Supreme x Artek Aalto Bench 153A
The original behind the Supreme x Artek Aalto Bench 153A is the Artek Artek Aalto Bench 153A — $1370 retail; Supreme charged $798.
Supreme vs. Original
Supreme version
Original — Artek
Artek Aalto Bench 153A
About the original
The Artek Aalto Bench 153A is a two-seat solid birch bench designed by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto in 1945, built on Aalto's patented L-leg system (a bent laminated birch leg that attaches directly to the seat without corner brackets). Artek was founded in Helsinki in 1935 by Aalto, his wife Aino Aalto, Maire Gullichsen, and Nils-Gustav Hahl to produce and distribute his furniture; the 153A has been manufactured continuously in Finland ever since. The Supreme version keeps the standard birch frame and adds a black-and-white checkerboard graphic silk-screened onto the seat with a small red Supreme logo. Released Spring/Summer 2017; each bench was hand-finished and silk-screened in the Artek factory.
About Artek
Artek is a Finnish furniture company founded in 1935 in Helsinki by Alvar Aalto, Aino Aalto, Maire Gullichsen, and Nils-Gustav Hahl to manufacture and distribute Aalto's bentwood furniture. The company's core catalog includes the Stool 60, introduced in 1933 and built from solid birch with the patented L-leg, along with the Armchair 400 Tank, the Paimio Chair, and the A330S Golden Bell pendant lamp. Artek has been owned by Vitra since 2013 and continues production in Finland. Supreme's collaboration placed its branding on a run of Stool 60s.
Price comparison
| Supreme retail | $798 |
|---|---|
| Artek retail | $1370 |
| Hype tax | Below original retail |
Questions
Is the Supreme x Artek Aalto Bench 153A just the regular Artek Aalto Bench 153A?
The Supreme x Artek Aalto Bench 153A, released in Spring/Summer 2017, is based on the Artek Aalto Bench 153A. Supreme collabs sometimes change the colorway or materials; the description on this page covers the original's specs and any notable differences in the Supreme version. If you want the product without the box logo, the Artek Aalto Bench 153A is the one to buy.
Is the Artek Aalto Bench 153A cheaper than the Supreme version?
No — Supreme priced this one below the original's retail: the Supreme x Artek Aalto Bench 153A sold for $798, while the Artek Aalto Bench 153A lists at $1370. Supreme's price only applied at the drop; the original's $1370 is its standard retail price. Either way, the Artek Aalto Bench 153A is the version that doesn't require catching a Supreme drop.
Where can I buy the Artek Aalto Bench 153A?
You can buy the Artek Aalto Bench 153A direct from Artek, from MoMA Design Store, from Finnish Design Shop, from FinnStyle, or from AaltoUSA. Retail price is $1370. The buy links on this page go straight to the product listing at each retailer.
