Brita Sweden – My chat with Pia Gabrielsson and Monica Harrie

[ADVERTISEMENT – This post is a paid partnership with Kvällsbris Nordic Lifestyle Brands]

What better way to start a year of inspirational conversations than with a chat with sisters, Pia Gabrielsson and Monica Harrie of Brita Sweden.

Built on legacy and longevity, this family-owned interiors brand, has over the last two decades become recognised worldwide for their colourfully designed, sustainably made and high quality in and outdoor rugs, blankets and cushions.

Based in Stockholm, but making their final preparations for Maison&Objet later this week, here’s what Pia and Monica had to tell me:

Can you start by telling us about how Brita Sweden began and what for you makes your brand different?

Monica: It all started when my sister and I began helping our mother with her business. She designed textiles for public environments and needed assistance with the international market and after a while, we thought it could be fun to start something together so in 2007 we launched Brita Sweden.

Pia: Monica and I basically grew up in our mother’s studio and have always been very artistic and creative so working together felt like a natural next step. At that time the market didn’t have the same sustainability focus it has today, and we were unique in our approach of using organic textiles and creating durable products with a long lifecycle.

Monica: Thanks to their bright colours and graphic patterns our rugs quickly became popular, with throws and cushions coming along soon after. It’s probably this that sets us apart, as we love nothing more than putting together different combinations and sharing that energy and joy with our customers.

How would you describe a Brita product, and how is your Swedish heritage reflected within them?

Pia: A product from us should maintain high quality and be a design that lasts for many years to come. Many of the patterns we created in the beginning are still part of our collection today for that very reason. We don’t want to follow trends, but of course, we need to adapt, and that primarily involves adjusting colours.

Monica: Our mother came from Norrbotten in the far northeast of Sweden and our summers spent there as children have profoundly influenced us. Near the border to Finland, the county’s landscape and cultural traditions are unique, and something she, and we cherish and continue to celebrate.

Sustainability has always been a priority for you, but how and where are your products designed and made?

Pia: My sister and I design all our products ourselves in our studio in Stockholm before they are produced by carefully chosen suppliers in Sweden, and with a few exceptions, wider Europe. By keeping the entire process close we ensure the highest quality, minimise shipping needs and maintain continuity of the design.

Monica: At Brita Sweden all the cotton, merino wool and linen we use is also Oeko-Tex certified and coloured using environmentally friendly dyeing. Right now, we have a cushion pattern in development that our mother designed for her company sometime in the 1980s. Unfortunately, she passed away after a short illness last spring, so we want to honour her by releasing it, and want to take the opportunity to donate a portion of the profit from the sales to heart and lung research.

You’re launching your latest collection at Maison&Objet, can you tell us what the inspiration for spring was?

Pia: Our designs are influenced by many things, from everyday events, art exhibitions or a novel one of us is reading – sometimes they are simply created around a feeling! Even while waiting for a train often leads to thoughts filled with colour combinations and interesting shapes, but this spring’s collection has in fact been inspired by the patterns found in beautiful stone floors.

Finally, out of these new additions, what should we all be looking out for and which are your favourites?

Monica: I believe we will continue to bring nature into our homes this year, wanting to create a feeling of safety in uncertain times. And while this can often mean we are surrounding ourselves with pieces that are simple and warmly inviting, by adding pops of colour to all the brown and beige brings them to life. Personally, I love yellow, light blue and emerald green, so I can guarantee there will be plenty of that in our SS25 collection too.

Want to know more?

Thanks again to Pia and Monica for chatting with me, I can’t wait to see what they unveil at Maison&Objet.

To find out more about Brita Sweden, visit their website.

Alternatively, to find out more about becoming a Brita Sweden UK stockist, visit the Kvällsbris Nordic Lifestyle Brands website.

Thanks again to Kvällsbris Nordic Lifestyle Brands for collaborating with me on this post.

All images courtesy of Brita Sweden.

Enjoyed reading this post? Then read my chat with Julie Vendal and Nadia Al Zagir Balling of Danish curtain studio, &Drape.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin