Since we last wrote about them, the Swedish bag and accessory brand Sandqvist has gone from strength to strength, without compromising their design philosophy of style, simplicity and functionality, mixed with nostalgia and traditional craftsmanship. Originally founded to produce men’s bags, Sandqvist launched its first line of women’s bags early last year and many of its current designs have a unisex appeal.
At lifeiscarbon®, we especially like Sandqvist´s retro inspired models such as the Roald backpack, the Stig rucksack and the wonderful Carl Gustaf weekend bag. Take a look below at some our current favorites from the Sandqvist range.
"Even though I naturally have too many bags to select from for my private use, I have continued to use my old army bag when going for a weekend trip, simply because it is outstanding in function. So we decided to make our own interpretation of this classic bag. Bags are something you want to use for a long time without getting tired of them. Therefore we try to keep it simple and clean, with the motto - without a twist".
All of Sandqvist´s leather bags are made from vegetable tanned leather that is specifically designed to age beautifully. Interestingly, production takes place at small factory in Chennai, India, on manufacturing equipment from a disused leather factory in Sweden with financial support from Sida (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency).
Anton Sandqvist, the company´s founder, came up with the idea for the brand in 2004, after getting tired of carrying his laptop to work every day in an unstylish bag; "I spent a lot of effort thinking about looks and style, but I didn’t want to pay 5,000 kronor ($660) for a bag. So I made a bag by myself and started using it, and people started asking where I got it."
As more and more people began to ask him where they could purchase the bag, Sandqvist eventually decided to start producing more and to try to sell them. Whilst his training in fashion initially consisted of an elementary school class in sewing, his background in business (at Toshiba Electronics) has helped him build an impressive customer base and an ever growing reputation for quality.
roald - khaki
Stig - Black
carl gustaf - khaki
gudrun - black
herr judit - khaki
lennart - black
jack - khaki
All photos by Knotan
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