When Cecilia Löf’s parents gave her a Kånken on her birthday as a child, they couldn’t have imagined her using it 40 years later. But she has, and continues to do so, today.
Cecilia Löf’s Kånken story starts in her family’s clothing store, Löf Skräddar’n. Located in the little village of Harmånger, Sweden, which lies just north of Hudiksvall on the east coast, the shop’s motto was straightforward: sell quality clothing at a good price.
Naturally, Fjällräven was represented in the shop’s inventory, and also played a role in her growing appreciation for nature.
As is the custom for families in Sweden, much of Cecilia’s childhood was spent outdoors. There were walks by the sea, canoe trips in Trysil, and lingonberry picking in the woods of Hälsingland. During these adventures, her grandfather often wore his Fjällräven parka. As did her father and uncles. The clothes were also worn indoors and made appearances at more festive occasions.
It was no surprise therefore, that Cecilia was given a Kånken backpack for her birthday. In fact, she believes it may be the first model, which debuted in 1978. As she recalls, “. . . my big sister also got a Kånken about a year after me. I was a little bit jealous, because it was red and had an outer pocket that my green model didn’t have.”
Despite a little bit of sibling rivalry, Cecilia was always happy to carry her new Kånken to school and during school outings, where it would be full with the “obligatory” picnic foods of her youth: hot chocolate and oranges. She also appreciated the practical seat pad, which she frequently used during the winter.
As she grew, so too did her appreciation for Fjällräven: “I have always been proud that we have such a good Swedish clothing brand. I also had other outdoor brands, but Fjällräven is the one that stuck with me – both in the closet and in my memories!”
Over the years, Cecilia has used her Kånken as a school bag, travel bag and work bag. It has even been her children’s game bag. About 20 years ago, when she made the move to Zola Pedrosa in northern Italy, the backpack of course had to come.
After all these years, Cecilia still depends on her Kånken, with its versatility and functional details continuing to impress her.
“I still use my Kånken because it is practical and has kept its good quality during all these years. It is so smart, because you can open it up completely to quickly and easily find what you need.
But, also, I like the Fjällräven brand. Some years ago, I started spotting Kånken backpacks here in Italy. That made it clear – Fjällräven and Kånken had achieved cult status”.
Learn more about the long-lasting durability of Fjällräven backpacks from real users.
