Creative Industries

Sweden is a prominent player in fashion, gaming, and music on the international stage thanks to its innovative expertise. This has not only captured the attention of the world but also solidified Sweden’s position as a leader in creative industries, reflecting the country’s commitment to innovation in creative products and services.

Fashion & Design

Sweden is a fashion pioneer with a rich history of renowned high-end brands and designers such as Acne Studios, J. Lindeberg, COS, Tiger of Sweden, and Rodebjer. The strong culture of eco-friendliness and environmental awareness among Swedish consumers has transformed the industry into a sustainable force. Additionally, secondhand fashion is not just a choice but a statement of style—a mindset that is reflected in the business model of Swedish brands and designers, which are shifting from a linear production model to a circular one.

Swedes’ keen attention to detail has impacted the design and interior sector as well, giving rise to a multitude of renowned designers. The spectrum of Swedish design spans from IKEA—the global pioneer of affordable furniture, founded by Ingvar Kamprad at the age of 17—to more exclusive brands and designers such as Orrefors, a glassware company specializing in high-quality crystal and glass products, and Hästens, which provides luxury handcrafted beds.

Interior design shop in Stockholm

Svenskt Tenn is an interior design shop in Stockholm, founded in 1924 by Estrid Ericson, who recruited Josef Frank to the company. Together they created the elegant and boldly patterned personal interior design style that continues to pervade the collection to this day.
Photo: Tuukka Ervasti/ imagebank.sweden.se

nudie jeans factory worker

Nudie Jeans is a progressive Swedish jeans brand based in Gothenburg. The jeans are made in premium denim qualities and made of 100 per cent organic cotton.
Photo: Ulf Lundin/imagebank.sweden.se ant

H&M Group scored second highest among 130 brands in the Textile Exchange Material Change Index 2023, an industry ranking that tracks progress toward more sustainable sourcing.

Spotify app

Photo: Lieselotte van der Meijs/imagebank.sweden.se

Spotify is the world’s most popular audio-streaming subscription service, with more than 615 million users.

Music

Embarking on a journey through Sweden’s musical landscape unveils a rich legacy and an assembly of artists who have left an enduring mark on the world stage. Picture the iconic Billboard Top 10 chart echoing the distinctive sound of Swedish singing-songwriting, from the timeless tunes of ABBA to the electronic beats of Avicii, Alesso, Galantis, and Swedish House Mafia; the catchy melodies of Zara Larsson, Icona Pop, and Robyn; to the groovy rhythms of Roxette and Ace of Base.

Sweden’s musical prowess extends beyond the performers to the brilliant minds behind the global hits. Producers like Max Martin, Shellback, and RedOne have become synonymous with chart-topping songwriting and production. Collaborations with American pop icons not only contribute to the transatlantic music industry but also fuel creative industries and create job opportunities.

Sweden’s musical prowess extends beyond the performers to the brilliant minds behind the global hits. Producers like Max Martin, Shellback, and RedOne have become synonymous with chart-topping songwriting and production. Collaborations with American pop icons not only contribute to the transatlantic music industry but also fuel creative industries and create job opportunities.

Gaming

Sweden has played a key role in the video-game industry, earning global recognition and multiple records. The groundwork for the success was laid in the late 1990s, when the Swedish government launched an initiative in collaboration with trade unions to enhance computer accessibility through tax incentives and subsidies. As a result, computers became a standard feature in Swedish households, and this led to an increased interest in video games.

An estimated one in four people worldwide has played a game created by a Swedish video-game developer. A significant contribution to this statistic is the pop-culture phenomenon Minecraft (Mojang), created by Markus “Notch” Persson, which has sold more than 300 million copies—making it the best-selling video game of all time.

The puzzle game Candy Crush Saga (King), created by Sebastian Knutsson, accumulated 5 billion downloads in its first five years, making a substantial impact on the Swedish video-game legacy. Honorable mentions contributing to the legacy include Battlefield (DICE), Darksiders (Embracer), Europa Universalis (Paradox Interactive), and Payday (Star Breeze). Success in Swedish video-game studios has attracted investments from American companies, such as Microsoft’s $2.5 billion acquisition of Mojang in 2014 and Electronic Arts’ $23 million acquisition of DICE in 2006.

Dreamhack

Photo: Jann Lipka/imagebank.sweden.se

DreamHack’s Local Area Network (LAN) parties are renowned for uniting thousands of video-game enthusiasts across Europe, the United States, and Canada. Originally, in the small village of Malung, a group of schoolmates gathered to trade discs and share programming and graphics knowledge. This practice soon evolved into a public event, attracting individuals engaging in collective video-game experiences. The event further developed to become Scandinavia’s premier LAN party and later achieved international prominence. In 2013, DreamHack secured a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for hosting the world’s largest LAN party.