Larsen and Eriksen are a copenhagen-based design duo built upon a lifelong friendship and an everlasting love for people and bicyclism.

Here, we go behind the brand to find out more…

When did you launch the brand and what was the reason behind it?
We are a Copenhagen-based design studio. Driven by contemporary Copenhagen lifestyle, we create accessible aesthetics inspired by Danish Mid-Century Modern.

As a forerunner, we spent two years on designing and developing every single, nerdy detail of the watches – and making sure that all unnecessary links had been cut out of our supply chain.

To best explain the reason behind it, say that you take equal parts of the following ingredients:

(1) Two best friends since 3rd grade, (2) two 9-5 day jobs that were “perfectly career oriented, very well-paid and extremely pretty-f***ing-average”, (3) a nerdy passion for watches, (4) many years of never being able to afford to buy watches, (5) many years of having traversed the globe and seen the diverse destinies of its inhabitants, (6) a good old Danish winter depression, and add to that (7) a strong lust to create something from scratch and use this to affect other people’s lives in a positive manner

There you have it. That’s the foundation of LARSEN & ERIKSEN.

Whats your background?
Jeppe is born and raised in the sphere of Supply Chain Management and has worked as Head of Operations in a Logistics company for many years. I hold a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Psychology and used to work in Management Consulting. Luckily, both of us have always felt a strong connection to watches and the principles of Danish design, and this proved to become our way out of the corporate hamster wheel.

How many people are involved in the company and what are their roles?
We are a multinational team of currently 7 incredibly talented and highly inspiring people, alongside our production team and a vast range of freelancers lending us a creative hand whenever needed. Being a somewhat-small design company “everyone is involved in everything” and this agile and creativity-igniting setup is in many ways our very greatest strength.

If you could start over with the business, would you do anything differently?
There’s no such thing as starting a business in a perfect way. Launching a business – whether in the format of an ice cream stall, a dating app for dogs or a watch brand – is a matter of dedication, agility and persistence. And even though you put in all of that, there’s still no guarantee that things are gonna turn out the way you expected. So judging from where we are today, my answer is no, as I am extremely proud of where we and our kick-ass team has taken LARSEN & ERIKSEN in less than a year. But in reality, a new start would mean a new rollercoaster ride of unforeseen challenges and thus, the path to success would most likely never be the same.

Tell us one fact about you that people wouldn’t know?
Our very first collection of watches is named “Absalon”. We normally never elaborate on the reason behind this, but the naming actually comes from the Danish archbishop Absalon who founded the city of Copenhagen in 1167. Many years after his death, he had an elementary school named after him and at this very school, Jeppe and I met in 3rd grade. At that very moment, the story of LARSEN & ERIKSEN began.

2018 is here, where do you plan on taking the brand?
Our journey has only just begun and in 2018 I can promise that we are gonna expand into both new markets, new design categories and new eye-opening collabs. Can’t wait to share the news with all of the amazing people already following as well as opening up the doors to our welcome-for-all design universe for many, many more amazing human beings!

To date, what has been the highlight since launching?I feel really privileged when being able to say that it’s difficult to choose just one… Being able to do a small difference in the lives of people in the rural parts of Western Africa through our #BikesForAHappierWorld initiative is definitely one of my personal (on-going) highlights. As for the progress of LARSEn & ERIKSEN, I guess the overall highlight must be the fact that our designs are already being sold at handpicked, top-tier design, fashion and lifestyle stores in 14 countries around the world and that we are featured as the only watch brand in the design store of Louisiana MoMA which was recently awarded the World Best Museum Store.

Style means….?
Integrity. And integrity – in style – means being true to yourself and comfortable with whatever you wear. Life is too short to worry about what other people think of you and the way you look. If you feel like wearing the glittery boots on a Monday morning, glittery boots it is!

Best thing about London to you?
The architectural authenticity. The way the city still honors its historical heritage is, in my opinion, unique.

Statement shoe or statement bag?
Statement watch. Inarguably.

If you had to, what piece of clothing from your wardrobe would you wear everyday?
My hand-sewn all-black shirt in thick, rough cotton by upcoming Danish designer Louise Egebro. Basically, it’s more like a weird – but extremely cool and comfortable – mix of a blazer and a cardigan. I’m a sucker for perfect fits – and monochrome looks – and this is exactly what Louise captures like no other designer I’ve come across. And when often going for monochrome clothing, I always use my watch to add an understated twist to my outfit.

Favourite love song?
“Hoppípolla” by Sigur Rós. It might not be your number one go-to song for when recording a mixtape for your one-and-only teenage love, but in my mind this song encompasses love – for the world, for people, for life – in a mesmerizing and escapist manner like nothing I’ve ever heard before.

Best place for a coffee?
“Ricco’s Kaffe” at the Meatpacking District in Copenhagen. Best coffee – and best service – in town.

Most memorable piece of advice given to you?
If you don’t manage the detail, you don’t manage anything.

Guilty pleasure?
Still listening to my childhood heroes of Blink-182 when I’m all alone. But luckily, no one knows.

If you could spent 24 hours in anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Beneath the surface of the ocean. I’m born with an intense wanderlust and I love exploring the farthest corners of the world, both in and out of water. However, it’s a simple fact that there’s so many incredible places and incredible creatures in our oceans that are still to be explored by mankind – and I’d love to take part in discovering some of these hidden treasures.

Find out more…

Explore much more about the LARSEN & ERIKSEN universe on www.larseneriksen.com and stay up-to-date and inspired on a daily basis by following us (@larseneriksen) on Instagram.

Author

Northern girl Laura is the epitome of a true entrepreneur. Laura’s spirit for adventure and passion for people blaze through House of Coco. She founded House of Coco in 2014 and has grown it in to an internationally recognised brand whilst having a lot of fun along the way. Travel is in her DNA and she is a true visionary and a global citizen.

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