NOVEMBER 2020 face time CROSSlines woven in time Celebrating 65 years at the loom, textile icon Hanne Vedel has secured a place in Danish design history Even a pandemic can’t slow down this 87-year-old. In early September, weaving artist Hanne Vedel was a star presence at Copenhagen’s 3 Days of Design fair, one of the first industry events to go live—IRL— since COVID-19 hit. Her one-of-a-kind rugs were exhibited at a pop-up show mounted by Kjellerup Væveri, the mill that produces Vedel’s minimalist upholstery fabrics (including those covering the Finn Juhl chairs at the U.N. Trusteeship Council Chambers in New York). Not to mention the octogenarian still works the loom daily as creative chief of Spindegården, the studio founded by famed weaver Paula Trock in 1948 and helmed by Vedel since 1970. Over the decades, Vedel has main- tained the atelier’s celebrated legacy of handcraftsmanship and cemented its commercial success via industrially pro- duced textile collections. Along the way, she’s collaborated with some of the most prominent modernist luminaries—Juhl, plus Grete Jalk and Hans J. Wegner—and today counts the Danish royal family and clergy members among her devoted clientele. Vedel’s signature style stands the test of time: solids and stripes rendered in a bold, happy palette grounded by muted tones and skillfully constructed of wool, cotton, or silk. Renewed interest in mid- century Danish design and sustainable production methods have boosted demand for—and shed a global spotlight on—her oeuvre. We caught up with Vedel, who is based in the southern town of Aabenraa, to hear how she got her start—and where she’s headed next. MARIE VEDEL VEDEL DALL MARIE Weaving artist Hanne Vedel of the celebrated Danish studio Spindegården. NOV.20 INTERIOR DESIGN 65 How did your career work into production and begin? it must always be of top- Hanne Vedel: My sister most quality. Only the best saw a newspaper ad is good enough. posted by a lady who was looking for an apprentice What came next? weaver. I called and told HV: While there, I got her I’d studied the craft in a job at the Swedish- folk high school (Scandina- Finland Textile Archive. vian version of continuing- In the early 1950’s, I education classes) and returned to Denmark that my grandma had also and started working with sewn and weaved. Later, I Paula Trock and eventually went to study at the School started my own studio. of Arts, Design and Archi- tecture in Finland under You later ended up Kaj Franck and Uhra-Beata taking over Trock’s Simberg Ehrström. studio. Which other collaborators have What was the most inspired you? important thing you HV: The sculptor Erik learned under those Heide, with whom I often luminaries? work on ecclesiastical tex- HV: Kaj told me that you tiles, such as antependia. should only put your best Because we know each Clockwise from top left: Vedel at her loom in the 1960’s. Galleri Feldt’s display of her wool, silk, and linen rug at Design Miami/ Basel 2016. Poul Volther’s 1958 PV daybed, now produced by Klassik Studio, upholstered in Blans, Vedel’s wool-cotton for Kjel- lerup Væveri. Blans-upholstered Finn Juhl chairs in the Trusteeship Council Chamber of the U.N. Conference Building, New York. Opposite, clockwise from top left: Vedel’s rug at the Klassik Studio showroom in Copenhagen during 3 Days of Design. The other so well, we know Jens, and the embroiderer stery fabrics are produced 87-year-old artist, who still weaves daily. Her double-sided rugs, handwoven of wool. what we want—and how Gunhild Eeg, because we industrially by Kjellerup to execute it. Another work so well together and Væveri in Denmark, and inspiration has been share the same standards. the home textiles by conservator-restorer Swedish linen mill Kläss- Jens Johansen. He’s a What weaving bols Linneväveri. craftsman, like me, so we techniques are you discuss things. He’s in his best known for? How involved are you 70’s and retired, but he HV: At Spindegården, we in the development of new fabric collections? CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: COURTESY OF KJELLERUP VÆVERI; CT PRODUCTIONS; SVEN DALL (3) DALL SVEN PRODUCTIONS; CT VÆVERI; KJELLERUP OF COURTESY LEFT: TOP FROM CLOCKWISE still recommends my work produce double-woven to many churches. rugs in wool originating HV: Very. Apart from the from breeds of old Nordic design, I like to oversee You have woven alter sheep. The technique the quality and expression hangings and chasuble makes it possible to of the yarns, which is very vestments for churches produce a reversible rug: important. throughout Denmark. decorative stripes on How do you design for one side and solid on the How was it sacred sites? other, offering two designs being the HV: I look at the existing in one. Not many, if any, guest of honor details and try to make others do this in Denmark. at Kjellerup something that comple- Væveri’s ments and lifts the sur- Who handles your exhibition at roundings. It’s important textile production? the Klassik to find colors that fit the HV: Rugs and custom Studio showroom space yet are timeless. I designs are handwoven at during this year’s also only collaborate with Spindegården by Elin Bjer- 3 Days of Design? TOP LEFT: COURTESY OF THE ARCHIVE, HANNE VEDEL; COURTESY OF GALLERI FELDT; FELDT; GALLERI OF VEDEL; HANNE COURTESY THE ARCHIVE, OF COURTESY LEFT: TOP SSIK STUDIO; HANS OLE MADSEN/COURTESY OF ONECOLLECTION AND HOUSE OF FINN JUHL FINN AND HOUSE OF ONECOLLECTION OF MADSEN/COURTESY HANS OLE STUDIO; SSIK a few people, such as Erik, regaard and me. Uphol- HV: Very satisfying. CROSSlines CLOCKWISE FROM KLA OF COURTESY 66 INTERIOR DESIGN NOV.20 NOV.20 INTERIOR DESIGN 67 I don’t usually attend the What’s the secret to fair, but Kjellerup asked if your long-lasting they could show my rugs success? alongside their collections HV: There’s no secret, of upholstery fabric. other than dedication and the fact that I’m always What are some current seeking the best solution. projects? I’ve also been lucky HV: I’m working on new enough to meet people upholstery designs for with whom I’ve had great Kjellerup and in discus- collaborative working re- sions with Galleri Feldt in lationships and have very Copenhagen regarding a skilled employees. .and a possible exhibition next long life. —Ashlee Beard year. I would also like to find a mill that can weave my rugs. CROSSlines Clockwise from top left: Swatches of the wool-cotton Blans. Juhl’s Japan sofa, chair, and footstool, all upholstered in Blans, at the House of Finn Juhl showroom in Copenhagen. Vedel at her Spindegården headquarters in Aabenraa, Den- mark. Linen towels for Klässbols Linneväveri named after her granddaughters Anne, Marie, and Line. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: COURTESY OF KJELLERUP VÆVERI; COURTESY OF ONECOLLECTION ONECOLLECTION OF COURTESY VÆVERI; KJELLERUP OF COURTESY LEFT: TOP FROM CLOCKWISE LINNEVÄVERI WILLMAN/KLÄSSBOLS CARL-ERIK JUHL; PRODUCTIONS; CT FINN AND HOUSE OF 68 INTERIOR DESIGN NOV.20.