A DAY WITH KLÄTTERMUSEN

On our recent visit to Åre, Sweden's biggest ski resort we had the chance to hang out with some of the Klättermusen staff for a day. They have a beautiful office there overlooking the mountains where about half of their staff is based. They often start their workdays by hiking up a mountain, skiing down it and then heading to the office. They gave us a great tour of their office, had some coffee, got to see some of the products they are working on and met their office dogs. We were blown away by the attention to detail and rigorous testing process their products go through before hitting the market. They told us they often get a new sample of a new material or fit, unpack it and head straight out to test it for a full day. After some time in the office we headed out to the mountain joined by their staff who took us on a guided tour of the best locals only spots in the mountain.

Below are some shots from our day and an interview with:

How does Klättermusen infuse its Scandinavian heritage into the design process?

I think it’s in the small details like the use of the norse mythology names, adjustments found in old Swedish military gloves,  the profile of the traditional kolt used by the Same people. To the language of design created by the harsh environment that we live in every day. As our development studio is placed In the middle of the Swedish mountains the inspiration is all around us so we deeply understand the situations our users are facing. I also think Klättermusen derive from a deep respect of the craftmanship that has come from living in this part of the world..

Can you share the story behind one of Klättermusen’s most innovative product designs?

We are lucky to sit down with fabric creators from all over the world, they have many stories of failures and success and I love listening to them. It’s always when they talk about materials used for something completely different from what you are doing that you find the best innovations. Like the Ansur series. That fabric was created to solve the problem of microfibers getting in the water  when used in protest flags on big boats. Not telling who needed that….. The fabric needed to be strong, light and natural without any harmful treatments. We thought off course that this would be perfect for both fast paced styles like Ansur and totally natural down jackets like the Farbaute.

What are some of the most unexpected sources of inspiration that have influenced Klättermusen’s recent collections?

Maybe the inspiration from the Kolt used in the Same culture. The mail kolt have this small almost a skirt sticking out under the low placed belt. If you are making a rain jacket this is actually very helpful. You know when you have a rain jacket with an elastic bottom edge the rain actually goes straight onto your pants. But if you create this small edge sticking out from the body like we did on the Fjorgyn anorak it deflects from the body. Old traditional clothing solution very often derives from a problem needed to be solved.

How does Klättermusen foster a sense of community among outdoor enthusiasts through its brand and products?

I believe that If you continue to create innovative and unique designs and listen to your costumers and testers the community just keep on building. That interchange can never stop.

If Klättermusen were to design a capsule collection inspired by a specific natural phenomenon or landscape, what would it be and why?

Maybe a little cheesy but probably lava eruptions. It comes from the earth and creates something beautiful and sustainable. Cleanses the ground and provides a perfect foundation for new life. It is also unpredictable and creates something unique every time.