Designers rethink permanence with living wood and leather collection

Artek and Hender Scheme have introduced a new collection that directly challenges the assumption that design objects must remain fixed over time.

The full range, including furniture, lighting, and accessories, made its debut during the London Design Festival in an East London installation. These pieces will become available worldwide on October 10, 2026.

Unlike traditional design approaches, this collection rejects the idea of a completed product. Birch wood and leather react to use, forming unique surfaces and tones that reflect their environment and the people who engage with them. Every piece tells a different story through its natural progression.

A signature piece reinterprets Alvar Aalto’s classic furniture by incorporating handcrafted leather elements inspired by Hender Scheme’s footwear design. The recognizable L-legs now feature textured leather accents, while the untreated leather tops gradually darken, deepening their appearance over time. The design intentionally highlights these changes rather than concealing them.

Lighting designs also play a central role. The Pendant Light A330 “Golden Bell” maintains Aalto’s brass framework but replaces the shade with shaped leather, combining traditional wet-forming with 3D printing.

For smaller items, the collaboration takes a different approach. A clock, key holder, and coasters adopt the organic Riihitie form from Aino Aalto’s work, integrating her visual language into Hender Scheme’s leatherwork. Each piece carries a debossed logo, marking them as limited-edition items that emphasize artisanal quality and material depth.