swedes worldwide

February 26, 2010

TOKYO: PMKFA
The Swede Beat Magazine is happy to claim this fine mind as one of our favorites artists from the Swedish graphic design scene—that is, if you can call his scene Swedish. After all, he has been a resident of Denmark, the United Kingdom and Japan for the last decade. The work of Micke Thorsby aka PMKFA, now a Tokyo local, can be described as a multifunctional platform characterized by psychedelic aesthetics, bright colors and 3D. His work spans into the fields of art, music and fashion. Thorsby’s designs can be found in many magazines, books, T-shirts, accessories, album covers, and wall art. His brilliant portfolio includes clients such as Adidas, Sixpack France, DC Shoes, Nudie jeans, Wesc, Junior Senior and Lo-Fi-Fnk. Through the years PMKFA has explored plenty of different styles, creating diverse work with a high level of quality.

His exploration of styles has made for interesting
collaborations and projects. In 2008, he created an impressive 3D installation at Diesel Denim Gallery in Tokyo. During the spring of 2010, PMKFA is one of the contributing artists to Scion’s Installation, an art tour featuring celebrated multimedia artists. Thorsby is also art-director for Swedish furniture line Vuji. In addition, PMKFA is the co-founder for t-shirt label It’s Our Thing, a street wear brand or a creative outlet for Thorsby and his Japanese partner: “I’m trying to implement what I learn from working with other companies in the business. We’re trying to be the best-looking graphic-driven little label coming from Japan and I think that’s what we are.” Check out their blog for some interesting perspectives on pop culture.
The Swede Beat Magazine strongly advise you to browse around this inspiring site of craziness and creativity, brilliance and boldness.
www.pmkfa.com/
By LK

BERLIN: PALE BLUE EYES
Pale Blue Eyes, a fashion boutique located in Berlin, is operating with a mission and has been “Dressing up Germany since 2006.” The owners of the store are blue-eyed well-wishers that fell in love with the city and provide it’s unemployed party animals (that’s a regular Berliner by the way) with affordable Swedish designers such as Cheap Monday, Velour, Resteröds and Berlin-based Mika Modiggård and more.
Germans and Hollywood celebrities alike find this little haven on 50 Kastanienallee, aka Casting Alley, due to its unusually well dressed street walkers. Although a distinct part of the German capital, it is far from the packed and sweaty, industrial dance floors at 9.00 am and midnight snacks of curry wurst. Pale Blue Eyes describe their hood as “a ‘bohemian fashion area” with “good bars, parks, cafés and stray dogs,” a setting most suitable for stepping up the dress code, the classic Swedish way.
www.paleblueeyes.de/
By EA

MONTREAL: JONAS EDVINSSON/PLOCTOR
Sweden has a few similarities to Canada; climate, surroundings, dark nights and mellow minds, but we believe that’s not the reason that Jonas Edvinsson/Ploctor chose Montreal as his new hometown. We suppose it’s the challenges of living abroad and his huge interest in promoting Swedish culture to the world. Edvinsson is a creator with a great entrepreneurial spirit who has spent the past year promoting Swedish success on an international level. He is the co-founder of Svenska, a creative agency that goes by the name The Swedish Embassy Of Unbound Creativity. The agency is run by three Swedes in Montreal; Carl Nyman, Andreas Sundgren and Jonas Edvinsson. Their client list includes WESC, Snap! Magazine, Motoboy and more. In the past year Edvinsson has built an impressive platform for The Swedish Model, a music organization consisting of 6 Swedish independent record labels; Adrian Recordings, Flora and Fauna, Hybris,Nomethod Records,Songs I Wish I Had Written and A TenderVersion Recording

In addition Edvinsson creates an interesting mix of shoegaze, ambient pop with minimal patterns of techno, under the name Ploctor. Ploctor has been DJing and performing in Canada and Sweden the past years.
Stay tuned at www.svenska.ca and www.soundcloud.com/ploctor to learn more about the latest achievements of this idea man, working towards the goal of spreading Swedish awesomeness to the world.
By LK

PARIS: JOANNA DAUPHIN
Swedish designer Joanna Dauphin lives out of a suitcase, but mostly in France, New York and Italy. The latter is also where she studied, at Instituto Europeo di Design, before launching her brand J.Dauphin in 2006; four years later her designs are found in 15 countries. In January she was awarded Accessory Designer of the Year by Swedish ELLE.
Joanna grew up among artists, designers and other visionaries and so her childhood motivated her to work creatively. Dauphin believes surrounding herself with creativity helps her designs flourish, so it’s no wonder she chose to set up her company in Paris. Here she plays by her three commandments: faith, devotion and essentially.
J. Dauphin is where rock n’ roll meets glamour; it’s about raw fashion, and contrasting shapes and colors.
A vital part of the production is traditional manufacturing and the highest quality material. Dauphin stays far away from the bad habits of commercial fashion designers.
Her client is a smart gal She designs for the girl who buys only a few, carefully chosen items that she will love and wear forever. Sustainable and alluring fashion, what’s not to love?
www.jdauphin.com/
By ETS

LONDON: ERIK HASSLE
Recently, a bit of powerful Swedish pop and a large amount of red curls, are now up for grabs with the presence of have appeared in London; this is Erik Hassle. And hustle he will, as he relocated to London as a means to promote his music. His music differs from the typically Swedish sweet indie pop, the music is well produced, demands more attention and flirts with the genres of dance and arena rock.
So it’s not that surprising to find him outside the borders of Sweden, where the European pop fans wait with open arms.
His debut album Hassle was released in Sweden last year. Favorite tracks of the album are the pow wow tunes “Don’t bring flowers when I’m dead” and “Hurtful”, both took his native land by storm. In January Hassle won both a Swedish Grammy and a P3 Gold Award as Best Newcomer.
His ginger locks and charming dance pop are easy to fall in love with, find out for yourself here: www.erikhassle.com/
By EA

Published by: The Swede Beat