New Josef Frank interpretations offered by international textile talents

A new world of prints with influences from Asia, Europe and North America is taking shape as Svenskt Tenn has invited international design students to create contemporary interpretations of classic Josef Frank prints. Three of resulting designs are now added to Svenskt Tenn’s regular range of fabrics and textile interior products.

”We were curious about how young designers of today are viewing Josef Frank’s work and how contemporary interpretations of his designs would turn out,” says Thommy Bindefeld, Marketing Director at Svenskt Tenn. “From the resulting pattern images, we learn how one of the premier designers of our time continues to inspire new generations.”

Ten students, from Tama Art University in Japan, Rhode Island School of Design in the United States, The Royal College of Art, School of Design in the UK, The Stockholm University of Arts, Crafts and Design, and The Swedish School of Textiles, now showcase their works in the exhibition “Ten Textile Talents”, at the Svenskt Tenn store in Stockholm. Kotone Utsunomiya of Japan will see the iconic large Liljevalchs sofa by Josef Frank upholstered using her print design, which is also added to Svenskt Tenn’s regular range.

”As I started to examine various plants, it felt like an entire universe unfolding from within each specimen, and when I then saw Josef Frank’s ‘Mirakel’ pattern, I got the impression that he had made precisely the same discovery himself,” Kotone says. ”I hope that my work ’The Story of Flowers’ will enable other people see the same, and it feels great to realize this through Svenskt Tenn.”

Kotone’s work will join the Svenskt Tenn range along with ”Dear Josef Frank” by Haruka Udo of Japan, and ”Chintz” by Swedish design student Lisa Englund. These patterns will be available as trays, pillows and piece-goods textiles, at the Strandvägen store and online. Other students participating in the exhibition are Cassie McGettigan, Charlotte Fairless, Chloe Flint, Sam Wilde, Malin Westman, Amandah Andersson and Julia Svantesson. All their Josef Frank interpretations are showcased in the ”Ten Textile Talents” exhibition through March 13, 2018.

Prices: cushions from SEK 900, fabric from SEK 1,100, trays from SEK 320.