In the brisk winter week of February 3-9, 2025, Stockholm once again proved its mettle as a nexus of Scandinavian design, hosting Stockholm Design Week alongside the Stockholm Furniture Fair (Feb 4-8, 2025). Initiated in 2002 by the fair, the design week has become a pillar for architects, designers and enthusiasts, offering a rich tapestry of events across the city — from exclusive galleries to vibrant showrooms and cultural gatherings.
At The Fair
This year, however, the tone was notably subdued, reflecting broader economic challenges and geopolitical tensions affecting Sweden and Europe at large. Russia’s war is always in the background and the threat of global tariffs added to a gloomy atmosphere. The usual buzz of the fairgrounds was less pronounced, with quieter halls and fewer attendees than in years past. Despite this, the week was rich in content, with robust talks and presentations that maintained the event’s reputation as a cradle of innovative design thinking.
The fair showcased the work of 250 exhibitors and hosted more than 100 events scattered around the city. Faye Toogood was the fair’s Guest of Honor (she was also Designer of the Year at Maison et Objet last month), but she created an entirely different installation for the Stockholm fair. Entitled “Manufracture,” the exhibition revealed the studio’s fascinating process through drawings, maquettes and prototypes that help evolve a design to its finality.
Our standout picks all highlighted sustainable thinking married with craftmanship and innovation: Fogia’s new Pico lounge chair, designed by Andreas Engesvik, creates an informal and cosy feel that was surprisingly light, while also being a well-crafted and slightly eccentric seating solution. Gärsnäs and stararchitect Kengo Kuma joined forces to create the HidaHida chair, an exciting hybrid of Japanese and Scandinavian design that focused on the importance of craftsmanship and materials. “With HidaHida, I wanted to capture the softness of the human body’s form,” said Kuma. “Often the backs of chairs are hard, but here the felt is light and comfortable. The chair embraces you. A hanging skirt at the back elevates the chair’s conviviality and associates it with elegance and fashion.”
Swedish furniture brand Blä Station collaborated with David Ericsson to create the “Protect Your Rights,” or P.Y.R. chair designed as a celebration of simplicity that also made a statement about design fakes and copies. “P.Y.R is more than just a product – it’s a movement,” according to Blä Station. “It is a reminder that the simple can be the strongest. But also a challenge: How do we protect the original in a time where copying or ‘strongly inspired by,’ has become the norm?”
One of the highlights of the furniture fair is the Greenhouse section that showcases young and emerging designers. The work was frequently centered around themes of circularity and craftsmanship. The designers to watch are Bundle Studio, JLF with its fun Book Monster chair, and Jokinen Konu with his superb Monuments stools.
Across town, the narrative of Scandinavian design’s endurance continued, with smaller venues and studios taking a more prominent role in the absence of larger, splashier exhibits. This shift highlights a broader trend in the industry towards more direct-to-consumer engagement, a necessity in a time of tightened budgets and economic uncertainty.
Notably, the fair also coincided with discussions about “3 Days of Design” in Copenhagen, a newer, glamorous design event that has quickly stolen some of the spotlight. This budding rivalry spurred introspective conversations among Swedish designers and attendees about the strategic positioning of Stockholm’s event during the harsh Nordic winter compared to Copenhagen’s summery allure.
Photo courtesy the manufacturer
Contract and B2C Brands Strong Presence
Despite these challenges, there was an air of indefatigable spirit at the week’s events. Here you can see the flourishing of B2C brands like &Tradition, Carl Hansen, and Offecct that really work for all sectors, and showcased its adaptability, and a focus on sustainability and innovation. At &Tradition, Luca Nichetto designed the Muno lounge chairs and footstool collection that exemplified the essence of Scandinavian design with its simplicity and elegance. “Our aim was to create a versatile product that resonates in both residential and contract environments,” said Nichetto. “With Muno, we’ve achieved a perfect balance of classic Scandinavian design infused with a subtle touch of luxury — creating the ideal setting to relax with your favorite drink, whether it’s a cognac or whiskey.”
Over at Carl Hansen, the Danish designer Anker Bak’s Wall Desk stood at as perfect for anyone who needs an elegant and functional solution for a work space limited by space. This flat-packed design consists of a slim oak or laminate tabletop with a softly rounded edge that serves as a comfortable armrest, and an optional Wall Desk Drawer that can be mounted underneath or placed directly on the desk as a laptop stand.
Offecct, another contract furniture brand, debuted the Circulus modular sofa system by Mario Ferrarini that can be configured in multiple ways, and even repaired or replaced when needed — it’s sustainable thinking that North American manufacturers are still slow to embrace. No glue or staples are needed for the upholstery, for example, making it easy to remove if it every needed to be repaired.
Soundproofing experts Baux collaborated with Form Us With Love who’s X-Felt product showcased beautiful large format acoustic panels and tiles which were nod to Japanese Zen gardens.
High End Retail Weighs In
High-end retail brands like Swedish retailer Nordiska Galleriet and Jacksons Gallery also stepped up to create great design experiences to promote the latest design and emerging designers. Nordiska Galleriet launched designs by Axel Wannberg and Sami Kallio — two designers who come from a background of furniture cabinetmaking. Wannberg showed his limited-edition Lamp 53 table lamp made from powder-coated steel (available in blue, mustard yellow and grey), and Kallio debuted his Empire chair, inspired by 1920s architecture that features a frame made of solid ash paired with a woven seat crafted from custom-made webbing produced in Sweden.
Local bigwigs Claesson Koivisto Rune launched a few new products, collaborating with Skultana on brass candleholders, stunning glassware for Orrefors, as well as curating a vintage design exhibition Aiiro with the Jackson Gallery, which focused on unknown objects by famous designers. The show drew inspiration from a striking blue carpet by Astrid Sampe and included rare pieces including Hans Wegner’s super rare crocodile cabinet.
At the auction house Bukowskis, the auction house showcased the work of Scottish silversmith David Taylor (who lives and works in Sweden) and 25 exclusive aluminum objects he created, including a standout digital clock.
Even collectors and designers are getting in on the act. For example, growing from the interior design concept of a newly renovated apartment, the talented interior design firm Matsson & Marnell presented a one-day exhibition of designs by friends of the designers as well as showcased the interior architecture of Norell/Rodhe, blurring the line between home and show.
The Swedish Furniture Market
The Swedish furniture industry is one of the country’s most important sectors, with some 30,000 employees and sales of 2.6 billion euros, most of which is for export to the European Union, Norway and the U.S. (Compare this to Italy, for example, which showed a 3.1% drop in revenues in 2024, according to the FederlegnoArredo). The Swedish furniture numbers are also impressive considering the Swedish housing market is down about 25%.
Moving Forward
Regional trade shows, like Maison & Objet, 3 Days of Design in Copenhagen, Helsinki Design Week, and the Valencia Furniture Fair, offer the visitor the option of frequently exploring smaller family-owned furniture brands, as well as discover the next generation of emerging talent that you will see in a few years at a bigger fair like Salone del Mobile in Milan. The growing success of 3 Days of Design in June is perhaps the biggest threat these days to any furniture fair globally, which is even more enticing to Scandinavian brands who would rather exhibit in summertime Copenhagen than Stockholm in the dead of winter.[Text Wrapping Break]
The fair may have been quieter this year, but it was no less significant. It offered a glimpse into the evolving landscape of design, where community, sustainability and innovation converge to shape the future. As Stockholm looks ahead to its next iteration, it remains a beacon of hope and creativity, promising a resurgence as vibrant as any in its storied past. For the American visitor attending Stockholm Design Week, it is an opportunity to rediscover the city and Scandinavia’s design-driven culture, where there’s always inspiration anywhere you look.
The next edition of Stockholm Design Week runs February 2–8, 2026.