modebranchen.NU NU buyer's magazine, Dec. '17/Jan. '18 | Page 41

Article
BY JETTE AAES
KOUS TRUP
It all started out as a passion-driven pro-
ject. Wife and husband Ulla and Søren Kou-
strup retired from the publishing industry,
but could not let go of the shared love for
books about nature, garden and food. For
that reason, they launched their own pub-
lishing firm, Koustrup & Co, in order to pass
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on knowledge and insight about topics such
as plants, animals, gastronomy and organic
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living.
Only six years later, the publishing firm has
grown into a family-run business, which -
in addition to publishing - creates arts and
crafts design for the home. From cards,
art print and posters to home textiles and
wrapping paper. Everything is centred on
aesthetics, knowledge and quality.
- You could call it beautiful learning, Ka-
KOUSTRUP
trine Koustrup says with a smile. Katrine
Koustrup is head of design and production,
and, along with her sister and brother-in-
law, Lise Marie and Christian Abildgaard,
she now plays a central role in her parent’s
company.
- All our products are designed to please
the eye and contribute with insight and
knowledge, she states.
Closeness, emotions and recogni-
sability
In addition to authors, Koustrup & Co. col-
laborates with a range of illustrators and
artists on developing motifs for cards, art
prints etc. as well as with textile suppliers
on designing tea towels, plaids and cushi-
ons, and with home design companies on
developing products such as trays, cutting know all about the importance of taking senting a range of new products including a
source of inspiration. whenever it is possible. For example, we products such as trays. The Danish design
boards, coasters and magnets. All products
are designed with nature as the primary
- We have hit a nerve when it comes to clo-
seness. People need something to immerse
themselves in - products that evoke emo-
tions and recognisability, and which make
an impression and create experiences, says
Katrine Koustrup.
Responsibility
Moreover, Koustrup & Co. has – and always
has had - a strong focus on responsibility.
- When you care about nature, you also
good care of it. We use FSC-certified fa-
brics and act organically and sustainably
re-use everything we can. As a result, the
packages we send out can look quite diffe-
rent depending on whatever materials are
available at the given moment. Our packing
fill is made from corn, which is 100% de-
gradable. Children can also use the fill to
build small figurines by dabbing the fill in
water so it sticks together.
News
Koustrup & Co is looking forward to pre-
brand-new herb-themed line that features
books, textiles and home interior design
company is also launching a new theme,
convent garden plants, which features
beautiful old plants printed on tea towels
and on other home interior design.
- Bird-motifs are still quite popular along
with the renaissance garden theme, where
we reissue old illustrations from the 1600s,
says Katrine Koustrup.
Find more products from Koustrup & Co at
www.koustrupco.dk.
MODEBRANCHEN.
| ISSUE NO 04 DEC 2017 / JAN 2018 | 41