Kanken Bag History

Kånken, the world's most-sold backpack, turned 30 in 2008! The backpack that has been sold to over 3 million customers since its release in 1978 is celebrating its 30 year anniversary. Kånken is an unchanged classic. Kånken was developed at the end of the 70s to save the backs of children and young people. At that time the shoulder bag was popular and 80 percent of the Swedish population reported that they occasionally suffered from back pain. At the end of the 1970s, new statistics showed that 80 percent of the Swedish population at some time suffered from back pain, a discomfort that was reaching younger and younger age groups. Experts believed that if the load from school books was re-distributed from one shoulder to both shoulders, back pain would lessen and perhaps even disappear.

Fjällräven's founder Åke Nordin followed the debate on crooked backs and sketched a functional, affordable backpack that met the needs of children to carry books and folders to and from school. A massive campaign with experts leading the way launched the backpack with the hope of encouraging Sweden's youth to follow the backpack trend. Adults became interested too in the stylish, practical and durable Kanken bags. Åke Nordin had estimated that he would sell 200 Kånken backpacks during the first year. He sold twice as many. The following year he sold 30,000, and there was no denying that Kånken was a success.

Today, approximately 200,000 Kånken backpacks are sold each year. In 2002, the extremely popular sequel, Kånken Mini, was released. Kånken is made from an extremely durable vinylon fabric, Vinylon F, that is suited to everything from rough children's play to tough climate conditions. Vinylon F swells like natural fibres, which makes it waterproof and does not require additional treatment. Vinylon F is unbeatable in its combination of durability and low weight. Kånken has a long zipper that opens the entire main compartment, two side pockets and a front pocket. A practical, removable seat cover is included in the backpack. The backpack is equipped with shoulder straps, a handle on top and reflectors in the logo.

Did you know that… o Kånken comes from the word "kånka", which means "to carry". o The Swedish Guide and Scout Association participated with Fjällräven in the release of Kånken in 1978. o In Denmark, the word "Kånken" is a general term for "backpack". o Kånken was previously seen by some as a symbol of liberal political views and was sometimes called "the communist humpback". o In Denmark, Kånken can be found at a museum in Brede, just north of Copenhagen. o It was important for school children to be able to fit their notebooks in a Kånken. A telephone book from Stockholm was used to determine the proportions of the bag!