| Every piece of furniture has a unique story. You may | | | | Svane® was for Jens Ekornes he continued to |
| have a sofa, recliner, chair maybe even a table with | | | | build furniture components for other companies much |
| some sort of history behind it from the manufacturer | | | | like when he started out making steel springs for |
| or individual who made it. Often when we shop for | | | | other manufacturers. Much of his furniture |
| furniture we don't usually look past what is on the | | | | components that he built involved foam plastics and |
| outside of the piece of furniture to see what was | | | | wood components. However he soon felt the need |
| behind every spring, piece of fabric or bolt that went | | | | to develop another line of products separate from |
| into it. When shopping for furniture each one has it's | | | | mattresses and decided to create new lines of home |
| own reasons for offering the products that they do. | | | | furnishings. |
| Some companies start out doing what they see | | | | Jens Ekornes in the late 60's introduced a line of club |
| someone else do because they want that product's | | | | furniture that consisted of sofas, loveseats, chairs |
| same success. Some companies start out from a | | | | and matching tables. These consisted of wood trim, |
| need to help people find the product they are looking | | | | bases and legs. The cushions made use of the |
| for. While still others wanted to take a product a | | | | advances developed by Svane® for its mattresses |
| make it even better. | | | | in the way of foam plastics. The line was successful |
| Jens Ekornes was someone who always wanted to | | | | and helped make Ekornes Norway's leading furniture |
| make it better and help others find a comfort that | | | | manufacturer going into the 70's which is when his |
| they couldn't in existing furniture. In 1936 he started | | | | greatest furniture accomplishments would be |
| out in a small shop in Norway building springs for | | | | achieved. |
| sofas and mattresses. Often in manufacturing you | | | | In 1970 Jens Ekornes registered a patent for a line of |
| have smaller companies that supply parts to the | | | | reclining furniture that would put Ekornes on the map |
| larger ones and this is what Jens Ekornes' company | | | | globally. The name he registered was Stressless®. |
| did. He had himself, three employees and some | | | | The Stressless® recliners would revolutionize an |
| German equipment. This in essence was the | | | | industry with new ideas and concepts in recliner |
| beginnings of the company that would simply be | | | | design. The first models of Stressless® recliners |
| called Ekornes. | | | | introduced in 1971 consisted of round chrome bases |
| After a few years Jens Ekornes wasn't content with | | | | and featured leather on the chair and ottoman. |
| just building springs for manufacturers and wanted to | | | | Ekornes would continue to develop these recliners |
| develop a unique line of mattresses. He went to a | | | | with new patented features never before offered in |
| furniture show where he saw something unique in a | | | | a recliner. A glide system was created to respond to |
| British made sofa. They were building cushions using | | | | the movements of the person moving in the recliner |
| steel springs that were connected together rather | | | | allowing for greater comfort. The Plus™ System is |
| than being attached separately to a piece of wood | | | | a unique feature to only Stressless® recliners. It |
| framing like so many others were doing. He thought | | | | automatically provides the correct lumbar support and |
| this was something that could be implemented into | | | | allows parallel movement with the headrest which |
| mattress construction and began work designing a | | | | adjusts to you as the chair reclines to enjoy perfect |
| new mattress system that incorporated connected | | | | support. Jens Ekornes' Stressless® products |
| springs. | | | | became widely popular throughout Europe and soon |
| He successfully developed his mattress system and it | | | | were being sold outside of Europe as well. Today |
| came to be called Svane®. In 1946 he visited | | | | these products are sold in over 30 countries and |
| America to study mattress manufacturing and | | | | more than four million recliners have been sold world |
| brought back machinery and people to help train his | | | | wide since 1971. |
| workers on how to use it. Several unique styles of | | | | The furniture you own today may have a unique and |
| mattress were designed and with the new | | | | interesting story behind it especially if it is an Ekornes, |
| construction being used in his mattresses they were | | | | Svane® or Stressless® brand piece of furniture. |
| soon offering more support and comfort than other | | | | Jens Ekornes is responsible for many of the |
| mattresses on the market. | | | | advances in the brands of products I've listed here in |
| Svane® was such a success that it quickly became | | | | this article and when you own one of these products |
| a household name through much of Scandinavia. | | | | you are getting a piece of furniture with a rich |
| Stocked in retail stores and sold throughout Europe it | | | | Norwegian story and history behind it from a man |
| was soon being distributed through 1200 different | | | | who went out wanting to make a better product |
| companies and distributors. As successful as | | | | that would help change people's lives and did. |