Combining Craftsmanship

Known as ‘The Grand Masters’ thanks to their decades of jeans-making experience (some with over 40 years) the Hiut Denim makers are indeed masters of their craft, sharing the same attention to detail and respect for the intricacies of their methods as our expert furniture craftsmen. 

“Hiut Denim’s motto of ‘Do one thing well,’ mirrors the philosophy at the root of the Carl Hansen & Søn DNA,” explains our CEO Knud Erik Hansen. “Our family company has specialised in furniture craftsmanship for over 100 years. We are passionately devoted to what we do and seek out collaborators who share our work ethic and design credo – but who can also bring new aesthetics, ideas and skill sets to our process.”

Carl Hansen & Søn seeks to collaborate with companies who can bring a new perspective to our iconic collections and reimagine timeless pieces with a contemporary outlook. Our designers were, and are, forward-thinking for their time – often pushing the boundaries of traditional furniture design and craftsmanship. It stands to reason then that the perfect match for our newest collaboration would be the ‘father of Danish Modern Design’ Kaare Klint. 

Klint was one of furniture design’s reformers; a functionalist who valued purpose and form above all else, and a keen observer of human needs. His iconic Propeller Stool (1930) and Safari Chair and Footstool (1933) are examples of his ‘human furniture’ – created based on the meticulous study of the human body and its interactions. These two pieces are the focus of the Hiut Denim collaboration – showing their versatility and ability to fit into modern life over eighty years after they were first designed, upholstered for a contemporary audience in one of the world’s most recognisable and beloved fabrics.

Today, Hiut Denim is one of the world’s top luxury denim labels and ships globally.

The company’s ‘Grand Masters’ had previously worked in one denim factory in the small town of Cardigan in West Wales, producing thousands of pairs of jeans a week. The factory closed in 2002 and with it, the team’s jobs were lost. David and Clare Hieatt discovered the story of the denim masters and, realising that the precious skill and knowhow remained, sought to re-establish denim manufacturing in Cardigan and breathe new life into the town. Hiut Denim was born. It is this personal, family-oriented story, as well as the dedication to a unique craftsmanship, that sit at the heart of both our brands and make this an unexpected yet perfectly-matched collaboration.

Aside from pride and excellence in the finest furniture craftsmanship, the Carl Hansen & Søn philosophy centres on the storytelling behind each piece of furniture. The simple statement ‘Every piece comes with a story’ is the core of our brand DNA, with the stories of our designers, craftsmen and the future of our furniture intricately woven into everything we do. The Hiut Denim Company motto ‘Every pair tells a story’ is serendipitous in its connection to our values and reflects our similar approaches to the unique attachment people have with both their furniture and their denim, each personalised with a patina of their own lives and stories.

When it comes to the techniques and materials used for each craft, once again Hiut Denim shares the passion and enthusiasm for the highest quality and respect for tradition that Carl Hansen & Søn represents.

We share a desire to produce as sustainably as possible: Kaare Klint’s furniture is produced using wood from sustainable forests, while Hiut Denim uses only raw denim, removing the washing process and thereby reducing environmental impact.

The denim used for the new Propeller Stool and Safari Chair and Footstool is the finest selvedge denim made on vintage looms, hand-cut and sewed, ready for upholstering. Using the same denim, the Hiut Grand Masters make around 100 pairs of their famous jeans a week. The disciplines may be diverse, but the approach is the same.

Clad in the finest Hiut denim, our two Kaare Klint pieces are shown in a new light, reflecting contemporary trends while respecting the roots and tradition of Carl Hansen & Søn manufacturing and the forward-thinking outlook of Mr Klint.

“We hope that Kaare Klint would have enjoyed seeing his designs dressed in what has become the world’s most universally beloved, and perhaps most democratic, fabric,” says Clare Hieatt. “It’s an honour for us to work with such iconic designs, which have so beautifully stood the test of time.”