Clairvoyant by Cheap Monday Part II is the latest line of sunglasses from Swedish denim giant Cheap Monday. The new line of vintage inspired shades range from the classic aviator style to the 90ies inspired circular style in tons of summery colors – all unisex. The sunglasses bargain for $35 in Cheap Monday’s flag ship stores located in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Copenhagen. Brooklyn boutique Alter carries the line stateside.

By LK

Asa Westlund’s shoe line, There Goes The Neighborhood has taken the traditional Swedish clog and revamped them into something new and trendy. The quality of the classic clog is still there, all of Westlund’s products are hand-painted and totally unique—think of them as foot art.
Read more MDH’s piece in The Swede Beat’s Spring issue here
Available at Tjallamalla in Sweden

BEA SZENFELD
Fashion designer Bea Szenfeld is like sunshine in the Winter.
She founded her self entitled brand in 2002 and is known for a playful attitude combined with
killer competence. She adores the past so vintage and recycling are essential in her design,
and her pieces often stem from unconventional materials.
(One of my all-time favorites, the avantgardish pasta-dress, being one example.)
Still, her innovative creations never loses its sophistication; wrapped up in a Bea-dress
you always feel marvelous.

Her way of treating fashion like art is observable in her collections, as well as in the various side projects
- there’s usually a thought-provoking idea behind them.

This weekend her exhibition “Sur La Plage” opened at Designgalleriet in Stockholm.
The haute papier collection is inspired by the ocean and conjoins the 50’s silhouette – wasp-like waists and ample width -
with futuristic and architectonic compositions.
“I made up the phrase Haute Papier”, Bea says. “It’s a French word game combining the highest form of tailoring, Haute Couture,
with my favorite material: paper.”

The exhibition stays open until the end of April.

By ETS

ANN SOFIE BACK + CHEAP MONDAY
Swedish fashion designer Ann Sofie Back decided after 10 years of calling London as her home to move back to Stockholm, Sweden to venture two new projects as a fashion designer. Last year her she opened her first very own brand store, “Hostage”. The store carries Back’s collection and portrays her for flair for ground breaking fashion very well.
The relocation also coincided with Ann Sofie Back’s new responsibility as head designer of Swedish denim brand Cheap Monday. She shares the duty of designing for a forward-thinking denim favorite together with founder Örjan Andersson.

Pictures of Ann Sofie Back’s first collection with Cheap Monday
(pics from Refinery29)

Collection available world-wide.

By LK

Watch the creative reel of Minimarket s underline Mini for Many, a collection that cater to the younger fashionistas in search of innovative designs and inspiring outfits at affordable prices.

Minimarket Film SS10 from Minimarket on Vimeo.

NINA HEARTS HOPE

Fashion muse/pop singer Nina Persson – from The Cardigans and A Camp – collaborates
with Swedish clothing brand HOPE for their Autumn/Winter 2010 collection.
We always get excited when the fashion world flirt with our favorite musicians,
but in this case it’s an excelling case of love at first sight.
Nina was granted ‘best dressed female’ by Swedish Elle already in the year 2000 and ever
since she’s just grown more secure in her impeccable and personal style.
She describes the project like a dream come true: To be able to design the clothes I
mentally picture but never seem to find in any stores.
HOPE that is known for their low key refinement, strong detailing and manufacturing
skills – are pleased to join forces with what they call ‘an international style icon with
integrity’. The collection consists of roughly ten pieces and during a little preview at Stockholm
Fashion week we spotted ballerina-inspired skirts, a printed wrap-dress and an autumn
coat with an air of vintage. Very stylish, very Nina.

The limited line won’t appear in stores until August 2010 but as they say
- fashionable things come to those who wait.
www.hope-sthlm.com/
www.myspace.com/acamptheband
www.myspace.com/thecardigans

BY ETS

ACNE POP CLASSICS

Stockholm based Acne takes sophisticated simplicity to a whole other level. Acne’s Pop Classics collection for men and women has grunge influences yet never looks messy or over worked. The men’s collection is eerily reminiscent of Keanu Reeve’s wardrobe circa the early 1990s — denim and cotton — very relaxed, cool and unaffected. Pop Classics for women has several crisp rompers, lithe tees and platforms which add a bit of sass to the understated collection. While the pieces are made to stand on their own; combined they create several looks fit for the office, a no fuss night out or a stroll.

By KG

H&M GARDEN COLLECTION

It’s with huge anticipation we welcome the H&M’s spring launch of “The Garden line”. Though most of us are still bundled up in thick scarfs, hats and gloves we can all picture ourselves in these beautiful pieces for spring 2010.

The line is fully made out of sustainable materials, fully recycled PET bottles or textile waste. Sustainable materials include: Organic cotton and Organic linen that has been grown without the use of hazardous chemicals; and Tencel silky, renewable material produced with minimal environmental impact.

Once again H&M has pushed the envelop, proving that Eco-friendliness don’t necessary have to be boring looking. According to the Swedish fashion force, we will greet spring in these fashion forward yet wearable pieces that are offered in gorgeous and delicious colors. Inspiration is taken from that 70′s hippie flower power chic- stretching as far as a vision of sun drenched landscapes and sharp colors from our backyard gardens.

The Garden collection features a wide selection of pieces that should please you no matter what your personal style is. Flowy dresses for a afternoon BBQ to a sexy “Valentino red” ruffled dress for evening. You’ll find a frilly romantic chiffon dress made from recycled polyester, pair that with the organic linen biker jacket for a full look.
Although most of these pieces are on the casual side, this full range line allows you to mix and match as you please. Incorporate the sophisticated racer back top with the technicolor bubble skirt and with the change of your shoes you can go from day-evening in one take. And isn’t that what we all are looking for pieces that work as well in your work wardrobe as for your party outfits?

Fave picks include the the floral bustier, linen biker jacket, simple racer back tops and the ruffled shorts.
Unlike many other organic and environmental friendly clothes, this line won’t cost you an arm and a leg, in true H&M spirit it’s very well priced with the most expensive piece being the beige anorak at $49.95. Line is to drop nationwide on March 25th pick and choose between, outerwear, tops, blouses, dresses, shorts, pants and you can even pick up a pair of ballerinas and some scrunchies if you can’t get enough of the floral explosion.

Written by Louise Lund

SAGA LOVA
According to the designer herself, Saga Lova is about ‘the fun of dressing up,’ a catchphrase that pretty much captures the essence of the clothes. Her past collections are all about playfulness, enjoyment and femininity.
The interesting shapes are flattering for most body types and the well-tailored blouses, skirts and dresses simply beautify the person wearing them.
Saga Lova is a refreshing breeze in the Swedish fashion world where most designers are terrified of anything beyond black and white.
Read more in issue #5: far north
http://sagalova.com/

PERMANENT VACATION
Swedish fashion label Permanent Vacation’s aims to remake the classic gentleman’s way of dressing and his intellectual lifestyle while adding a touch of Swedish simplicity. The clothes look dapper and dashing yet still casual. The brand name Permanent Vacation reflects an easygoing approach to life and fashion.
Read more in issue # 7: gothenburg
www.permanentvacation.se/

LAGOM
Lagom, is a word often claimed to have a meaning uniquely Swedish. Not too much nor too little, lagom is just right. It just is. It is also the name of a 4-collection-old street wear label created by threesome Nette Sandström, Martin Lydén and Daniel Adams-Ray. Hitting stores this fall is the collection Equilibrium, inspired by early American gang culture and Nordic melancholy.
Read more in issue #6: Swedish style
www.precislagom.com/

MINIMARKET
Swedish sisters Sofie, Pernilla and Jennifer Elvestedt are the magic behind the fantastic fashion label Minimarket, an independent brand that launched in 2006. Their style entertain with binaries; proper vs. sensual, radiant colors vs. dark shades, feminine vs. masculine. Minimarket has rapidly grown into a popular fashion label world-wide. Today Minimarket is sold in 30 selected stores in Sweden , Europe, US, Australia and Asia.
Read more in issue #6: Swedish Style
http://minimarket.se/

“In theory I’m probably more drawn to art and I constantly question my profession and the industry in whole. But at the same time it’s a motive in itself, to diversify the field of fashion and to never stagnate.”
This artistic and experimental side is highly visible in her design which experiments with volume and advanced forms of draping. Orving’s focus lies in the silhouette, “people” are her main sources of inspiration.
Read more in issue #6: Swedish Style
DIANA ORVING
www.dianaorving.com