Infused with the energy of Sonic Youth, Wu-Tang Clan and the grainy skate videos he grew up watching endlessly in the early 90s, Fredrik Paulsen is shaping the avant-garde of a new generation of Swedish designers. Taking inspiration from Italian pioneers like Gaetano Pesce and Carlo Bugatti, and only selling through a few select stores like Slam Jam in Milan, Très Bien in London and Lichen in New York, his furniture brand JOY has already built a loyal global following. The label crafts innovative products for the home, including everything from furniture to objects and ornaments, merging simple construction with playful aesthetics.
The special project with Sneakersnstuff — aptly named SNEAKERS N CHAIRS — came to life because of a shelving unit that JOY recently dropped, which in SNS’ eyes made for a perfect shoe shelf. Paulsen has now reinterpreted the classic Converse Chuck Taylor All Star High sneaker. He has also created exclusive furniture to go with it. For SNEAKERS N CHAIRS, JOY’s distinct Chair One and Storage One (LO) has received a special make-up to match the Chucks, called Alu and C.R.E.A.M.
— Creativity rules everything around me, Paulsen says, adding:
— See you on the ball court, boys!
