When you visit Scandinavian countries you get a sense that design just comes naturally. Of course the global powerhouse that is
Ikea began in Sweden and embodies the total idea of Scandinavian design.
When it comes to shoe design there are a slew of very talented designers making waves in footwear. The main features of Scandinavian design are architectural shapes (something I'm a huge fan of) and the use of stark and bright colours. The use of different materials like wood and patent in one shoe is another key look.
The lead image features some of Andreas Lonn collection. Lonn, a London based designer originally hailing from Sweden,
was interviewed in the famed Dazed Digital and is quoted as saying:
"Modern designers for me are interesting if they are modern and try to evolve fashion, like Marios Schwab did with his laser cutting show for a/W 2008... Anything romancing the old, I prefer the originals not because of design but for the techniques they used."
Clearly Scandinavia and the surrounding countries have developed a strong sense of quality and design and paid homage to it, not swaying, hoping to evolve design and in turn fashion through experimentation and sound technique.
Julia Hederus, a swedish designer, collaborated with K-Swiss and came up with these geometric sneakers. Check out
the site.
Finnish born designer Julia Lundsten is another Scandinavian superstar designer with her label
Finsk. The use of different materials is particularly eyecatching.
Lucky Melbournians can check out
Swensk, an all Scandinavian store in Melbourne's Little Collins street.
P.S. Finland isn't officially part of Scandinavia but it was easier to include the lovely country.