Fjällräven has been the go-to brand in Sweden for sturdy, practical backpacks for years. Founded in the 1960s by Åke Nordin, he discovered that adding a frame to a backpack would help spread the weight, making it easier to wear and more comfortable to carry. The Kånken backpacks have been staples for Sweden’s children ever since – the colourful, waterproof and durable styles making the perfect school bag. Meanwhile the rest of the range is designed for the outdoors, used by hikers and campers for their functionality, comfort and smart solutions.
Recently, however, we’ve seen Fjällräven move away from its slightly geeky, practical image to a cult fashion label loved for its simple utilitarian styles. Like many Scandinavian brands, it’s one that has exploded in the past few years. All over the world, fashionistas are turning to Nordic brands for wearable, simple, minimalist clothing and accessories that are high-quality and will last a lifetime. Eschewing in-your-face logos and ad campaigns, these brands create authentic pieces that speak for themselves.
So how do you style a traditionally ‘nerdy’ Fjällräven backpack to make it cool and stylish? We’ve looked to some of our favourite bloggers and street style stars for different ways to style these classic backpacks…
First up, we have blogger Annabel from Blushing Ambition rocking a summery version of the Canadian Tuxedo, with a classic black Fjällräven bag. We love the casual, laidback look and how she incorporates her backpack into the ever-present double denim trend.
Susie Lau, aka Susie Bubble, is one of Britain’s most successful bloggers. Known for her eccentric, creative and maximalist style, she’s a street-style favourite and her blog Style Bubble has grown to unprecedented heights. Here she shows how Fjällräven can be worn in a creative, quirky way, wearing her pale pink backpack with a printed jumper, statement shorts and metallic brogues.
How to look after your Fjallraven Kanken
We give a how-to on the perfect way to look after your iconic Fjällräven Känken to ensure it lasts a lifetime.
Swedish model Sara Blomqvist was spotted wearing her green Kånken with a blue printed jumpsuit and New Balance trainers, giving a fashion-forward edge to Fjällräven.
Russian blogger Yana from A Handful of Stories also pairs her backpack with on-trend trainers, wearing a trench coat and layering a jumper over a shirt to smarten up her outfit; a lesson in laid-back, city chic.
One of the best things about Fjällräven is that it’s unisex, looking just as good on the boys as it does on the girls. This stylish Fjällräven wearer shows how to give an urban twist to the Kånken, pairing it with a bright orange jumper and dark grey joggers.
