HÅG x Recouture : Heritage craft for a design icon

We collaborated with Recouture to create a series of one-of-a-kind HÅG Capisco chairs, each upholstered with vintage Norwegian åkle.

Recouture is a fashion design studio based in Hadeland, on the outskirts of Oslo, whose work centres on restoring and reinterpreting Norwegian åkle (pronounced OH-kleh), a traditional tapestry textile rich in colour, structure and history. Their approach to materials aligned naturally with the HÅG Capisco, a chair built around longevity and strong sculptural form.

The result was a spectacular set of 12 unique HÅG Capisco chairs, each upholstered with a different åkle, carefully matched with a fabric and metal coating to bring it to life.

Bringing the two together meant starting with the textile itself. For every new project, Recouture founder Hilde Hoff Nordskar starts by getting to know the åkle textile itself. She lays it out flat, checks the colours, the structure, and the small variations that reveal how it was made.

“Every åkle is unique,” she says. “Woven by a single pair of hands, on a loom somewhere in Norway, decades ago. Before I do anything else, I try to understand the story it already carries.”

For Hilde, this is the core of her work: taking materials that have lived long lives but now lie hidden in drawers, bringing them back into the light and giving them new life. Materials with rich histories behind them, ready to be guided into new ones through mindful restoration and design.

What is åkle?

An åkle is a traditional patterned woven textile, originally used as a bedcover and as wall insulation. When homes became warmer, they were often displayed as wall decoration instead. The word comes from Old Norse and means “bedspread,” and the tradition of weaving åkle in Norway dates back to the Middle Ages.

For centuries, åkle were created across the country, and each region developed its own patterns and weaving techniques. They were typically woven with richly coloured wool in the weft and cotton in the warp, and today they represent a rich and diverse cultural heritage.

“Åkle for me is heritage,” Hilde says. “It reminds me of my grandparents’ generation.”

A natural match: Åkle meets HÅG Capisco

When HÅG approached Hilde to explore whether åkle could be integrated into the HÅG Capisco, the ergonomic chair known for its sculptural silhouette and long lifespan, she immediately saw the potential.

"I was really excited. HÅG Capisco is a part of Norwegian design history. The idea of bringing these older tapestries together with such a recognisable modern shape felt like a natural combination."

The values aligned easily. "We share the same approach," she says. "Both Recouture and HÅG believe in keeping things in use. We design for longevity."

Working with HÅG Capisco's curves brought its own challenges. The åkle textile had to stretch, fold, and align precisely while maintaining its character. Through shaping, cutting, and sewing, Hilde slowly brought two different histories together: Norwegian craft tradition and contemporary ergonomic design.