idea behind the name and the brand’s philosophy came from the designer finding a sense of inner peace in the very process of creating jewellery. “We truly believe in what we do,” explains Nanna Marie Lund from Ro Copenhagen. “We actively choose not to succumb to stress, and our designer only creates what feels right.” This is a company like no other, which at every stage of production and sales does things its own way, always with calm and a sense of purpose. The designer prefers not to take too much credit for her striking creations, and as a company they don’t yield to market demands; they don’t do ever-changing collections that follow the fashion calendar or trends, nor do they hold sales or succumb to mass production. They never compromise on their vision in order to fit with the market, with seasons or demands, because what they create must always feel right. And this is the very core of Ro Copenhagen: the calm that comes with something that just feels right.

Beautiful reminders of inner peace The jewellery made by Ro Copenhagen is created and crafted with the utmost care and attention to how the owner of each piece will feel when wearing it. “We hope that our customers will feel grounded by our pieces of jewellery,” says Lund, “that they will be reminded to just stop for a moment, to breathe in and to feel the calmness.”

Their approach to jewellery goes beyond the materials and the designs them-

selves; it is more about finding a sense of calm in the everyday, a place of peace inside. The focus for Ro Copenhagen is on creating pieces of jewellery that can help you reconnect with yourself. But the materials are hugely important too, as is the process of creation. There’s no rush at Ro Copenhagen – they wait for the right quality materials, and each piece of jewellery takes its time. They only use 18-carat yellow or white gold, as the longevity means that the pieces will last forever, and the stones and gems they use are all responsibly sourced. There’s no guilt attached, as each piece of jewellery is sustainable, durable and 100 per cent ethically obtained.

It’s all in the name “We try to create a brand where the name itself is crucial,” Lund explains. “There really is calm in everything at Ro Copenhagen.” Lund exudes that very sense of calm herself, and it’s also evident in the working environment at Ro Copenhagen. It’s crucial to the designer, who founded the company, and it is encouraged in every part of the business: from the initial ideas stage to the sourcing of metals and stones, through to sales.

“The name commits us to our vision and philosophy,” Lund elaborates. And this dedication extends to the suppliers and stockists they deal with. Most businesses, however small or large, tend to have plans for future change and expansion, but at Ro Copenhagen there’s a different approach. “We believe in every part of the process, we believe in our products and how we share the sense of calm with our customers, and we plan to stay as we are,” says Lund, passionately yet calmly.

With a very successful online shop and 46 stockists across Denmark, Norway, Spain, Germany and the UK, the team of only seven people at Ro Copenhagen remain calm and positive in the face of success, because they stick to their beliefs and live by them.

Ro signature diamond All the pieces created by Ro Copenhagen are characterised by simple, clean design, which is often seen as classically Danish. “The designer has a Danish minimalist approach to the design process,” Lund explains.

The style is classic and timeless, and much like the materials will last a lifetime, the design of the pieces will never go out of fashion, as they’re not created in response to trends. Each piece of jewellery has a tiny Ro signature diamond, which is a discreet nod to those wearing the piece. It is a beautiful, sparkly reminder to stop and look, to appreciate the piece and the moment, and to take time to breathe in, to step away from stress, and to connect with the calmness inside.

Web: rocopenhagen.com Facebook: Ro Copenhagen Instagram: @rocopenhagen

For the shape of you

“How hard can it be to make clothes that fit real women?” That’s the hard-hitting question that led to the launch of clothing brand Hedvig Stockholm. Run solely by dynamic duo Hedvig Andér and Maria Ahnström, this brand is the definition of organic growth – and it fits great, too.

By Emma Rodin | Photos: Peter Knutsson

Let’s cast our minds back a decade or so. This is the time when Hedvig Stockholm’s founding pair met via mutual friends and colleagues, together noticing a gap in the market for well-fitting, high-quality clothes that fit real women, not just plastic mannequins – clothes for everyone to feel proud and comfortable in, regardless of age, style or size.

Joining forces It seemed fitting for the duo to team up: Andér with her degree in costume design and considerable experience of heading up the Swedish theatre mecca Dramaten’s costume atelier, not to mention TV stylist gigs and a book release; and Ahnström with her extensive knowledge of pattern design, having worked for a range of well-known brands, as well as teaching her craft to students.

“We felt like form and function weren’t aligned in the clothes available,” explains Andér. “It seemed like a lot was just designed to look good on a hanger, with no or little thought given to how the piece would fit a living person,” she adds.

Hence, one of Hedvig Stockholm’s main values is care, which can be seen – and felt – in each collection since the very first one back in 2012.

Fit for spring Speaking of collections, Hedvig Stockholm’s S/S22 collection is now out, made up of wardrobe staples including tie dresses, versatile tops and flowy trousers. “As with all of our pieces, we’ve emphasised the fit and quality,” says Ahnström. “We’ve played around with flattering patterns and shapes, plus small but transformative details, like opting for a rounded hem instead of a straight one.” Another key characteristic of Hedvig Stockholm clothes is durability. Indeed, customers rave about this, showering the brand with love for creating clothes they can wear again and again.

Great fit aside, there’s more that separates this brand from others on the fashion scene – mainly long-term thinking. It might not seem obvious, but this comes with a strong environmental awareness, which is breathed into each part of the business. Transparency is key and sustainable measures are there because they should be, not because it’s trendy.

“Choosing more environmentally friendly materials, like those needing less water in production, is great. But that’s only a small part of the things we can do,” says Ahnström. “We pick materials with a lower order minimum to avoid excess fabric and over-production. We only sew as much as we need, never more.”

Additionally, the brand works closely with a small factory in Riga and has done so since the start. The tight relationship gives the founding duo a good oversight of production, working conditions and salaries for factory employees. “Being in control of each step of the process is crucial to us,” Ahnström asserts.

Thinking outside the box The brand also reuses existing samples from season to season, which allows for even less production and minimum waste. Another plus is the adjustable seams in each Hedvig Stockholm garment. This is ideal for anyone who moves up or down in size and doesn’t want to spend money on new clothes.

Hedvig Andér and Maria Ahnström, founders of Hedvig Stockholm. But perhaps the most original environmental effort is the way the brand uses boxes for shipping. “We have never, ever bought a single cardboard box to ship items in, and we’re very proud of this. Instead, we ask factories for reused boxes or just grab some from home,” Andér explains. And the same thinking goes for printing materials, or rather the lack thereof. For instance, shipping notes get printed on the back of existing invoices. “It’s about playing your part and doing everything you can for the planet and people. Big or small, everything goes,” says Andér.

A personal touch Shopping with Hedvig Stockholm can be a very personal experience, something much appreciated by customers. Via social media and email, Andér and Ahnström help shoppers find the right sizes to order by explaining the fit and more. This is also great from a sustainability point of view, as customers rarely need to order multiple sizes.

Andér and Ahnström are confident that as soon as you start wearing the Hedvig Stockholm fit, you’ll realise how important it is for your well-being. So whether you’re shorter, taller, rounder or slimmer, trust this duo to sort you out.

Web: www.hedvigstockholm.se Facebook: hedvigstockholm Instagram: @hedvigstockholm

30 years of passion for pleated fashion and upcycling

Design brand van Deurs is based on a love of fabrics and pleating craftmanship. The unique accessories are made with a sustainable design process and upcycling in mind.

By Malin Norman | Photo: Magnus Skoglöf

Stockholm-based van Deurs came to life in 1992, when Susanne Beskow graduated from the renowned Beckman’s College of Design, where she won the prestigious H&M Scholarship for her graduation collection consisting of pleated garments. She later travelled to the UK and was blown away by the pleating craftsmanship, which became the focus of her brand. The award-winning designer has exhibited at fashion and design weeks around the world, in places like Tokyo, Paris and New York, as well as in Stockholm.

For 30 years, Beskow has nurtured a passion for upcycling and a sustainable design process, transforming carefully selected fabrics and hand-picked vintage scarves from travels, into exclusive pleated accessories. “Design is an opportunity for upcycling,” she says. “We don’t need to produce more; instead, we can use existing fabrics and recreate them into something new, something that can be brought to life and loved again. This is what I’m passionate about: true upcycling.”

Over the years, van Deurs has collaborated with several brands and some designs can be seen in the collections at Nordiska Museet and Röhsska Museet. Beskow has used scarves from second-hand store Myrorna to make exclusive pleated bags sold at the luxury department store NK, a project that won her Formex Formidable in 2009. “This was upcycling deluxe!” she smiles. “By using waste fabrics, I managed to create something new and with an increased value.”

New designs are released a few times per year, all one-offs and numbered pieces. While the largest market is the US, where the brand has four boutiques, you can find the designs at selected stores in Sweden, as well as online.

Web: www.vandeurs.se Facebook: van-Deurs Instagram: @vandeurs_sthlm

Langsamt is sustainable slow clothing with passion

Slow clothing may be a new concept to many. But for Langsamt, it is a way of reducing our footprint on this planet.

By Robin Dixen Eggert | Photo: Johanne Kjærum

Slow clothing might well be a fresh approach to fashion to most of us. However, for owner of Langsamt, Johanne Kjærum, it has become both her way of life and livelihood. The idea behind slow clothing is to offer a direct alternative to a fastpaced fashion industry, where perfectly fine clothes are discarded to make room for the newest collections. It goes without saying that every piece of discarded clothing is a waste.

Slow clothing is also a term that emphasises the need to produce lasting clothes – clothes that last more than just one summer, and clothes that you would want to wear until they are worn out. But there is much more to it than that, of course. Besides the fact that Langsamt helps to reduce the actual waste of materials, it is important for Kjærum that the entire supply chain is as sustainable as possible; for instance, by making sure that the people who produce the clothes are working under the right conditions.

Another way to have a sustainable supply chain is for Langsamt to work with small, independent Danish brands and designers, whose impressive craftsmanship you can see for yourself in Langsamt’s stores in Roskilde and Copenhagen. It is a tremendous amount of work that goes into it all. If you visit Langsamt’s website, you’ll find no less than 11 certifications. Naturally, not all 11 are applied to every single piece of clothing, but the fact that Langsamt is at least making heavy strides towards this, shows just how much slow clothing means to them.

Web: www.langsamt.com Facebook (Langsamt Copenhagen): langsamtstore Facebook (Langsamt Roskilde): langsamtroskilde Instagram: @langsamtstore

Danish fashion label PAROL is making business-chic comfortable

“Everything I do is inspired by women,” says Irina Berg, the founder and designer of Danish womenswear label PAROL.

By Lena Hunter | Press photos

But the brand’s story begins outside the fashion industry. “I worked in finance – I was wearing a lot of stiff business jackets. During the day I had meetings, followed by dinners with clients in the evenings. I almost needed to wheel a suitcase of clothes around with me!” she jokes.

“I had always dreamed that someone would make clothes for busy businesswomen, that are both smart and comfortable – so they can be worn from morning to evening.”

So, in 2003, Berg launched PAROL to do just that. “When you feel well-dressed, your inner beauty blooms and you show the best of yourself,” she says.

Chic and versatile “Aesthetically, I’m inspired by the female form, and designers like Chanel,” says Berg. The Chanel influence is clear in the lightweight Florentina Bermuda shorts and blazer set, which nod to the fitted formal jackets of the storied Haute Couture maison.

But with its summery floral motif, round neck and matching white piping and buttons, the jacket suits informal situations too. “The material is light,” explains Berg. “It’s soft and fully lined with breathable fabric.” The Elsa Dress Vest is another chameleon number. Wear open with a pair of trousers, and flash the glossy two-toned lining, or button up as a casual, French-style afternoon dress. “The lining is such a stylish detail: it’s inner beauty in a literal sense!” says Berg.

The Patricia silk top is a bestseller. With a lace-embellished, sweetheart neckline and adjustable spaghetti straps, it works as an underlay but wears beautifully alone. “I always wear it myself,” says Berg. “I’m so comfortable in PAROL, and my clients say the same.”

Consciously produced For Berg, natural, consciously sourced materials are crucial. The Anna pleated culottes are lined with bamboo fabric. “It’s so breathable – it’s like a second skin. Plus, bamboo is easy to grow and can be harvested multiple times,” she says.

Production is based in Estonia – a move that reduces shipping distance and emissions. “It’s more expensive, but it’s an ethical decision that I’m proud to stand by,” says Berg.

The newest addition to the family is PAROL Zero Waste – a line of keyrings and patterned hair scarves made from fabric offcuts. “It’s an expansion of our design world and actively reduces waste,” says Berg.

Web: www.parol.dk Instagram: @parol.dk