Introducing Skagerak
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A new brand in the Lekker lineup has just touched down with timeless outdoor furniture, right as the sun is shining a little more consistently in Boston + elsewhere. So obviously, we wanted to give you a proper introduction to each other, especially if you're planning or visualizing a new outdoor setup.
Introducing Skagerak by Fritz Hansen
Like many of our brands, Skagerak by Fritz Hansen is based in Denmark, specifically Aalborg (Denmark's fourth-largest city), and was founded as a family business in 1976 by Jesper and Vibeke Panduro. Skagerak by Fritz Hansen focuses on designing furniture in a sustainable, holistic way, so it lasts for generations – you know we don’t align ourselves with any fast-furniture trying to pull the wool over our eyes or yours. Their name, Skagerak, refers to their northern location and to the strait Skagerrak that connects Denmark to its Nordic neighbors – a strait that has been crucial in developing the region.
Besides making pieces that age with grace, they hold themselves to some of the highest sustainability standards in the industry. They have been members of the UN Global Compact Act since 2010, a B Corp since 2017, and are working towards 100% of their wood being FSC-certified by the end of 2025.
A quick refresher on these important markers: first, the UN Global Compact Act is a voluntary initiative for CEOs to implement universal sustainability practices throughout their business and take steps to further UN goals around protecting the environment.
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Then to be classified as a B Corp, you must meet the highest social and environmental standards paired with company transparency and accountability through a rigorous assessment on a wide range of factors from anything like employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and materials used. As of 2021, our friends at Armadillo also became a certified B-Corp!
Besides these universal identifiers for the outside world, personal initiatives include Reclassic, in which they buy back pre-owned Skagerak pieces and carefully restore them for resale. This way, they keep their high-quality materials in circulation and lengthen the lifecycle of their designs. And perhaps, our favorite of all their environmental endeavors: they are planting a forest! This spring, they are planting 90,000 trees on 103 acres of land. The forest will reside in Denmark, in collaboration with Hedeselskabet, which for 155 years has been a leader within afforestation in Denmark.
Now that you know a little bit of their story and the integrity that goes into every piece they make, let’s talk designs.
Their Collection
Skagerak produces so many pieces we'll gab about eventually, but today we specifically want to discuss their outdoor designs, as the only conversations worth having after a New England winter revolves around being outside the house, immersed in nature.
Lilium
Inspired by the shape of a lily pad, the Lilium collection, was designed by renowned BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) as outdoor furniture that can also be used inside for the ultimate versatility and is the only outdoor collection that uses both steel and teak in combination! All of Skagerak’s outdoor pieces are made of solid teak (and is the only wood you should ever invest in for the outdoors) because teak has a high content of natural oils that makes it incredibly resistant to all types of seasonal weather (sun, rain, snow) without losing strength.
Selandia
The slightly curved Selandia collection is a classic look with a nod to French references and Scandinavian utility. Selandia is characterized by its flexible style and the endless combinations of its seven different pieces, making it the largest of Skagerak’s outdoor collections. One of our favorites is the 2-seater designed by Anders & Lars Hegelund below.
Skagen
One of Skagerak's most iconic series, Skagen, is named after a port town at the north end of Denmark’s Jutland peninsula. Designed by Mogens Holmriis, the solid yet artistic collection is characterized by the cross back of the seating and overall cubic form, drawing reference to a late 19th-century ambiance in Skagen when many of Denmark's most famous painters and writers lived in the area. The collection is comprised of the Skagen Bench, Chair, and Table.
