“Artek reimagined by Paul Smith” is a new limited collection which sees Sir Paul Smith—a long-time admirer of Aino and Alvar Aalto’s work—lend his inimitable style to three Aalto products: Stool 60, Screen 100, and Coat Rack 109.

The Signature Stripe and the Finnish forest

The leading British design company applies their Signature Stripe to Stool 60 in a way that considers the aesthetics of both brands. While Paul Smith’s Signature Stripe is traditionally composed of 40 different colours, the collaboration uses a considered palette of 4 different wood stains, reflecting Artek’s connection with the Finnish forest. The underside of the stool uses Paul Smith’s customary colour through the application of a bold Klein blue to the bottom of the seat, referencing the vibrant linings that are often applied to Paul Smith suits.

The second piece in the collection is Screen 100, which sees five wood colours repeat to create a muted version of the Signature Stripe, underlining the quality of the natural materials used. The fine pinewood strips have been individually stained using Artek’s own walnut and honey stain finishes alongside three custom stains made especially for this collection. Coat Rack 109 is brought out from the Artek archives exclusively for this collection and uses the same colourway found on the screen and stool. Each piece in the collection is made in Finland using wood from nearby Finnish forest, with the same innovative techniques that have been developed and refined for almost 90 years.

Artek Reimagined by Paul Smith launches on 12th September with a special installation at Tramshed during London Design Festival which aims to emphasise the connection between interior and fashion design. The collection will be exclusively distributed by Paul Smith, selling online at paulsmith.com, and in selected Paul Smith shops.