When the fashion company Les Deux moved into a new office space in Copenhagen in the autumn of 2021, they wanted to create something more than just an office. The modern workplace keeps employee well-being in focus. Scandinavian interior design and select premium brands reflect the company's identity.
The heart of the office space, and the first thing visitors are greeted by, is a basketball court. It is adjacent to a wine bar and surrounded by conference rooms, office spaces, a showroom, lunchroom, a wall of fame and "The Fitness Room" from Eleiko. The office design is based on the company's DNA and symbolizes that the strength lies in the opposite.
"It doesn't matter what skin color you have or what you believe in; when people from different backgrounds meet, something magical happens. My former partner Virgil was a refugee from Congo and grew up in a completely different way than me. I was a classic 'Ralph Lauren' guy and represent the wine bar while Virgil represents the basketball court, and the merger is the brand's identity," says Andreas Von Der Heide, Founder, Les Deux.
Scandinavian design
"The first thing people see when they come in here is not clothes even though we are a clothing company. We know that our products are strong and work well in the market, but our concept around it is so much stronger. Everything selected for the space is made with high quality, reflecting us as a brand. We collaborate with premium brands from Scandinavia and have chosen the best suppliers in their area – one of them is Eleiko. We are proud of the cooperation and know that the quality of Eleiko's products is really high. We also share values of sustainability and a modern workplace," Andreas continues.
"Les Deux wanted a room specifically for training in smaller groups while they needed flexible equipment that was easy to move for larger group training. The result was a 40 sqm space-efficient gym where employees can train according to their own ability. We hope other companies can be inspired by how Les Deux has shaped the modern workplace in 2022," says Mads Oestergaard, Eleiko.
The modern workplace
"We created a modern workplace because we don't want to be part of the destructive work structure that exists in some workplaces today. We are flexible with working from home and have created training opportunities with a gym from Eleiko, basketball court, yoga, meditation and padel. The employees who haven't trained before have started to do so now because they work here. The goal is to create a better life for our employees; we should have fun, be healthy and happy, and perform better. If the employees leave the office happier than they came here, I have succeeded as an entrepreneur.", says Andreas.
A survey from Deloitte found that 89% of employers see the connection between well-being and business strategy, so it's no surprise that 74% of people choose to increase the scope of their health strategy. Prosperous employees lead to prosperous companies.
It's fascinating to see Les Deux building a community rather than a workplace. I see them as role models for any modern company that wants to work similarly in the future. We are proud to be a part of this," says P-O Osbeck, Corporate & Residential at Eleiko.
About Les Deux
The story behind the men's fashion company Les Deux is based on the meeting between the two founders who came from completely different backgrounds. A relationship based on mutual inspiration while embracing diversity. They formed Les Deux in 2011 – the two, in French – and the vision is that their clothes are for everyone, regardless of religion or origin. The adventure began with a t-shirt and has since evolved into a global brand of premium clothing with over 500 retailers.
Read more about Les Deux on their website.
About Eleiko
At Eleiko, we work to make people stronger, so they can perform better – in sports and in life. For over 60 years, Eleiko has been a worldwide leader in international weightlifting, powerlifting, and strength & conditioning communities. Eleiko is uniquely certified by the IWF, IPF and Para-Powerlifting federations. Our products have been delivered to more than 180 countries and are often seen at the world’s largest championships and in the most respected strength training facilities. More than 1,000 world records have been set with an Eleiko barbell. With quality, innovation, and customer service as guiding principles, Eleiko is the leading equipment provider and educator in strength.