hästens champions 45 years of craftsmanship for its iconic blue check bed and pattern

Celebrating the 45th anniversary of 2000T® Hästens bed

After celebrating 170 years since its foundation last year, 2023 marks the 45th anniversary of 2000T® Hästens bed and its iconic Blue Check® pattern, the most recognizable feature of the brand. On the occasion of this double anniversary, designboom visited Hästens‘ headquarters to discover what makes these beds so unique. Since 1852, Hästens stands out for its excellent production, the result of the finest natural materials use and its legacy of five-generations craftsmanship combined with cutting-edge research.

From its conception to end-product, every Hästens bed is handmade and consists of a full system bed: a base, a mattress, and a top mattress. The production is exclusively on demand with constant waiting lists that last for months. They come with a twenty-five-year warranty and are built for lasting a lifetime. The brand, which is proudly still family-owned, has its headquarters in Köping, one hour away from Stockholm, and is backed by around 300 employees, representing a core engine of local business growth.

In the last decades, driven by the global ambitions of 5th generation CEO Jan Ryde, Hästens has been fast-expanding internationally with more than 300 partners in 45 countries worldwide. In addition to being the oﬃcial supplier of the Royal House of Sweden, Hästens is the first choice of celebrities, athletes, and actors internationally. But what makes these beds so unique? How are Hästens beds produced today? What is the legacy of its long-lasting tradition?

video and text © Alice Minervini and designboom

Designboom visits Hästens’ headquarters

The first impression designboom receives upon entering the headquarters of Hästens is given by a collection of handwritten letters from customers who share their enthusiasm for beds, positioned beside certificates of Swedish royalty and decades of international press coverage.

The family-oriented vision of the brand is enforced by the historical photos spread all over the factory and showroom, and the timeline of all personalities that contributed to Hästens’ success from its foundation until recent days. Starting as a saddler makers company in 1852, Hästens has always focused on a limited number of commonly-used items in order to achieve outstanding quality.

In doing so, they establish themselves as the leading company for premium products, initially in the Scandinavian regions then gradually extending their scope to the international luxury market. As times evolved, from the agricultural economy to the industrial revolution, mattresses progressively gained central importance in their production, including riding accessories for equitation sold together with saddlers.

image © Alice Minervini

The name and logo Hästens, literally ‘horse’ in Swedish, encapsulates the legacy of its origin and craftsmanship informing what the brand is today. The truthful ethos of the founder Pehr Adolf Janson still informs Hästens’ mission today which lies in improving universal and esoteric items such as beds. The model 2000T® most prominently represents the intertwining of Hästens’ long tradition with contemporary innovation.

It displays an output of decades of research for natural fabrics and technical improvement. Hästens continues to upcycle natural materials used at its origin, such as horse tails, combined with traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge research to guarantee high-level sleep. Thus, with its cave and elastic structure, horse hair still represents an unprecedented material that, braided together, provides support while allowing constant airing.

image © Alice Minervini

Carefully selected, horse hair plays a crucial role in regulating temperature by drying moisture while softly supporting the body. In addition, in order to maintain stable one’s body’s temperature, there is a cotton wool layer that keeps one warm while allowing continual ventilation.

The middle mattress is made of three sets of springs that together intensify the feeling of support while giving firmness. It can be personalized according to the idiosyncratic body structures and customers’ preferences for a more morbid or rigid sensation (soft, medium, firm, extra-firm, and combined firmness).

The springs are incredibly silent and isolate body movement to prevent disturbing any other sleeping partners. In fact, the ultimate goal of Hästens beds is to reduce any disturbance that would wake one up at night by touching upon pressure points, noises and temperature changes. In doing so, users are ensured a restful sleep all night long.

image © Alice Minervini

The shade of blue improves sleeping patterns

Known for its exclusive carefully-chosen materials and uncompromising comfort, 2000T® remains a signature piece of Hästens collection, thanks to the iconic Blue Check® pattern. Going against the colors that were fashionable at the time, Jack Ryde, the 4th generation CEO, introduced the iconic pattern in 1978 that became the brand signature even in mainstream imagery as demonstrated in the recent Netflix appearance. A classic, timeless pattern that consecrated the bed as a core item of the bedroom, not only for its functionality, but also for its exclusive design.

image courtesy of Hästens

Classical and at the same time very modern, as it is still perceived today even after 45 years of its introduction, the Blue Check® has revolutionized the bed industry forever. The checked pattern can be ordered in 16 colors, but the blue version especially crystallized the identity of Hästens at its finest. Not coincidentally, some scientific studies state that blue is the color recommended to improve rest. In fact, it is demonstrated that blue bedrooms facilitate better quality sleep, fostering feelings of protection, calmness, and relaxation.

image courtesy of Hästens

To guarantee the best sleeping experience, Hästens nowadays provides a polyhedric series of sleeping accessories, both clothing and bedroom accessories, spanning from pajamas to pillows and bed linen, all available in Blue Check® matching pattern.

Still, the bed remains the central piece around which everything revolves around. After visiting the factory and following the development step by step and testing their beds in the showroom, it is possible to experience their dedication that keeps up with their long-standing tradition and craftsmanship.

image © Alice Minervini

It is the endless study of the body structures, unprecedented treatment of natural materials, and attention to detail that makes the Hästens sleeping experience sin-demand. Strong in their heritage and a renovated interest in self-care and wellness fostered by the pandemic, Hästens is witnessing a period of growth while raising awareness of the importance of good sleeping habits with their beds.

At Hästens, they firmly believe that restful sleep increases the quality of any other aspect of life, providing energy to perform their best selves, and improving daytime performances and self-appearance. It’s the reason why Hästens is the most requested bed, especially by high-level hotels, performers, and sports celebrities worldwide. Their unique heritage, resilience, and vision are what make Hästens beds as popular and irreplaceable today.