ART THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE DEPTH OF THE OCEAN PLASTIC PROBLEM.
About 71% of the earth's surface is covered by oceans. They produce over half of the oxygen on our planet and are home to over one million species of animals and even more plants.
Furthermore, the oceans are the key regulators of the climate. It is safe to say that every living thing on Earth is dependent on the health of our seas.Tragically, estimates indicate that by the year 2050, there will be more plastic in the oceans than there are fish, unless we seriously change our habits and the way we handle our waste.
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The 2021 edition of Kånken Art aims to increase awareness around these problems, but also hopes to inspire change: Since 80% of ocean plastics come from land, our immediate surroundings are a good place to start. Let’s do it together, one piece of plastics.
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WHAT CAN A SINGLE BACKPACK ACHIEVE?
After two successful annual releases, the third Kånken Art edition aims to draw attention to the problem of ocean plastics. Launching on June 8, 2021 – World Ocean Day – this year’s Kånken Art products will feature a design in two colour palettes: Ocean Surface and Ocean Deep. The unique twist was developed by Swedish illustrator and animator Linn Fritz, who seized the opportunity to help raise awareness about plastic waste and the health of our oceans.
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The Kånken Art '21 is a small step in the right direction. Its fabric consists of Fjällräven’s G-1000 HeavyDuty Eco, which is made from recycled polyester and organic cotton. Furthermore, all Kånken Art products contribute to the Arctic Fox Initiative. One percent of every purchase goes directly to the Arctic Fox Initiative’s support for organisations working to keep plastics out of the oceans.
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Kånken Art is a limited-edition collection of backpacks and accessories designed in collaboration with a different Swedish artist each year. Kånken has been world famous for its iconic and uncompromising design since 1968, but Kånken Art is a special expression of creativity. Each item highlights the artist’s unique connection to nature and the environment.
ART THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE DEPTH OF THE OCEAN PLASTIC PROBLEM.
FJÄLLRÄVEN IS PROUD TO COLLABORATE WITH TALENTED SWEDISH ILLUSTRATOR AND ANIMATOR LINN FRITZ FOR THE 2021 EDITION OF KÅNKEN ART.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE KÅNKEN ART DESIGN PROCESS?
“For this project, I worked a little bit differently, using cut-out plastics as a reference, rather than people. I sketched using Photoshop before finalising the pattern in Illustrator. I had a generous timeline of about two months, which allowed me to revisit old sketches and rediscover new ideas. It also allowed me to step back, breathe, and shift my focus onto something else, before coming back to the pattern with fresh eyes.”
WHAT DO YOU HOPE CAN BE ACHIEVED WITH YOUR KÅNKEN ART EDITION?
“This project was challenging as it was my first time creating something that would be printed on a product. I felt such a huge sense of reward the first time I got to see the bag with my pattern printed on it, and it feels even more special knowing that Kånken will team up with organisations in order to create awareness around ocean plastics. I hope Fjällräven will continue to use this platform for good and create awareness for different environmental causes in the future.”
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE COLLABORATION?
“It’s been a very pleasant journey to develop this artwork together with someone (Fjällräven) that listens, understands and explains their feedback in a very beneficial way. We share a strong value: that our future and the future of nature are intertwined. Therefore, we need to take care of it better. We need to value what we have before it’s too late.”
The Kånken Art program is part of Fjällräven’s Arctic Fox Initiative. In 2021, it is focussing on working with organisations that support the reduction of plastic waste and clean up what is already out there.