When it was first introduced in the late 1960s, Eero Aarnio’s Pastil chair’s playful, scooped form captured the optimism of the era, embodying a new kind of freedom in furniture design. Now, more than half a century later, that same spirit has been found in the Soft Pastil, a velvet-upholstered evolution that proves true icons can adapt without losing their essence.
Developed in close collaboration with Aarnio and his family, the Soft Pastil is the first reinterpretation of a classic within the designer’s body of work. At 93, Aarnio has not only witnessed the transformation of design across decades but continues to contribute to it with remarkable vitality. The Soft Pastil embodies today’s values of comfort, tactility, and longevity while staying faithful to the joyful rocking motion and sculptural curves that made the original such a phenomenon.
The construction reflects this shift toward a softer approach. Instead of fiberglass, the body is cast in foam, fully upholstered in Kvadrat’s Gentle 2 velvet. The tactile surface enhances the sense of calm and intimacy, transforming the piece into a cocoon-like retreat. It is a material move that responds to a contemporary need for sensory richness in interiors, where texture and touch are just as important as form.
“The focus is directed further into product development, showcasing new product releases through updated versions of the classics and pulling out pieces from Eero Aarnio’s vast archives. Where there is new, there is also excitement!”, notes Iines Paajanen, Sales and Marketing Manager at Eero Aarnio Originals.
This milestone also signals a new direction for Eero Aarnio Originals, the company founded in 2016 by Stefan Mahlberg to safeguard and produce the designer’s most iconic works. With the Soft Pastil, the brand steps into a phase of renewal, looking not only to preserve but to reinterpret. That forward-looking mindset is echoed in collaborations such as the campaign created with Finnish fashion label VAIN and the forthcoming partnership with Sørensen Leather, which will bring a fresh materiality to the Bubble Chair.
Introduced in Helsinki on September 11th, the Soft Pastil will be released for global sales in December 2025. It stands as both a continuation and a reinvention: a reminder that classics are never static, but living works that can resonate with new generations when given the right touch.
