Sika-Design was established in 1942 by Ankjær Andreasen. Under the name "Jysk Siv og Halmkunst" (Jutish Reeds and Straw Art), Ankjær established a production of smaller wicker products which were made by home basket makers in Jutland, Denmark. Since there was a shortage of raw materials during the war, the production was based on free Danish raw materials, such as straw and reeds.
The first products were baskets, reed shoes, lampshades, plant stands, Christmas ornaments, and similar smaller handicrafts.
In 1951 the company moves to the Danish island Funen, and the name is changed to "Sika", a contraction of Siv (Reed), Kurve (Baskets) and Andreasen — and a reference to the light and elegant sika deer. The product range is now expanded with a production of furniture.
Our oldest design, the Renoir hanging chair, was designed in 1956 and is still found in our product range.
In the 1960s Sika establishes its own production of rattan furniture in two workshops on Funen. Sika also begins to develop small furniture and gift items made from teak wood. In this decade, Ankjær designs a collection of garden furniture in teak and steel — most famously the furniture which has later been sold by others under the name Margurit.
The business grows and Sika begins exporting to all of Europe and participates in international furniture exhibitions. For customs reasons, a German branch, Sika Bilshau, is established near Flensburg. The name is now changed from "Sika" to "Sika Møbler" (Sika Furniture), and together with close subcontractors employs approximately 100 people on Funen.
Sika Møbler focuses on product development of rattan furniture and experiments with previously unknown debarking and staining of rattan as well as developing methods for 3-dimensional bending of the material. Ankjær's son, Erik, designs the "DISQUE" collection where more than 250,000 pieces of the popular chair "2430" are sold. The collection is handcrafted in Denmark and exported to overseas continents such as Asia, Australia and North America.
In 1972 Ankjær decides to go on a journey to the Far East. When he returns, he has bought a piece of land in Malaysia, where there is easy access to the raw material rattan, and a production of rattan furniture with 150 employees is established. For many years, the production in Denmark runs in parallel, but Ankjær's trip became the basis for the company as we know it today.
Due to the oil crisis, Sika Møbler is in a major crisis and threatened with closure. The import of raw materials and furniture from Malaysia takes place in USD, which in one year rises from DKK 4.75 to DKK 12.50. The product sale only takes place in DKK which is also devalued 2–3 times a year. The result is that both turnover and staff are reduced by over 50%, and Ankjær's second son, Knud, joins the company.
Knud Andreasen buys the company. In the mid-1980s, there is a boom in conservatory construction, and the demand for wicker furniture in rattan explodes.
Sika Møbler has made exclusive agreements with dealers all over Denmark, and therefore Knud establishes the sister company Cane-Line to meet the great demand for rattan furniture.
Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, who produce all the world's rattan, make it illegal to export rattan as a raw material. Sika Møbler's Danish production is therefore forced to close.
Sika Møbler buys its biggest competitor Horsnæs Design, and thereby changes name to "Sika-Horsnaes". Through the 90s, a close cooperation with three Indonesian factories is established. The Indonesian manufacturers are supplied with know-how and designs from Denmark — and the production in Malaysia is closed.
In collaboration with the Japanese designer Yamakawa, Sika-Horsnaes creates a collection of furniture which in design and lightness becomes a huge success all over the world. Our popular dining chair Rossini is a result of this collaboration.
Knud Andreasen's daughter, Louise Andreasen, joins the company.
Sika-Horsnaes introduces the ground-breaking material ArtFibre in the new outdoor collection IN OUT. The collection becomes an instant success. In these years, there is a great focus on outdoor wicker furniture made of aluminum and ArtFibre. But the family's 3rd generation, Louise Andreasen, insists on sticking to the company's roots by keeping rattan furniture in the product range — even though many competitors are opting out of the material.
Sika France is established with office and warehouse in the city Grane located in Southern France.
Sika-Horsnaes moves to larger premises in Rynkeby on Funen.
The collection ORIGINALS is introduced with our own original rattan designs dating back to the 1950s and 1960s.
Sika-Horsnaes is certified according to ISO14001 and SA8000, as one of the first companies in the furniture industry. These certifications ensure a focus on environmental policy and social responsibility.
Sika-Horsnaes changes name to "Sika-Design" due to greater focus on exports.
Sika-Design's ICONS collection is launched. The collection presents iconic furniture designed by some of the world's greatest designers and architects.
Sika-Design launches the romantic outdoor collection Georgia Garden with designs inspired by the British colonial style and by old Danish wicker furniture.
The Affäire collection is launched with charming bistro furniture inspired by Sika-Design's own designs from the 1950s and the French café style. The same year Sika-Design, together with sister company Cane-Line, builds the rattan factory Silcane in Indonesia.
Knud's daughter, Louise Andreasen, buys the company. Sika-Design USA is established with an office and warehouse in Shakopee, Minneapolis, and a few years later Sika-Design China in Haizhu district, Guangzhou. This year, the Exterior collection is also launched with outdoor furniture in the same designs as found in our indoor collections ICONS and Originals.
Sika-Design buys the Danish interior brand COZY ROOM and changes the name to Atmosphere.
Sika-Design opens flagship store in Rynkeby with a 430 m² showroom.
The same year Sika-Design launches the new hand-painted Exterior color which makes it possible to offer outdoor furniture with the same natural expression as rattan furniture.
Sika-Design buys, together with sister company Cane-Line, a cushion factory in Lithuania, and once again expands the warehouse in Denmark to a total of 20,000 m².
