Since the 1930s, Swedish brand Essem Design has had an almost singular focus – crafting well-designed and functional products that contribute to a warm and inviting front hallway. And it all began with a simple hat rack. Or, more accurately, the idea of a simple hat rack. In 1937, Gunnar Bolin established the foundry that would become Essem with the intent to melt down scrap aluminum to be used for that simple hat rack; called Nostalgi, the rack (which is still in production today) features recycled aluminum brackets joined by either aluminum or wooden bars. Decades later, the brand has become synonymous with timeless and functional designs that leave a lasting impression. 

Now, Essem is coming to North America for the first time. By way of introduction, the company has revisited and expanded on a mainstay of its portfolio – the Classic rack designed by Bolin in 1959. Featuring intentionally rounded corners (a move that has “saved a lot of heads and legs from sharp edges”) and an open-grid aluminum mesh, the hat/shoe rack served as the jumping off point for the new comprehensive Classics collection of interior accessories, designed in collaboration with Swedish studio Kauppi & Kauppi. 

Recognizing the potential in the “elegant yet simple expression” of the utilitarian object, Essem worked with Kauppi & Kauppi to translate the design for modern-day needs while staying rooted in the original’s 1930s functionalist style. Along with the Bolin-designed hat/show rack, the Classics collection now includes a coat stand, mirror, coat hanger, hook strip and a hook in two sizes.

Sleek, minimal and full of personality, the individual pieces in the Classics collection from Essem and Kauppi & Kauppi are strong enough to stand on their own but really shine when used together to create cohesive and contemporary interior entrances, in both residential and commercial spaces.

With the Classics coat stand, two bent metal tubes come together in a looping, bow-like crown and are held together by protruding bolts that double as hooks for hanging additional items. This knob detail is carried through to the other pieces, a simple and pragmatic gesture that echoes Bolin’s main intention.

In the most direct nod to the past, the Classic coat hanger and Classic mirror feature the same rounded-corner shape as the shoe/hat rack, with the addition of newly designed signature knobs that enhance their functions; rounding out the new collection are the Classic hook strip (that can be installed horizontally or vertically) and the Classic wall-mounted knobs, elements that can be used to augment storage in the front hall or any room. 

Defined by considered details, the Classics collection by Kauppi & Kauppi for Essem is available in three powder-coated finishes – a textured black, crisp white and vibrant sun yellow.