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Swedish outdoor gear purveyor Fjällräven is expanding their popular Kånken backpack line once again with a new addition intended to take the brand’s sustainability focus even further.
Instead of using fossil-based materials, the Tree-Kånken—a design homage to the very first Kånken bags first introduced in 1978—is made from the wood of trees. Dubbed Pine Weave, Fjällräven developed and derives the innovative material from pine and spruce trees that are sustainably grown and harvested in northern Sweden.
To get from pine to pack, the materials team transforms the tree's filament fibers into fabric through a multi-step process. The wood chips are first broken down into a pulp before being dissolved into a cellulose liquid. Finally, that mix travels through spinnarets and is washed before being spun into yarn. The finished product is a 100% plant-based fabric that’s as durable and long-lasting as Fjällräven's other materials, and like the brand's iconic G-1000 canvas, it's made more long-lasting (and weather resistant) with Greenland Wax.
Despite Pine Weave's obvious innovation, the Tree-Kånken remains the classic small pack that's beloved in cities and mountain towns around the world. The regonizable design maintains a single main compartment, flat front pocket, loops for securing extra gear and even bottom straps to carry a yoga mat or camera tripod. In addition to the classic design, the Tree-Kånken features earthy colorways like maple yellow and lichen green that are made with Bluesign-certified dyes that use less water and energy than traditional dyes do.
The Tree-Kånken may be a simple, everyday backpack, but it blends the past with the future by combining historic design with forward-thinking materials and manufacturing.
Published 08-16-2021
