Whether a chair is any good is usually decided the moment you sit down on it. But the most interesting part of Artek and Paul Smith's Edition Three collaboration is hidden somewhere you can't even see — the underside of the seat, painted in Malachite Green, completely invisible in everyday use and only revealed when you flip the stool upside down. This kind of "buttoned-up on top, playful underneath" design touch says more about the chemistry the two brands have built over three years of collaboration than any tagline ever could.
This marks the third edition since Artek and Paul Smith began their collaboration in 2024, with the star once again being Alvar Aalto's iconic 1933 three-legged Stool 60. The structure remains untouched — the birch tripod legs and the ability to stack up to ten stools are all preserved, with Artek's signature Nordic modernist framework holding firm. All the change happens in the color: the legs are dyed in Lemon Yellow, Burgundy, and Melrose Pink, drawing inspiration from Paul Smith's signature stripe, while the seat itself keeps its natural wood finish, saving the contrast for the side you never see.
