10 Things That Make COS Creative Director Karin Gustafsson Happy
The London-based Swede shares her current favorites.
Updated Oct 12, 2018 7:19 PM
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COS creative director Karin Gustafsson has made a point of being on the cutting edge of design, but this fall, she’s looking back. The fashion label, which is known for its minimalist, architecture-inspired silhouettes, is celebrating 100 years of Bauhaus with a soon-to-launch capsule line comprised of 13 pieces. (Picture tailored dresses with hidden fastenings and button-downs as sleek as Marcel Breuer’s Cesca chair.) There will also be a select range of coffee-table books pegged to the 20th-century design movement, which will be available on the site and in select stores this October.
The inspiration behind the new Archive Editions collection has been a driving force for Gustafsson, who has been at the helm of the brand since 2016. Over the years, she has partnered with Frieze New York, Stockholm Market Art Fair, London’s Serpentine Gallery, and more to provide a platform for up-and-coming artists. More recently, COS teamed up with Mamou-Mani for a 3-D installation of printed bioplastic bricks at Salone del Mobile. To that point, the objets d’art and everyday staples Gustafsson is currently coveting are form-meets-function at its finest. Here, she dishes on 10 timeless finds that bring her joy.
The Accent Chair
“I love the minimal and functional design of Jasper Morrison and Wataru Kumano’s December XL chair, as well as the natural colors of the canvas and ash wood.”
The Statement Fixture
“I recently installed this Vola tap in my home and I love the burst of bright color it adds to my kitchen.”
The Makeshift Library
“Dieter Rams’s shelving system is the perfect storage for records and books. I’m reading Anders Hansen’s The Real Happy Pill at the moment. It’s all about the positive effect that physical exercise has on our well-being and how running helps to maintain a young brain.”
The Oldie but Goodie
“Alvar Aalto’s stool is such a classic. Tom Dixon, whom I’ve admired for some time, boldly reinterpreted it with a special edition piece in all red.”
The Work Shirt
“One of my favorite things from our upcoming collection, inspired by the architecture of Bauhaus, is a crisp white tuxedo shirt for women. It’s a reinvented wardrobe staple that works for any occasion.”
The Conversation Piece
“I like the abstract take on space and the craft this piece holds. We’re lucky enough to stock these at the COS flagship in Kings Cross, London.”
The Post-Travel Remedy
“This always makes my skin feel soft after a long flight. It includes so many wild botanic elements, like sea buckthorn, rose hip, and calendula.”
The Living Room Read
“This beautiful book of photography is on my coffee table at the moment. It challenges the typical perception of beauty and body image.”
The Cookware of Choice
“In my work, I love mixing materials, which is why I am so drawn to the Sarpaneva cast-iron pot.”
The Vanity Must-Have
“Hermès’s Voyage perfume is fresh and light. I discovered it many years ago and wear it every day.”
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