Sydney Fjällräven fans rejoice! Your prayers have been answered as the Swedish heritage outdoor brand announces the opening of its Australian flagship store located at 38 York Street.
With a wall full of your favourite Kånken backpacks in almost every essential colour you could think of as well as a decent selection of mens and womens clothing, there’s no need to go anywhere else for your outdoor life accessories. For those who love the original Kånken, there is an impressive variety of colours to choose from – so be warned – it won’t be a quick process when deciding. For something a little more striking and super durable, you might want to check out the Kånken No.2, which features leather handles and is produced using G-1000 Heavy Duty fabric, which is classified as ‘extra hard-wearing’, so perfect for both travelling and outdoor life.
If you’re not familiar with the story behind Fjällräven (which translated from Swedish means Arctic fox), it’s worth understanding how it came to life, as it gives you a better appreciation of the brand’s mission and how it has stayed true to it after all these years.
Stepping back in time to 1960, Fjällräven founder Åke Nordin was only 14-years-old when he customised his backpack to go hiking, as he was not satisfied with the one he had. He made improvements to his original backpack by attaching a wooden frame, providing better stability and more functionality. Little did he know this was going to be the beginning of an iconic Swedish outdoor brand. As he ventured out with his customised backpack, other trekkers took notice of his innovative design and asked whether he was able to make them a similar backpack.
Åke named his company after the Arctic fox, as he was fascinated by this beautiful predator’s survival skills and inquisitive nature. And what is not to love about this stunning Scandinavian creature, which is now sadly classified as critically endangered.
Fast forward to 2019 and Fjällräven is now an award-winning, global outdoor apparel and equipment brand using sustainable materials (think, recycled wool, recycled polyester & PFC-free waterproofing) to inspire individuals to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. Also good to know is that by purchasing select products from the Fjällräven range, a percentage of the sales go to the Arctic Fox Initiative – a program that issues grants to not-for-profit projects that support a sustainable relationship with nature.
Find out more about Fjällräven Australia here. Visit the new Sydney flagship store at 38 York Street, Sydney.