Ashes to ashes

The Sotamaas are back in their father’s house. The latest project by the Finnish siblings is to revamp Hanaholmen, the cultural centre that once was decorated by Yrjö Sotamaa.

There’s a strong focus on making fashion clothes more sustainable with a longer lifespan. But what happens if you turn the argument around? Can throwaway fashion become the greenest alternative, if it’s made in biodegradable material?

Last autumn, ceramic artist Hertha Hillfon passed away at the age of 92. Her works are now to be sold at auction. Thereby dies the dream of a museum for the legendary designer.

Luigi Serafini’s psychedelic cult classic Codex Seraphinianus went viral last autumn, when it was reissued by Rizzoli. Filipe Balestra was granted an exclusive session with the media shy mystic in Rome.

The Kingdom of Crystal in Sweden is fading away, but Iittala is booming. Salka Hallström Bornold and Carl Hjelte went behind the scenes in Finland’s hottest factory and met Oiva Toikka, as well as the world champions of Aalto-vase blowing.

Gigantic arenas without visitors and liabilities in the billions. That’s the traditional aftermath of the Olympics. But London saw it as a way to create a new, sustainable district. Kathryn Firth is the urban surgeon extraordinaire who leads the way.

For the new fashion generation, craftsmanship takes centre stage. Meet the designers who defy mass production and could become the next fashion phenoms.

After the Swedish general election in September, there may be a change of government. But so far, design politics have been neglected. Salka Hallström Bornold interrogates the seven parliamentary parties and dreams up as many future scenarios.

When hipsters become parents, they not only leaven their own cabbage. It also happens that they create interesting children’s design in GOTS certified cotton. Meet the micro fashion designers, kiddy fashion’s own sourdough bakers.

Would it be possible to leave Facebook and throw away the key? Where are all the savages and clowns? Carl Fredrik Holtermann has grown weary of the whitewashed design world of today and yearns for an escape, like Houdini out of his straitjacket.