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Three Classic Pieces Get Some Color by Paul Smith for Artek

09.13.24 | By
Three Classic Pieces Get Some Color by Paul Smith for Artek

Sir Paul Smith, known for his classic tailoring and the iconic 40-color Signature Stripe, has teamed up with Artek to reimagine three classic designs in their collection. Artek Reimagined by Paul Smith includes: Stool 60, Screen 100, and Coat Rack 109. Always an admirer of Alvar and Aino Aalto, he is heavily inspired by their work and influence in the scope of modern design.

A room with a wooden foldable divider, a brown stool from Paul Smith, a desk with stacked books and papers, and shelves with various items. Artek artworks are visible on the walls and a striped cloth hangs on a hook.

Two stacked Artek wooden stools with a blue seat and stickers facing upwards under warm lighting. The visible stool has four attached legs and labels indicating design details, reflecting Paul Smith's influence.

Stool 60 is quite possibly one of the most iconic pieces of the 20th century. Designed in 1933 for the Vyborg Library, the stackable stool is instantly recognizable. The design has been produced from high-quality Finnish birch at the same factory, using the same techniques, for over 80 years. The sloping twist of a stack of Stool 60s, well worn, are something most of us can recall from gathering halls and meeting places in the neighborhood. The beauty of an incredibly hardy product is that they last for a very long time – Aalto was known to throw his prototypes to expedite the product testing process.

Stool 60 by Alvar Aalto, each leg painted a different color: brown, yellow, and black.

While Smith’s Signature Stripe contains 40 colors, the reserved nature of Aalto’s designs limited the scope of this collaboration to just four. A nod to the brilliant linings that hide cheekily beneath Smith’s suiting, the bottom of the Stool 60 is painted a bright cobalt blue, while the rest of the components feature four color stains.

Stool 60 by Alvar Aalto with a round top and three legs, each leg painted in a different color: dark brown, light beige, and black.

Stool 60 by Alvar Aalto with a smooth top and three curved legs, one of which is a different color.

Aalto was a pioneer of Romantic Functionalism, stepping out of the white box of traditional modernism that was popular at the time. Utilizing what was cutting edge in his day, bent plywood was steadily gaining steam within the furniture community. Cohesion was paramount – all details of his buildings and furniture needed to consider the humanity of its occupants first, above all else. “We may say that there is always human error in architecture, and on close observation we find that this is necessary, since it is impossible to express the richness of life and its positive qualities without such error,” said the prolific designer.

Stool 60 by Alvar Aalto with a blue seat and three differently colored legs (black, brown, and light wood). The underside of the seat features labels and a signature.

Close-up image of the underside of Stool 60 by Alvar Aalto with multiple informational stickers attached and visible wooden components.

Bookshelf filled with various books, partially obscured by a Paul Smith wooden room divider with vertical slats. A chair from the Artek collection is partially visible to the left. The scene appears in a well-lit room.

Screen 100 was designed in 1936, and originally was made with one color of stain. To celebrate the collaboration between Paul Smith and Artek, five different colors of stain grace the wooden boards of the screen, lending a more forest-like quality to the piece. The different stains highlight beautiful hues within different beams, creating an organic landscape of colors amongst the undulating curtain of the screen.

Screen 100 by Alvar Aalto with an accordion-style design featuring vertical slats of varying shades.

Close-up view of Screen 100 by Alvar Aalto, multiple vertical wooden planks of various shades arranged side by side.

Close-up of Screen 100 by Alvar Aalto, a vertical wooden slat panel with alternating light and dark wood tones, showing the natural grain and texture.

Screen 100 by Alvar Aalto featuring vertical strips of varying shades of wood, arranged in a curved, wave-like structure.

Close up of Screen 100 by Alvar Aalto, a row of wooden planks of varying shades of brown arranged vertically with labels on two planks.

Coat Rack 109 by Alvar Aalto with a shelf on top and five black metal hooks underneath.

The Coat Rack 108 is another Aalto staple, also designed in 1936. This was designed as part of his ‘domestic helpers’ series, meant to be stationed at an entryway to store coats, bags, and anything else that might fit on the rack above. Thoroughly functional, it has simplistic and clean lines and forms a language strongly associated with Artek’s principles. The Paul Smith version of Coat Rack 109 comprises five stain colors versus the original single color stain.

Close up of Coat Rack 109 by Alvar Aalto, with the Artek tag on the bottom.

Close up of Coat Rack 109 by Alvar Aalto with a classic design, featuring natural wood slats and a curved handlebar.

Coat Rack 109 by Alvar Aalto with a minimalist design, featuring a curved frame and multiple horizontal slats for holding towels.

Always a lover of refined splashes of color, Smith adds a fresh take to these standards that revitalize interest in Artek’s storied collection. Sustainability being a key component of the Paul Smith brand, it seems natural to start with products that you’ll never have to replace.

Artek proudly houses and refurbishes the many vintage Aalto pieces that exist around the world. Called 2nd Cycle, this initiative started in 2011 focuses on bringing consumers, designers, and collectors together to appreciate all things Artek. The fact that there are so many surviving pieces today speaks to the craftsmanship and consideration that went into making all pieces within the collection.

Coat Rack 109 by Alvar Aalto with a shelf on top and five metal hooks below, designed for mounting on a wall.

The Artek Reimagined by Paul Smith collection is currently available on the Paul Smith official website, as well as select Paul Smith shops.

Growing up in NYC has given Aria a unique perspective into art + design, constantly striving for new projects to get immersed in. An avid baker, crocheter, and pasta maker, handwork and personal touch is central to what she loves about the built environment. Outside of the city, she enjoys hiking, biking, and learning about space.