Kulturista - Cultural Experiences in West Sweden

C U LT U R E E X P E R I E N C E S I N W E S T S W E D E N 7 Guide: Where to go design shopping in West Sweden don’t miss the Abecita Art Museum, with its great collection of photographic art from the 1960s onwards. F A B R I C K I N G D O M I N M A R K Kasthall is long-running company that creates woven and hand- tufted rugs which turn floors into genuine design. Successfully ex- porting worldwide, the factory and headquarters are still in Kinna, and the factory outlet sells seconds, discontinued products and surplus yarn. It’s also easy to spend a couple of hours in the museum and factory outlet at Ekelund in Horred – the world’s oldest family firm in the soft furnishings business. Refuel in the café and then take a factory tour of the textile mill. L I D K Ö P I N G , P O R C E L A I N T O W N At the Rörstrand Center in Lidköping you can partake of the his- tory of porcelain in Sweden as well as visit the Iittala Outlet and find bargains on Rörstrand china and other Nordic design items. L I MM A R E D , A N T I Q U E S T R E A S U R E C H E S T In closing, a hot tip for all fanatics of everything vintage. The old glassworks community of Limmared, near Tranemo, can boast more than a dozen second hand, antiques and retro shops – re- presenting the whole range from true rustic to 50s, 60s and 70s retro. And when you’re in Limmared, drop in at Glasets Hus, which has a museum and exhibitions as well as offering the op- portunity to try glass-blowing. G O T H E N B U R G , D E S I G N C I T Y Let’s start big, in the city’s throbbing heart, or more precisely along Magasinsgatan – Gothenburg’s trendiest neighbourhood. Well known fashion brands such as Acne and Velour have their own shops here, but you can also pop into one of Sweden’s pre- mier interior decoration and design shops, Artilleriet. Be inspired by the miniature worlds created in the shop and browse the eclectic selection of furniture, lighting and textiles. Also on Ma- gasinsgatan is the stylish Norrgavel interiors shop, with cleanly designed, sustainable, Swedish-made furniture. The whole area smells mouthwateringly of street food, and there are several cosy cafés such as da Matteo coffee roasters and bakery. Take the opportunity to visit the Linné district and Gallery Four, a workshop and gallery. One of the country’s foremost jewellery artists, Karin Roy Andersson, creates contemporary jewellery here from several different materials. The gallery often hosts internationally renowned jewellery artists. B O R Å S , T E X T I L E T O W N Sweden’s textile capital Borås has a history going back several centuries, which has resulted in worldwide exports from the town. Every summer Quality Outlet Åhaga opens in the old railway engine workshop, where you can get great bargains on everything from designer clothes to interior decoration items. Abecita’s well-stocked factory outlet has a special selection of Scandinavia’s foremost lingerie and women’s swimwear. And Scandinavian design is hotter than ever. It’s never been trendier to decorate your home with rustic objects, pastel-coloured fabrics and sublime sources of light – and then Instagram the result! Here’s a guide to the trendiest design shopping in West Sweden. T E X T J O H A N T Ö R N R O T H