Artek reimagines its iconic Zebra print in a new colour way
Artek is revisiting one of the most recognisable patterns in Nordic design. For Autumn 2026, the Finnish design house introduces a new brown-and-white version of its iconic Zebra jacquard textile, expanding the nearly century-old design across upholstered furniture and a collection of lifestyle accessories.
Originally added to the Artek collection in 1935, Zebra has long been associated with the playful yet architectural aesthetic of Aino and Alvar Aalto. While animal prints have once again become a defining trend across fashion and interiors, Zebra stands apart as a pattern that has remained in continuous production for almost 90 years.
The new colourway softens the textile’s graphic expression without losing its distinctive rhythm. Woven using a double jacquard technique, the fabric combines durability with a rich tactile structure, making it suitable for everything from Artek’s classic armchairs and stools to cushions, bags and pouches.
The story behind Zebra stretches far beyond Finland. According to new research commissioned by Artek and written by visual artist and researcher Judith Raum, the textile’s origins can be traced to France in the late 1920s, where woven interpretations of zebra hide emerged amid the Art Deco fascination with exotic animal motifs.
Aino Aalto encountered the fabric while travelling through Paris and Zurich in 1935, noting in her diary that it originated from Lyon before ordering it for Helsinki. The pattern debuted on Aalto furniture when Artek opened its first store in 1936 and has remained a defining element of the brand ever since.
Raum’s research also revisits the long-held belief that Bauhaus textile designer Otti Berger created Zebra, concluding that while Berger collaborated with Swiss modernist furniture company Wohnbedarf, the iconic pattern predates her work and its original designer remains unknown.
Alongside the textile launch, Artek presents a capsule collection featuring walnut-stained editions of the Kanto magazine and firewood rack and Alvar Aalto’s Table 90D. Two of the designer’s celebrated pendant lights, the A330S Golden Bell and A110 Hand Grenade, also return in a rich brick-red finish drawn from the company’s archives.
The Zebra collection is available globally from 3 September 2026 through Artek stores, selected retailers and online, with Japan following in mid-November.
