Swedish glass is famous for its high quality and beautiful design. The 1920's saw an international breakthrough for Swedish glass design with artists such as Simon Gate and Edward Hald. Modern day successors include Bertil Vallien, Ulrika Hydman-Vallien, Erik Höglund, Eva Englund and Monica Backström. The most prominent Swedish glass works are Orrefors and Kosta-Boda, but several artists work independently.
Industrial design is another Swedish speciality. Tetra Pak brought milk cartons to the world and Absolut went world wide with its characteristic vodka bottle, proving that form could speak louder than label. The Swedish car manufacturers Volvo and Saab also have a reputation for their well-designed vehicles, combining form with safety.
Sweden also has a reputation for high-quality products for the disabled. Ergonomi Design Gruppen has won several international prizes for their products ranging from cutlery for the disabled to ambulance stretchers. ETAC creates household aids for people with arthritis, so beautiful that they are sold at MOMA's design shop in New York.
Swedish Fashion is an increasingly important sector. Exports in 1999 totaled USD1,6 billion, with an increasing share going to the United States. The Swedish clothes retailer, H&M recently opened its first branches in New York, and it is expected that more branches eventually will be opened in other locations across the nation. In Europe, the company is known for its fashion clothes at chain-store prices.
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