Originally built for Swedish school children, the Kånken is the most well known and most loved of anything Fjällräven makes. The Kånken Original is the same today as when it was released 30 years ago - only today it is made in more than 15 colors to suit any individual style.

Beyond the simple functional design, the Kånken boasts the use of a unique textile, Vinylon F. While made from synthetic fibers, Vinylon F has the best properties of natural fibers. Fabrics conventionally used for backpacks need a coating in order to become water resistant and the coating wears out over time, making the backpack less waterproof. Not so with Vinylon F. Absorbing moisture better than any other synthetic fiber, Vinylon F swells like a natural fiber, thus making the weave denser when it's raining. This gives the Kånken daypack waterproof qualities by construction eliminating the need for a coating. Used for more than 30 years now, the fabric continues to prove its simple, durable, functionality year after year.

We began stocking the now iconic Fjällräven Kånken backpack in Spring 2010 and have watched as the company exploded upon the North American market with their flagship shop opening on Mott Street in New York City, officially bringing the legendary Swedish outdoor line across the water to Canada and The United States. With increased demand came decreased availability, but after meeting with Fjällräven representatives in October as they visited Still Life For Him & For Her, we were rushed a Winter 2011 selection of the classic Kånken Backpack, the Vintage 20L Backpack and the ultra-durable and brand-defining Oban Jacket (in Classic Black and Uncle Blue) at Still Life For Him.

If Fjällräven missed the chance to be your official back-to-school 2011 backpack this autumn, we have faith the range will find a good home for the winter and would even wrap up nicely to be tucked under the Christmas Tree this holiday season. Fjällräven Kånken backpacks are once again available in Victoria exclusively at Still Life For Him & For Her.

every generation of scandinavian youth have worn the fjällräven kånken daypack since it debuted in 1978. the classic design is the same today as back then and remains just as popular. for school, day trips, or biking to work the kånken makes a lifelong companion for kids and adults. we've just received stock in these legendary, durable, colour-coordinated retro backpacks at still life for spring/summer. lots of new spring 2011 colours in classic kånken sizing, as well as ultra cute kånken minis for the kids!

for serious travel & outdoor adventures, we've also received units of the vintage 20L backpack from the legendary swedish outdoor company. a retro top-loading design with a modern carrying back-panel of mesh keeping the load stable and your back comfortably dry. the vintage 20L backpack is made from hardwearing waxed g-1000 fabric with real leather straps.

preparing our friends & family for the spring/summer victoria camping season, still life has received our first shipment of fjällräven shirting for the men. the fjällräven tamboti is a short-sleeve shirt with slim design and fit. easy-to-care-for, cool bamboo blend with natural resistance to bad odours - practical for travelling when you might not be able to do laundry very often. attractive yoke with ventilation opening in the back. hidden zippered vertical breast pocket and safety pocket in the side seam. the fjällräven björn is a long-sleeve functional shirt in quick-drying and easy-to-care-for cotton blend that keeps its shape even after a sweaty day out hiking. two breast pockets with a discreet zipper to safely store small items you want to have close at hand. sleeve button to hold the rolled-up sleeves in place. comfort fit. light UV protection, UPF 15.

lastly, we're thrilled at the return of a full case of fjällräven greenland wax (made from paraffin and bees wax) to still life. the high-strength, environmentally friendly waterproofing agent is used in all offjällräven's G-1000 products. with the help of the greenland wax you can easily impregnate your G-1000 (or any other woven garments) clothing yourself, thereby improving the impregnation and defending the garments against our wet westcoast weather. watch below as jordan shows you how to easily wax a jacket with the greenland wax.

a nice start to the winter 2011 season in victoria with the arrival of the highly-anticipated fjallraven greenland wax (made from paraffin and bees wax) to still life. the high-strength, environmentally friendly waterproofing agent is used in all of fjallraven's G-1000 products (including the oban jacket we featured at the store this past autumn). over time the G-1000's wax can become worn and the hydrophoic effect is reduced, but with the help of the greenland wax you can easily impregnate your G-1000 (or any other woven garments) clothing yourself, thereby improving the impregnation and defending the garments against our wet westcoast weather.

waxing a garment requires two steps: application and heating.

• first take a block of greeland wax and rub it into the garment where you want to improve the impregnation. apply the wax generously.
• then take a hairdryer or iron and heat the garment until the wax melts and sinks into the fabric (note: please use a secondary hairdryer/iron and not nicest, newest one, as waxy residue is expected)
• tips: if you want to make the garment even more waterproof, repeat the entire process several times instead of only applying a single, thick layer.

to wash greeland wax out of clothing (come summertime or when travelling in warm and humid areas) simply wash the garment 2-3 times and the original finish of the G-1000 (or whichever fibre) garment will return. watch this video faderTV did at the fjallraven new york showroom to see how simple it is to wax/waterproof any item of clothing, and come by the store anytime to get tips and a run down from any of still life's helping hands.

after redesigning backpacks and tents, 24-year-old fjallraven founder ake nordin knew he could design outdoor clothing. borrowing his grandfather’s tailor scissors and mother’s sewing machine he prototyped a jacket and pants using the fabric from a tent. g-1000 fabric, now engineered for clothing, is a 65% cotton and 35% polyester in a tightly woven configuration treated with greenland wax, a special formula of paraffin and beeswax made by a small family in the north of sweden. the fabric swells when damp, delivering wind and water resistance the worse the weather gets. today there are all sorts of over-engineered textiles used to make equipment - many of which try to mimic the properties of g-1000 - but the original is still respected, still in production, and still the best.the oban jacket from fjallraven is built from this same g-1000 material ake nordin fashioned tents and backpacks from through the 60s and 70s. the more stylish brother of fjallraven's classic greenland jacket, the oban has 7 pockets, reinforced, pre-shaped elbows, a high, protective collar, and action back for ease of movement. arriving in full mens sizing from small to extra large, the oban from fjallraven is now available at still life boutique to protect you from the upcoming west coast wind, rain & flurries, in a perfect vintage light green and classic black. note: click the picture of fjallraven founder ake nordin to the right to see him wearing the vintage light green oban with fjallraven ceo martin axelhed.

straight backs are happy backs, as such the fjällräven kånken backpack was launched in 1978 to spare the backs of swedish school children. back problems had begun to appear in increasingly younger age groups and shoulder bags were popular across the european nation. with many simple, clear functions, the kånken soon became a common sight at pre-schools and nature schools around sweden. the idea of using a backpack quickly spread, as did the kånken and it is just as popular today being and an excellent choice for school, outings or biking to work. made out of durable, lightweight vinylon f the kånken has a large main compartment with a large opening makes it easy to put in/take out items, two side pockets and a zippered pocket in the front, handle at the top, narrow, supple shoulder straps, sitting pad in the pocket in the back and the fjällräven artic fox logo that doubles as a reflector.

we've watched as these ultra-practical swedish bags have been snapped up by all types of folks downtown at still life boutiqe - from young kids heading to their first day of school and university friends finally heading (back) to school to downtown commuters for work and outdoor explorers. last weekend during rifflandia jordan got caught in a torrential downpour with tommy guerrero and our friend aaron from the sentimentals and stored all his camera gear & recording equipment in his burnt red kånken and everything came out dry as it went in. we're especially excited with this delivery of the bags to see the very first arrival of both the black and purple kånkens (two colours we've never before had instore).

the fjällräven kånken backpacks amazing, practical, colourful, and now available at still life boutique.

our third drop of fjallraven backpacks showed up at still life bright and early this morning and our beautiful display wall is complete once again! we've got another great colour break from the swedish adventure company: army green, oxblood red, burnt orange, a heap of blues, greys & navys, and the yellow!

these ideal summer lake/pool/camp packs are made of vinylon f, the functional fabric that has made the kånken daypacks seemingly immortal for the last 25 years. though a synthetic fiber, vinylon f has many of of the positive properties of natural fibers - swelling like a natural fiber when wet, the weave becomes more dense when raining, causing the pack to absorb moisture better than any other synthetic fiber. this gives the fabric waterproof qualities by construction eliminating the need for a coating.

these bags have been flying out of still life over the past few months: they're functional, individual, cute and super wearable. pop by the shop this weekend, grab yourself a new bag, and hit the beach/lake/pool.

this sunshine - seriously! can you believe it!? 18°C in the victoria inner harbour in the middle of may. absolutely perfect!

our post this morning gave any victorians visiting the mainland this beautiful weekend a destination to visit and items to seek out, but what about all you CRD faithful staying in the garden city catching all the sun this weekend? we've got ideas! this weekend will definitely be dominated by visits to the beachfronts and parks in and around the capital region, and a certain swap meet that you will most definitely find mr matt and mr jordan of still life scouring in the early hours of sunday morning.

we wanted to outline some of the essential summer pieces we've got in store right now that will ensure a weekend getaway/hideout in style. for our girls we've got a great batch of bensimon sneakers to dress with your summer dresses or cropped summer jeans. our lily & jae spring collection is looking incredible with some of the new pieces jude delivered last week, and topped off with a cute brixton summer hat her denim dresses are adorable. our still life men have their pick of the litter with the amazing pieces we've got available moving into the warmer months. a full selection of ray-ban sunglasses to keep your eyes hidden behind their dark shades while you're at the beach, and fjällräven backpacks that can fit beachwear, beers, and all your other secret stuffs while you're riding around town on your bike wearing your official new summer shoe from native.

we'll be spinning our favorite new records over the weekend from jonsi (go), broken social scene (forgiveness rock record), lcd soundsystem (this is happening) and sharon jones & the dap kings (i learned the hard way) so come down and say hi if you're staying local this weekend!

in the early 1950s, backpacks were simply bags that you carried on your back. a 14-year boy from northern sweden was not satisfied with this solution for carrying his equipment and took matters into his own hands.

the story behind fjällräven began in 1950 when åke nordin, a 14-year-old boy from örnsköldsvik in northern sweden, was about to go for a trek in the mountains. åke, who spent more time outdoors than indoors, did not like the backpacks that were available at that time. they always ended up like small, uncomfortable, pear-shaped bags down around his rear so he decided to take matters into his own hands and built his own. during his debut trek with his new backpack he met some sami people who were very curious about the square backpack. after trying it on, they asked åke if he could make a few for them and bring them up next time he passed by. this request marked the start of a production line in the basement of a house in the small town of örnsköldsvik. the basic principles for the design of the traditional backpack were formed.

straight backs are happy backs. the kånken was launched in 1978 to spare the backs of school children. back problems had begun to appear in increasingly younger age groups and shoulder bags were popular. the kånken offered many simple, clear functions and the idea of using a backpack at school quickly spread, as did the kånken. it is just as popular today, and an excellent choice for school, outings or biking to work. the kånken is made out of durable, lightweight vinylon f (the functional fabric that has made kånken daypacks seemingly immortal for the last 25 years). the large main compartment with a large opening makes it easy to put in/take out items. two side pockets and a zippered pocket in the front. handle at the top, narrow, supple shoulder straps, sitting pad in the pocket in the back and logo that doubles as a reflector.

this is easily one of our most excited new lines to introduce to victoria this spring, and the bags' arrival this weekend marks the official start to spring 2010 outdoor treking season for us at still life. matt & jordan stopped by the new fjällräven storefront/shoeroom in new york this past january and began dreaming of a future still life swedish hills excursion where the fjällräven team could outfit us head to toe in the best outdoor gear we've ever seen.

come check out fjällräven at still life and get outside.