Design made in Denmark, of course!
Functional, elegant and minimal, Scandinavian design has class! Its pure lines contribute to the timelessness of its characteristic style, which has given Danish design its letters of nobility. A style linked to the very intimate relationship maintained by the Nordic populations with nature, both source of inspiration and raw material. The work of wood remains omnipresent but it is perfectly associated with other materials such as leather or textile. In each era, the Scandinavians have known how to make the best of their environment, without frills or superfluous. An economy of means put at the service of functionality... and design was born!
Karre Klint (1888-1954) is considered the father of Danish design. This contemporary of Le Corbusier tried to rationalize the needs of man in his daily life, seeking above all the functionality of the furniture or the object. Timeless, his lamp The Lantern, familiarly called Le Klint, can be found all over Denmark and notably at the Le Klint Boutique, near Strøget in Copenhagen. It can be recognized by the soft light filtered through the poetry of folded paper. Arne Jacobson is the creator of the Ant chair, designed in 1952 for the canteen of the company Novo Nordisk. It was the first mass-produced molded chair in Denmark. A simple contour line, optimized and streamlined to be perfectly suited to modern life and industrial production. Then came the Egg Chair, with its round, enveloping shape, and the Swan chair with its outstretched wings, both of which were developed after painstaking tinkering in the garage of his Klapemborg home in 1958.
These iconic chairs can be found in department stores, Magasins du Nord and Illum, whose shelves are overflowing with 100% Danish design products and accessories. The opportunity to discover the young brand RAAWII, barely 3 years old but already known for its ceramics designed by Nicholai Wilgh Hansen: jugs, bowls, salad bowls, vases with cubist lines and monochrome colors embellishing the everyday object; Kay Bojesen and its wooden animals with childlike shapes, very colorful, including the very cute little monkey to hang on a shelf; Kähler (born 180 years ago) whose vases with pure forms, fluted or highlighted with colored stripes, remain timeless; ZONE and its bathroom or kitchen accessories that we collect so much their simplistic look makes addict; or VIPP and its garbage cans so beautiful that we do not want to hide them.. so much so that they are exhibited in the collections of the MOMA in New York! But let's face it, other brands, like Normann Copenhagen, Bo concept, Hay, Flying tiger or Søstrene Grene also offer beautiful collections of objects at often more affordable prices.
Finally, our smart idea to treat yourself without breaking the bank: a visit to the Designmuseum Danmark. A chronological museography, original pieces from the past and the present and above all the possibility to try them on! Or a stop in the magnificent showroom of Louis Poulsen Lighting, a major publishing house that has been manufacturing high-end lighting since 1892, including those signed by Poul Henningsen or more recently, in 2019, the OE Quasi suspension by Olafur Eliason, composed of two interlocking polyhedra with 90% recycled aluminum as raw material. A visit to the land of lights guaranteed. What could be better when you think, dream, live design! And you can bring back pictures!
Gourmet food!
Sweet tooths will be spoiled. Cookies and chocolate will delight them. Starting with the Danish Butter Cookies from Royal Dansk, Kelsen or Bisca. Very well known and recognized by their pretty blue tin. Inside, several layers of delicious buttery shortbread. Even if you can get them in different countries, here you will find a great variety of decoration on the lid, especially illustrations showing the most characteristic places of the country. An eco-gourmand gift since you can reuse the box once its contents are devoured! Half cookie, half choco, the flødebollers or "cream buns". A soft meringue like marshmallow, an almond mousse coated with chocolate in the shape of corks. The Danes love them, they eat at least one every day of the year. Any pastry shop or chocolate shop worth its salt has them.
Are you more into chocolate? Toms is one of the most important producers distributed internationally. This brand, founded in 1924 in Copenhagen under the name of Tom Chokoladefabrik A/S by chemists Hans Trojel and Victor Hans Meyer, is present in all supermarkets in the country. Don't miss Toms Skildpadde, which has been growing in popularity since 1948, a chocolate torte with rum, cream and caramel filling. The more upscale Svend Mikelsen has been supplying the royal family with chocolate since 1933. Its products are exclusively gluten-free. Fabergé eggs are a very original gift. Graceful boxes, inspired by the creations of the famous jeweler for Tsar Alexander III, filled with small tasty eggs! As for confectionery, Karamelleriet or Lakrids by Johan Bülow will tickle your taste buds. Two houses, each with its own basic recipe, one with caramel, the other with licorice, both flavored with different fragrances and presented in the form of balls. A delicacy born on the island of Bornholm in Svaneke.
And to quench your thirst? To drink without moderation (or almost): tea. From A.C. Perch's Thehandel, a Danish institution that has been the official supplier to the Danish court since 1835, with more than 210 references. Koeben Blend" and "Un jardin en été" are two of our favorites, to be enjoyed both hot and iced. Nute is a young and innovative brand of organic teas, packaged in beautiful wooden boxes that blend Scandinavian aesthetics with Asian tradition. To be drunk with much more moderation: alcohols. To quench your thirst during the day, there is a wide range of traditional beers: Mikkeller, BRAW (Nørrebro Bryghus), Flying Couch, Carlsberg or Føroya bjór, the national beer of the Faroes (only in bars, restaurants or state monopoly stores).
In the evening, conviviality is accompanied by a cold shot of aquavit, the national drink: Fisk, Dr. Nielsen, Gammel Dansk. A "brandy" made from potatoes flavored with herbs or spices, mainly cumin and dill. Beware, it's a real treat! Gin lovers will not be disappointed with Møn Island Gin, a brand created in 2016. The bottle evokes the era of Danish sailors and other pirates who crisscrossed the seas following their maritime map!
Traditional but always up to date!
Collectors and lovers of traditional objects will also find their happiness. Delicate and timeless, the blue and white porcelains of Royal Copenhagen, THE Danish porcelain factory with an international reputation. The royal factory was founded in 1775 by Queen Juliane Marie. A wide variety of plates, cups, teapots and bowls which, 240 years later, still adorn the tables of almost every home in Denmark. Especially during traditional celebrations such as Christmas, an opportunity to bring Nisse out of the closet. A mischievous elf who makes a mess and plays jokes. On Christmas Eve, traditionally, a bowl of rice pudding or porridge is prepared for him, in the hope that he will be pleased. You will easily recognize him in the souvenir stores or on the stands of the Christmas markets by his grey woolen clothes, his white clogs and stockings, his red bonnet.
A land of traditions, tales and games, your basket will be well stocked. Between the Flensted mobiles made of cardboard and paper (SMK stores or the one of the Royal Library), light and airy, inspired by the sea (birds, boats, fish, ocean breeze...), geometrical shapes, silhouettes of little drakkars or characters from H. C. Andersen's tales; the famous LEGO bricks that were created by a visionary carpenter from Billund in Jutland in 1933, in order to occupy his children. Whether it's at LEGOLAND® Billund Resort or at the Copenhagen store, there's something you can only find here and nowhere else! Why not take home a poster illustrating vintage Copenhagen to decorate your walls - two stores offering a wide selection: Poster & Frame and Posterland - or a stamp collection. Stamp lovers will find their paradise in the Faroes, where the stamps are truly magnificent (tales and legends, biblical history, landscape and nature...) with endless themes... Several new collections each year with in 2021, the 150th anniversary of the Faroese Post Office. https://fr.stamps.fo/
Both from Danish history and the art of adornment, Viking jewelry. Denmark is the ideal destination for all admirers of these daring sailors and enterprising traders. The country is full of museums (Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde) and monuments where you can find beautiful replicas of these jewels. Both functional, used as an attachment to a garment (fibula, ring or brooch...) and symbolic with religious motifs (spirals, wheels, hammer...) or runic writing, they attested to the social position and wealth of those who wore them in addition to the exceptional talent of the craftsmen. Just as cultural, the amber jewelry. "The tears of the gods". This is how this fossilized resin, from conifer forests swallowed by the sea, is poetically nicknamed. Its translucent honey color has made Copenhagen rich. It is found in abundance on Danish beaches where hunting for "Baltic gold" is a winter tradition. The House of Amber, founded in 1933 by the Dane Einer Fehrn, makes jewelry from this natural material as beautiful as a ray of sunlight.
Fashion accessories between hype and hygge!
Dressing Danish means not only looking chic and casual, but also being prepared for the day's weather! One of the things Danes don't leave home without is a scarf. The reason: cool temperatures and wind. Very practical when you ride your bike all day. The designer Henrik Vibskov is the reference for good taste and originality. In 2021, the brand celebrated its 20th anniversary. His colorful scarves have become a must in Denmark. The rain is about to fall! A bag or an accessory from Rains will allow you to face the elements in complete serenity. Raincoats, windbreakers, headgear... beautiful materials and trendy colors. It doesn't get any cooler than this! For fun, kids will love the t-shirts and sweatshirts featuring Vikings (including a funny bearded man named Erik) at Danefae; finally, for those who want a cool and cheap clothing, go to !Solid in Copenhagen.
If there is one thing to bring back from the Faroe Islands, it's a sheep's wool garment! Hats, scarves, gloves or socks... knitting yes, tradition yes, but updated (be careful, you need a little budget). At Guðrun & Guðrun, original knitting patterns, flashy pop colors. You will certainly recognize one of the sweaters: the Star jumper, worn by Sobie Gråbøl (Sarah Lund) in the famous Danish TV series The Killing. At Sirri, it's a bit of Game of Thrones, Celtic mixed with hippie chic!
To complete the ensemble, why not let yourself be tempted by a piece of jewelry? The Georg Jensen boutique is the address you need. From the high tradition of silversmithing, created in the Copenhagen workshop since 1904, a specialist in silver and a little bit of luxury refinement. More recently, Pilgrim has developed a range of costume jewelry without using nickel, which is good for allergy sufferers. Models in the air of time that we have fun to accumulate! At Pernille Corydon, it's pure glamour, discreet and subtle, poetic pieces with the sweet names of Esther, Rêverie, Ombre, Ella... More vegetal, in enamelled lacquer or colored porcelain, the creations of Scherning Kobenhaven. Now it's up to you to choose!
