Interiors
Interview
Images by: Erik Lefvander
We sat down with Svenja Diekmann, Creative Director at Hem, for an insightful conversation about our recent collaboration. Delving into the essence of design and quality, Svenja shares her perspectives on Elmo’s selection process, emphasizing its sustainable practices and premium finishes. She also reflects on how Elmo’s diverse range of leather qualities enriches the expressive potential of Hem’s designs, offering customers unique tactile experiences.
Can you tell us about the new products Hem showcased during Stockholm Design Week?
During Stockholm Design Week, we had the opportunity to present our latest products both at the Fair and in our central showroom, where we hosted an industry event in collaboration with Elmo. Our new launch featured an extension of the Faye Toogood Puffy collection, which now includes the new Puffy Sofa, complementing the existing Puffy Lounge Chair. For this exhibition, we created unique finishes in collaboration with Elmo and showcased the entire Puffy collection in various types of leather.
What do you look for in a material (leather or other) when choosing it for Hem’s products?
When we started working with leather, we had many concerns about sustainability and traceability. We conducted extensive research on various leather brands, and Elmo stood out due to its full traceability of the cattle and sustainable tanning practices.
“When we started working with leather, we had many concerns about sustainability and traceability. We conducted extensive research on various leather brands, and Elmo stood out due to its full traceability of the cattle and sustainable tanning practices.”
We love the chrome-free aspect of Elmosoft leather, which is available in many contemporary colours—essential for working within the interiors of the contemporary design segment. Additionally, the leather meets contract requirements and has all the necessary FR certifications for our largest export market, the US.
How does Elmo leather fit with that description?
Much like Elmo, we strive to produce timeless designs with a commitment to quality that lasts for generations. Leather is such a fantastic material because it develops a natural and personal patina over time, becoming more beautiful. With such a rich material, we can confidently add value to our products.
Image by: Anton Renberg
What do you like about the Sarek collection?
We chose to incorporate the new Sarek collection plus the silver leather from the Elmotreasure collection to showcase the diverse range of leather qualities offered by Elmo and to introduce varied tactile experiences. Working on this special exhibition was simply a delightful and aesthetically rewarding experience.
My typical colour and material choices for any collection are meticulously planned to ensure a cohesive Hem universe and experience. Many of our textile colours have been developed over the years to maintain a consistent colour spectrum across the entire product range. However, collaborations like these allow me to break free from this mindset and experiment with more unique and unconventional designs. I particularly adore the silver leather Puffy Chair—it’s such a striking and stylish piece! I hope it inspires our customers to explore our “graded in program,” where customers can customize their favourite Hem pieces beyond what’s available on our website.
“Much like Elmo, we strive to produce timeless designs with a commitment to quality that lasts for generations. Leather is such a fantastic material because it develops a natural and personal patina over time, becoming more beautiful.”
