Fabian reborn as Fagerhult turns 70

Fagerhult celebrates 70 years and resumes production of a Swedish classic. The stylish Fabian is a 1970s icon that once could be found in virtually every home in Scandinavia. Just as innovative now as it was then!

(Swedish version below in pdf-format)

Mentioning Fabian usually brings a smile of recognition to the lips of many Scandinavians. The chubby little plastic luminaire – initially intended as a bedroom lamp but later comprising a complete collection of floor standing, pendant and table luminaires – was a common sight in Swedish homes in the 1970s and 1980s. In all, four million Fabian units were sold! 

As one of the very first plastic luminaires on the market, Fabian was an immediate success. The reasonable price, a combination of materials and smart solutions which facilitated rational production, and the many lovely colours provided the inspiration for a new and more generous way of illuminating homes.

“Fabian was launched in 1969 and was groundbreaking in many ways. The courage to create a luminaire made from an entirely new and untested material was typical of Fagerhult. Fabian was the start of a new era, in which Fagerhult was seen as the obvious forerunner in plastic luminaires. In the 1970s, a number of iconic luminaires were launched, including Cobra and Lucifer,” says Fagerhult's product manager Peter Björkman, who has been entrusted with the task of developing a new, updated Fabian for the 2010s.

The new Fabian is designed for public environments and the plastic shade has been replaced with shades in opaque glass or lacquered steel. There is a pendant version of Fabian which is perfect for ambient lighting in various settings – from offices to cafes, bars and hotels.

“The vast range of choices makes it easy to adapt Fabian to different interior design themes. The luminaire is available in 26 standard colours, as well as an exclusive version in opaque glass, making it possible to create unique customer projects", concludes Peter Björkman.

True to its innovative heritage, the reborn Fabian has also been updated with the latest technology: a superefficient, dimmable and long-life LED light source. A child of its time!

Fabian facts

Launched:1969

Design: Håkan Fransson

Name: The name Fabian was the result of a competition in which Fagerhult employees were invited to submit suggestions for names. The name was inspired by the company's telex address, which featured the abbreviation “FAB”.

Siblings: The first Fabian luminaire was intended as a bedside luminaire, but the family soon grew to include floor standing, pendant and table luminaires. A Swedish glass manufacturer even started to produce tumblers for beer and schnapps inspired by the Fabian design. The birth of Fabian coincided with the birth of the son of one of the company's employees. The son was also named Fabian, and he actually worked as a truck operator at the Fagerhult warehouse for a number of years.

Culture: Fabian is represented at the Swedish National Museum, where the luminaire features in the museum's design collections.