Sandqvist Journal N°1 by Sandqvist

x x x

Jou r nal Sandqvist

no 1

Spring/summer 2013

111

Jou r nal Sandqvist

This is a bi-annual publication from Sandqvist, made by Sandqvist. We want you to get to know us, to grasp the feeling that we have for bags and accessories, and share our sources of inspiration with you. This publication will focus on what we like and what we enjoy doing, and present some of the people who influence us. This is the first issue of Sandqvist Journal. Enjoy your reading.

Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s O n Th e R o a d 0 2 Th e S t o r y o f S a n d q v i s t 1 4 A Sharp Mind 20 Tr u e L o v e 2 2 C r e at i v e S p i r i t 2 4 A lwa y s A wa y 2 6 Man Behind the Apron 28 Friends of Sandqvist 32 Back to the Roots 40 Sun City 44 Short Story by Hans Lidman 54 Spring/Summer Collection 58 Care Instructions 64

We a r e e d i t o r i n c h i e f S e b a s t i a n We s t i n texts by Johan Magnusson & Anton Sandqvist p h oto g r a p h e r K n ota n , k n ota n . c o m a rt d i r e c t i o n B e at r i c e H e l l m a n t r a n s l at i o n s A n n a L i n d b e r g , s u p e rt e x t printing Strokirk-Landstrรถms Sandqvist Bag & Items ab S w e d e n b o r g s g ata n 3 , 1 1 8 4 8 S t o c k h o l m , S w e d e n www.sandqvist.net

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

o n

on the road ÂťNothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road.ÂŤ Jack Kerouac

t h e

r o a d

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

o n

t h e

r o a d

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

o n

t h e

r o a d

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

o n

t h e

r o a d

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

o n

t h e

r o a d

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

o n

t h e

r o a d

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

t h e

The Sandqvist house in Glanshammar, 1981.

the story of S ANDQVI S T The Swedish bag brand Sandqvist was founded in 2004 by Anton Sandqvist, and soon his brother Daniel and their friend Sebastian also joined the company. An early devotion to outdoor life and a childhood spent in rural Sweden has had a deep impact on the Sandqvist designs through the years. The Nordic landscapes with its vast unpopulated areas, soaring mountains and remote cabins as well as an urban city lifestyle have always been the main inspirations of the brand. Accordingly, Sandqvist’s bags are uncomplicated and beautiful, with a clear Swedish heritage. 14

Fall 2004. Anton Sandqvist, a civil engineer with a booming career in an international electronics company and a house in Nacka outside of Stockholm, contemplated the current situation. His job was interesting and well-paid with close to 100 days of travel per year, yet something was missing. He wanted to be able to express his creativity, have influence and build something up. The strict world of suits didn’t feel like home to him, and he dreamed of a job where he could be himself. Just for the fun of it, and to fill up some of the space in his basement, Anton bought an industrial sewing machine over the internet. One night he decided to try his skills at making a bag. The design of the Swiss brand Freitag’s messenger bags appealed to him, but he wanted a bag that could hold a laptop, since he was carrying one around all day in his work. The style of the bag had to be robust and casual, not too dressy. Almost 30 hours of work later, the bag was finished. People immediately started asking him where he had bought it, and when the fourth person asked the same thing, a thought flashed through his head: The idea of manufacturing and selling this type of bag—functional, well-designed and not too expensive. A few days later Anton found himself with his self-produced bag in front of Grandpa in Stockholm, a newly opened fashion store. He built up his courage for a while, and then entered. Luckily, the staff’s reaction was enthusiastic and the store bought ten bags on trial. That same night Anton searched the web for manufacturers, and finally found one that made bags for the Russian military. Several phone calls and good deal of persuasion later, the company agreed to take his order. After a couple of weeks, a pallet of material was delivered to Anton’s living room, transforming it into a temporary storage room before he sent everything off to Estonia for sewing. About a month later, the basement held the first 100 Sandqvist bags.

s t o r y

o f

s a n d q v i s t

»The style of the bag had to be robust and casual, not too dressy. Almost 30 hours of work later, the bag was finished«

Glanshammar In the fall of 1981, Hans and Virve Sandqvist, together with their three sons, move from the average-sized city Örebro to Glanshammar, a small village of about 300 inhabitants, where they have bought a house. Here they have space for everything that was missing in the cramped apartment in the city, and the forest is just around the corner. The family now owns a big double garage, soon to be filled with Hans’ stuff, and a basement workshop where Virve keeps her sewing machine. This is the place where Anton and Daniel Sandqvist grow up; an idyllic street surrounded by woods and fields. Several of their classmates’ parents are farmers, and nothing much goes on in Glanshammar. Anton spends a lot of his spare time in the big garage, fiddling with bikes and mopeds. But just as often he is in his mother’s sewing room, working on a new project, remaking a pair of jeans or an old jacket. He never becomes a full-fledged tailor, but he learns the basics. And most important: He realizes that if you give it a try and don’t give up, you can do just about anything. About a year and a half l ater, in 2006, Sandqvist had a small but established production of bags and about 15 retailers in Sweden, but the business was still run in Anton’s time off from work. In order to save in on shipping costs, Anton often delivered the bags to the retailers himself, with his scooter, but the new deliveries from the manufacturers were filling up his basement. At the same time, Anton’s younger brother Daniel and his childhood friend Sebastian had built 15

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

t h e

pared to dad’s rusty Volvo 245. My brothers and I learned lots of useful stuff from my dad’s friend, like the basics of pike fishing and shooting an air gun, and he also contributed quite well to our collection of empty beer cans. One thing I also still remember very clearly is his luggage. He always carried the same luggage every year. Just one small bag and a fishing rod for the whole summer vacation. My dad’s friends name was Arne and out of my memory of his bag, I drew the Sandqvist bag that now carries his name.«

up their pop culture magazine People from a small fanzine to one of Sweden’s biggest free magazines. They had an office downtown and a wide network of contacts in fashion and the media. In order to make things run smoother, Sandqvist’s stock of bags was moved to a storage room at the People office, and Anton changed his schedule at the electronics company, working shorter hours with a lower salary, spending more time at his desk in the storage room. Daniel and Sebastian were offered an ownership stake in the company in exchange for carrying boxes, arranging photo shoots and writing press releases. But most important, the three new colleagues now designates a new direction for the company. Sandqvists design development had been relatively modest—the main focus was still tarpaulin bags which were mostly sold to design stores. At this stage, a brand new collection aimed at men’s fashion retailers was developed. In the cramped storage room of the People office, Anton drew a new bag model, Arne, which became hugely successful.

Arne and the rest of the 2007 collection were designed in artificial leather, for that authentic seventies feel and in order to keep the prices down. The manufacturing process was moved to China, and Arne was accompanied by Rune, Meryl and Dustin, bags that were produced in thousands of copies. Thanks to the new collection, the bags started to show up in fashion magazines. The three founders were now getting to know and understand the principles of the fashion business. For the first time they participated in the Copenhagen International Fashion Fair, where important contacts were established and the first international orders were made.

Vinön »When I was a kid in the late seventies and early eighties, my dad had a good friend who used to spend most of his summer vacation together with my family. We used to rent a small cottage on an island named Vinön. I still clearly remember how my dad’s friend used to arrive on the ferry in his AMC Javelin, an American muscle car, which us kids of course thought was awesome com-

Lapland March 1990. Anton and his university friend Erik are 19 years old and on their way by train to Riksgränsen, Sweden, the world’s most northerly ski resort. They had just enough money for the train fare and a five-day lift pass, but not for accommodation, so they packed a tent, a camping stove and warm sleeping bags. All there is in Riksgränsen is an alpine hotel and some ski lifts, the rest is wilderness. Anton and Erik walk with their skis and backpacks along Malmbanan, a railway line built back in 1902 to connect Kiruna with the ice-free port of Narvik, transporting Swedish iron ore out into the world. About one kilometer from the hotel, they turn off in the direction of the mountain, where they soon find a suitable spot for digging a pit for the tent in the two meters of snow. When the tent is raised and the spaghetti is boiling, the night comes and an infinite pattern of stars unfolds.

»my dad’s friend used to arrive on the ferry in his American muscle car, which us kids thought was awesome compared to dad’s rusty Volvo 245« 16

s t o r y

o f

s a n d q v i s t

»They had just enough money for the train fare and a five-day lift pass, but not for accommodation, so they packed a tent, a camping stove and warm sleeping bag« The Sandqvist brothers cabin in Hedeviken.

Anton Sandqvist climbing in Norway, late nineties. Hans and Anton Sandqvist at the summer house in Vinön, 1982.

The basement in Nacka, stitching of the first Sandqvist bag. 17

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

t h e

log cabin in the woods, a distinct contrast to the heat of the Indian plains.

Anton Sandqvist is taking a brake after climbing the Via Lara route in Nissedal Norway in 1997.

leather, which carries the legend’s name. The search for highly skilled leather suppliers led to two factories in India with a long tradition of tanning and sewing leather. One of them was started as a Swedish government aid project with the aim of creating jobs. All of the factory’s machinery comes from a closed down Swedish factory, and its employee gender mix is balanced. Noor and Anjum, a devout Muslim couple in their thirties with two young children, own and run the factory. Most of the communication is done through Skype, sometimes from Sandqvist’s snow-covered

The silence is massive. In the years to come, this winter’s week will remain at the core of Anton’s devotion to outdoor life. Aiming for the next level, a complementary range in real leather was soon launched, and in 2009 the first Sandqvist backpack saw the light of day. Anton had read a book about the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen’s journey through the Northwest Passage, which had inspired him deeply. Consequently, he created a backpack in durable canvas with straps in vegetable-tanned 18

s t o r y

o f

s a n d q v i s t

»If there’s a heavy snowfall, I’ll take the day off and do an overnight tour in the natural reserve to try out our new big backpack«

Hedeviken The car turns right on national road 84, driving down a narrow country road. A few meters behind a barrier, the road ends in a turning place, from where a lone snowmobile track continues. Anton, Daniel, Sebastian and Sandqvist’s permanent photographer and good friend Knotan park and unload the car. When the car’s headlights are turned off, the winter night is pitch black. The four friends put on their headlamps and ski through the untouched snow toward the cabin, located about two kilometers from the end of the road. Soon, a fire is burning in the kitchen stove, and the welcome drinks and the evening pipes are enjoyed at the porch. In 2008, the Sandqvist brothers bought this log cabin in Härjedalen, northwest Sweden. The ski-resorts are further away, keeping the tourists at bay, but you can see the river through the trees. This is where Anton, Daniel, and their families and friends spend a lot of their time off. In summer, they go fly fishing, mountain hiking, or ride their motorcycles in the woods; in the winter, they go skiing, snowmobiling or ice fishing. It makes perfect sense that many of the photos for Sandqvist’s campaigns have been shot here.

as well. The Swedish fashion magazines Café and King each awarded the company a design prize—and soon enough they had their own store premises in a basement with an entrance door to one of Stockholm’s busiest streets. Exactly one year later, Sandqvist’s second store opened, in Gothenburg. Anton’s hobby activity in a suburb basement had now grown into a company with seven full-time employees, and one retailer had become 350—of which 300 abroad. And most important: Sandqvist was becoming a buzzword among design-conscious customers around the world. Anton rides his bike through the dark of December, along a row of bare trees, and picks up his second son at kindergarten on his way home. Ideas and thoughts stir in his mind. Sandqvist’s first local manufacturing facility is about to start up. The website is being rebuilt. Two new employees will soon be hired. The sample collection for the fall of 2013, in total over 700 products which will be delivered to eight sales agents all over the world, has to arrive on time. But just a moment later, all thoughts of work vanish, as the first flakes of snow start to fall. »If there’s a heavy snowfall next week, I’ll take the day off and do an overnight tour in the natural reserve of Tyresta and try out our new big backpack,« Anton thinks. »After all, it’s pretty nice to have your own company and be able to do whatever you like.«

In 2010, Sandqvist continued to grow. In the daytime: More retailers, the first sales agents outside of Sweden, a larger collection, an online store, invoicing, and delivery control. In the nighttime: Drawing bags. That summer, Anton made a big decision—to leave behind the security of his part-time job with a fixed monthly salary. His wife Anna persuaded him to challenge his concerns about not being able to pay the rent and support their two children. Sandqvist was ready for its first full-time employee. In November 2010, Anton finally got his own office and had over 60 bag models in his collection, enjoying life at its fullest. When People Magazine was put on ice, Daniel also became a full-time employee and later Sebastian was hired by Sandqvist

All photos are from Antons private archive. 19

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

l e a t h e r

a sharp mind Briefcase Dustin from Leather Classics Collection. 20

c l a s s i c s

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

w o m e n ’ s

true love Zip wallet Astrid and Handbag Anna from Women’s Bags Collection.

b a g s

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

c a n v a s

C r e at i v e sp i r i t Backpack Stig and Ipad Case Pascal from the Canvas Originals Collection.

o r i g i n a l s

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

u r b a n

a lw a y s away Messenger Bag Erik from Urban Outdoor Collection.

o u t d o o r

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

m a n

b e h i n d

t h e

a p r o n

T h e M a n Be h i n d t h e Ap r o n His two self titled restaurants are practically always fully booked. 34-year-old restaurateur Niklas Ekstedt now reaps the fruits of blood, sweat and experiences, with his dreams high above the horizon.

Ekstedt

age discrimination, and opened his first own restaurant. 7 years together with René Redzepi (who has put his own place Noma in Copenhagen on the restaurant maps of the world) and Heston Blumenthal, among others, silenced the skeptics and filled his prize cabinet with awards. And then came the part of his career which he finds hardest to handle—after a series of TV appearances, all of Sweden started calling Niklas Ekstedt by the nickname ‘FoodNiklas’. »I consider it a 50/50 deal, whether it has helped or hindered my career. On the one hand, I got the possibility to reach a larger audience and to realize things that I had wanted to learn for myself, but on the other hand it put a label on me. The response from the viewers proved that many of us, members of the Swedish ‘gastronomic elite’, had underestimated the gastronomic interest of the average Swede. Big time.« The result was three cookbooks and his first own Stockholm restaurant. In the tough competition of the capital, Niklas Ekstedt had found his place. The success has continued—his career is still developing at high speed. His latest project, Restaurang Ekstedt at Humlegårdsgatan in Stockholm, makes contemporary food using ancient Scandinavian cooking techniques. Cooking on soapstone, cast iron and wood-burning stoves as well as chimney and hay smoking are all methods that were used before electricity was introduced in the Nordic cuisine. The restaurant’s total lack of electricity makes the team of chefs stay on top. This gives better final results—results which, for the first time in Niklas’ career, make him satisfied. The Stockholmers have often been proven

Nikl as Ekstedts’ parents decided to leave their home in Stockholm for the peace, wilderness and skiing in the picturesque little village of Järpen, in the north of Sweden. After his mother had brought the family back to her roots in the south of Sweden, Niklas stayed. Soon he was faced with having to choose a high school program. There were three different ones: auto mechanic school, ski school and restaurant school. »I was not at all interested in cars and preferred snowboarding to skiing. Also, my choice was probably predestinated,« Niklas says. Gastronomy and a feel for ingredients run in his father’s blood, and the teachers soon noticed that the talent had been passed down. Niklas shows us a blurry picture from his early years of study on his cell phone, where he’s posing side by side with Charlie Trotter—a legendary American chef and an important mentor in the beginning of Ekstedt’s career. As a 21-year-old, still very young, he once again packed his bags and moved to Helsingborg, where he defied doubts and

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

m a n

very fond of new restaurant concepts, and Restaurang Ekstedt has been unanimously praised by the critics. But: »All the cups of coffee, the hectic daily life and the irregular schedule create sleeping problems. My constant drive to succeed gives me a darker personality than the first impression that most people have of me. As soon as I reach my goal, I raise the bar. I received my awards for things that I’ve done, but there’s no guarantee of what we’ll do in the future. It’s like an endless theater show that has to be performed every day. I often get questions about my HR policy, which gives the staff an enormous freedom with responsibility. I try to live like a modern restaurateur with new ideas on how to run a restaurant.«

Nikl as Ekstedt about … environmental commitment: I’m very engaged in the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC). It started with a passion for pure mountains and clean water that traces back to my youth in the north of Sweden, but it has gradually grown into an interest in food issues, sustainable fishing and consumption. When I started my business, I didn’t give any thought to an ecological menu or natural wines, but the world has changed since then—if things are not managed sustainably, they’re simply not useful. I’ve been around for 15 years, and I’ve seen fish breeds and crops disappear, and with them the unique knowledge of an older generation of farmers. In my work I always have to consider a budget, which sometimes rules out more sustainable and expensive products, but when I cook at home almost all ingredients are organic. All proceeds from the cooperation with Sandqvist go to SSNC.

He explicitly hates the image of himself as an entrepreneur. »As such,« he says, »you care more about the financial satisfaction and the feeling of building something up than the product itself.« Ever since the magnificent 7 years in Helsingborg, his sole focus has been on the product and the restaurant, whereas success has been completely irrelevant. »In the long run, it’s exhausting to be looking up from your cutting board, always noticing how successful all your competitors are and what great TV shows they participate in. For a period of my life, I tried to be like the greatest chefs on TV, when in fact all along I was Niklas Ekstedt.« In addition to work, his personal life always calls for attention. As the father of two sons, one very young and one newborn, he constantly fights his bad conscience. He enjoys cooking at home, although it hardly gets him going. His wife has a background in elite snowboarding, so the conversation rarely revolves around what’s on the table. Nevertheless, no one can take his early years in the Swedish mountains away. »I’m haunted by a constant desire to return to the mountains. Every year I make four to five alpine climbs. I would like to increase that number.«

Nikl as Ekstedt about … Sandqvist: I discovered the bags as a customer of 30

the C Store in Stockholm, and I became even more interested when I found out that they were made by a Stockholmbased company. Meeting the makers, who turned out to be really nice guys, gave it an extra edge. Their company is incredibly similar to my own—a lot of the inspiration, the ideas, the philosophy and the processes is completely identical to my own business. Their starting point is, just as mine, the Swedish nature and the wilderness, reflecting the rustic and artisanal Sweden, instead of the usual minimalism. The difference is that they’re making a product. I’m immensely proud of all our co-products. Every week, they are very well received, both pictures of them in social media and in real life. They blend in well, both at work and at home, and I thoroughly enjoy wearing them.

»As soon as I reach my goal, I raise the bar. I received my awards for things that I’ve done, but there’s no guarantee of what we’ll do in the future. It’s like an endless theater show that has to be performed every day«

Ekstedt

Nikl as Ekstedt about … the future: This fall, my dream television project will be broadcasted, where I visit and portray six leading and unique restaurateurs from around the globe.

b e h i n d

t h e

a p r o n

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

f r i e n d s

Friends of Sandqvist

Christian Italian-born Christian Quaglia is the founder of Stockholm’s best vintage stores for men, Herr Judit and Brandstationen. He grew up in Bollnäs, in the north of Sweden, and lives in Stockholm since 1996. Christian’s great taste in fashion and impeccable feeling for interior design has been a great influence for us. He has co-designed a bag with Sandqvist, a canvas and leather bag named herr judit. Sandqvist also named the leather tote bag christian after him.

o f

s a n d q v i s t

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

f r i e n d s

Friends of Sandqvist

Jeanette Contemporary art gallerist Jeanette Steinsland is the founder and owner of GSB/ Gallery Steinsland Berliner which she runs together with Jacob Kampp Berliner. GSB is Stockholm’s leading gallery for international and emerging artists, located at Bondegatan 70, Södermalm. Jeanette is a good friend, a true talent and an inspirer of Sandqvist. We named the woman’s handbag jeanet te after her.

o f

s a n d q v i s t

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

f r i e n d s

Friends of Sandqvist

Izzy Izzy Young was born in the Bronx, USA, and lives in Stockholm since 1973. In the early sixties, he arranged the first gig with Bob Dylan at Carnegie Chapter Hall, NYC. Still at the age of 84, he arranges gigs and poetry readings at his Stockholm Folklore Center, located around the corner from Sandqvist’s flagship store in Södermalm. Izzy inspires us because he always has a great story to tell and a warm heart that burns for folk music. We named the messenger bag izzy after him.

o f

s a n d q v i s t

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

f r i e n d s

Friends of Sandqvist

A n e

Ane Brun, singer-songwriter and guitarist, has released 8 albums on her own label Balloon Ranger Recordings since her debut album »Spending Time with Morgan« of 2003. She was born in Norway, and lives in Stockholm since 2001. When she is not on tour, she occasionally visits the Sandqvist office and hangs out with us. Ane inspires us because she is a wonderful musician and a fearless, enterprising woman with great style. We named the leather briefcase ane after her.

o f

s a n d q v i s t

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

b a c k

Back to the roots A brand new collection revives old Swedish quality craftsmanship.

t o

t h e

r o o t s

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

b a c k

t o

t h e

r o o t s

Sandqvist’s manufacturers Magnus Nyström and Bashir Amiri in their workshop in Stockholm.

wing. As our brand is getting increasingly well-known, I really enjoy that we can offer these kinds of products to those of our clients who can afford them. My desire is that more of the Sandqvist product could could be locally manufactured, but the relatively high wages and cost of raw materials in Sweden, combined with all the advantages of the Indian manufacturing process, makes it difficult,« comments Anton Sandqvist.

From the very beginning, a passion for the craft has been Sandqvist’s main incentive. With the brand new collection, the company takes it one step further by manufacturing a range of bags in Sweden. For the manufacturing of 40 briefcases and an equal number of laptop cases in cognac brown and black vegetable tanned leather of highest available quality, and metal parts from Malung, northern Sweden, and metal parts from family-owned Swedish company Forshedaverken, were used. The manufacturer is Magnus Nyström, a friend and business partner of Sandqvist. His company Nyström Stockholm has a long experience in leather sewing, and their workshop is located in basement premises on Sandqvist’s home ground—Södermalm in Stockholm. »The demand for locally produced goods is constantly gro-

The bags are 100 % made in Sweden and serve as a complement to the regular Sandqvist collection. In India, where the Sandqvist bags are normally manufactured, there is a deep knowledge of leather, and the leather production is widespread; being a factory worker is still a common profession. In Sweden, there is almost no leather production nowadays. 42

»there is a future for small niche manufacturers, focusing on craft and sustainability. At Sandqvist, we will gradually increase the product range of Made in Sweden«

Accordingly, one of the purposes of the Sandqvist Made in Sweden series is, on a small scale, to support what little local production there still is and to help revive the old Swedish quality craftsmanship. What is your view of Sweden as a manufacturing country in the future? »Considering the rising consumer interest in locally produced goods, I think that there is a future for small niche manufacturers, focusing on craft and sustainability. At Sandqvist, we will gradually increase the product range of Made in Sweden,« says Anton. The Sandqvist Made in Sweden series is now available in the company’s brand stores. The price of a briefcase is about twice that of one from the regular collection. 43

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

s u n

sun city ÂťLife would be so wonderful if we only knew what to do with it.ÂŤ Greta Garbo

c i t y

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

s u n

c i t y

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

s u n

c i t y

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

s u n

c i t y

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

s u n

c i t y

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

s h o r t

Hans Lidman Author Hans Lidman was born in the summer of 1910 in a small village in the north of Sweden. As a true nature lover, he relished nature’s beauty more than anything else. He was also a devout fly fisher and a constant advocate of nature conservation. When Lidman was not taking photos or writing novels, short stories and articles, he made a living as a log-driver, lumberman and »road measurer«. The depiction of the Nordic landscape and its inhabitants, often described as a bit odd, is characteristic of Lidman’s writing. In his books, he takes part in the secluded life of Sami people, pulls up fish in remote lakes and feasts on fermented dace in the feverish nights of the north. Starting in 1941, he wrote close to one book a year, up until his death in 1976. Hans Lidman’s work is a huge source of inspiration for Sandqvist. His books and pictures have doubtlessly had a deep impact on what we are today.

s t o r y

» t h e

c o t t a g e

b y

t h e

m a r s h «

T h e c o t t a ge by the marsh The marsh was a big one—over a mile long and nearly half as wide. In the middle it was bleak and open, and flat as a pancake. Out there the blackcocks like to play and the hens creep around when the thaw sets in, inciting the cocks to bloody duel, leaving the frozen moss bespattered with stray feathers and down. But even now, in midwinter, the playful cocks sometimes slip out into the new snow, jumping about and spanning their tail and wing feathers. Stunted and gnarled dwarf pines, with their tops flattened by the weather, encircled the cock’s playground. Nearer the edge of the wood the pines were taller and more profuse. Many of the old pines, which used to grow on the marsh, towering above the others like strange black spears, had gradually disappeared into the hearth of Enok’s cottage. But no one could ever be short of wood in this wild country, where woodland stretches in all directions as far as the eye can see, broken only here and there by the odd lake or clearing. Old trees are always falling victim to the winter gales, and the rotting trunks provide homes for countless wild creatures. Every time the wind blows a new scattering of dead or broken branches covers the ground—it is like all life, the dead making way for the new life which is always coming into being. The cot tage belonged to and was part of the marsh. It had stood on the hill not far from the blackcocks’ playground for nearly fifty years. It had been rebuilt two or three times and changed owners just as often. Not many people knew about the cottage,

b y

h a n s

l i d m a n

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

s h o r t

and even fewer had ever seen it, as the path leading to it was a difficult one with many tracks leading off through the heather. No lonelier dwelling existed in the owl’s wood. Imari the Finn lived there for many years. He was the last Finn in the wood who could speak the old Finnish language. Ilmari was a true vagabond of the wood and would turn up in the most strange circumstances: if an elk had been poached, he was always there to receive his share of the meat, and if anyone found a fine pearl in a mussel from the Black Stream, Ilmari bought it at a cut price. Sometimes foxes would disappear from the traps set by others, and rumour had it that the pelt could be found in Ilmari’s cottage. But he was a skilful hunter himself. He shot the last bear in the wood and caught the last lynx living in the district. In his old age Ilmari found it difficult to keep going; gout and nervous pains hindered him, preventing him from going out into the wood as was his wont any time of the day or night. Boiled grouse and elk disappeared from his menu, fish was becoming more difficult to catch, even the rabbits managed to evade him. Ilmari weakened. It was at this time that he started pilfering from the other farmers’ sheds; picking up the locks to cellars and larders and undoing window catches, he raided cupboards and shelves. Down in the valley near the river there was one particular shed which Ilmari kept his eye on. Possibly this was because the ventilator on the one side was large enough to let a thin person crawl through, and in his old age Ilmari became as light and thin as a shadow. These visits to the shed were a great nuisance to the owner, not only from the economic point of view.

s t o r y

» t h e

c o t t a g e

b y

t h e

It was the farmer’s custom to leave some provisions in the shed at the end of summer, so that he would find food there when he visited the district in the winter, and it was more than annoying to find no trace of these supplies after tramping long weary miles over very rough country. One day in late autumn he set up a large bear trap on the bench close to the inside of the ventilator. When Ilmari did not go to the village at Christmas, people wondered what had happened, for it had been his custom to stay there for a few days while making his purchases. The fur dealer waited for his usual parcel of skins and the shopkeeper had to sell the roll of twine which Ilmari had asked him to keep. The villagers wondered what had happened, for Ilmari was no longer young. Early in the New Year the farmer went up to his shed again, as wood carting was soon to begin. It was dusk when he arrived at the shed, but he noticed at once that the ladder had been moved from the house to the shed, and up at the ventilator he could see two stiff human legs sticking out. The farmer trembled as he opened the two looks to the shed and then lit a match. In the dim light he could see Ilmari caught in the bear trap. Apparently Ilmari had crawled in through the ventilator head first, keeping his arms flat against his body, down straight into the trap. The teeth of the trap closed tightly round his neck and chest, imprisoning him there. Fortunately for the farmer there was no law preventing him from setting whatever traps he liked behind lock and key. Nor did many people feel sorry for Ilmari, for there were many who had suffered from his thieving during the past few years. Then Enok came, though no one seemed to know where he had come from.

Short story by Hans Lidman from the book »People of the forest«, Oliver and Boyd Ltd, 1963. Th a n k s t o K a r i n L i n d b ä c k f o r g i v i n g u s t h e a p p r o va l of re-publishing the story. 5 6

m a r s h «

5 7

b y

h a n s

l i d m a n

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

s p r i n g / s u m m e r

c o l l e c t i o n

2 0 1 3

Wo m e n s Ba g s

Canvas Originals

Bob Backpack

Ekstedt Apron

Izzy Reporter Bag

Stig Backpack

To r b j รถ r n T r u n k 4 0 L

Anna Small Shoulder Bag

Jeanette Handbag

Stina Handbag

b r o w n c a n va s # s q a 1 8 4

k h a k i c a n va s # s q a 1 3 3

b lu e c a n va s # s q a 2 3 1

b lu e / g r e y c a n va s # s q a 1 8 2

k h a k i c a n va s # s q a 2 2 6

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 1 6 2

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 2 4 7

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 0 6 8

Bob Backpack

Ekstedt Apron

Izzy Reporter Bag

Stig Backpack

Anna Small Shoulder Bag

L i s b e t h To t e B a g

Stina Handbag

b l u e c a n va s # s q a 2 2 9

r e d c a n va s # s q a 1 8 0

b r ow n c a n va s # s q a 2 3 2

b lu e c a n va s # s q a 2 2 8

c o g n a c b r ow n l e at h e r #sqa163

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 2 0 6

ta n b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 0 6 9

Bob Backpack

G u d m u n d To t e B a g

Izzy Reporter Bag

Stig Backpack

Essy Envelop Bag

L i s b e t h To t e B a g

Stina Handbag

k h a k i c a n va s # s q a 3 0 5

b l u e c a n va s # s q a 1 4 1

k h a k i c a n va s # s q a 2 3 3

b r ow n c a n va s # s q a 2 3 8

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 2 0 4

c o g n a c b r ow n l e at h e r #sqa207

c o g n a c b r ow n l e at h e r #sqa159

Leather Classics C a r l G u s t a f We e k e n d B a g

G u d m u n d To t e B a g

Osborn Sailor Sack 30L

Stig Backpack

b l u e c a n va s # s q a 0 5 7

r e d c a n va s # s q a 1 4 2

b lu e c a n va s # s q a 1 7 4

k h a k i c a n va s # s q a 2 3 9

C a r l G u s t a f We e k e n d B a g

H e r r J u d i t h Wo r k e r B a g

Roald Backpack

Stig Backpack

Ane Briefcase

A p l a c e To t e B a g

C h r i s t i a n To t e B a g

Dustin Laptop Bag

k h a k i c a n va s # s q a 0 5 8

b l u e c a n va s # s q a 0 4 1

b lu e c a n va s # s q a 0 4 4

r e d c a n va s # s q a 2 4 0

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 2 4 2

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 2 2 2

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 1 7 7

c o g n a c b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 1 5 8

Ekstedt Apron

H e r r J u d i t h Wo r k e r B a g

Roald Backpack

Stig Backpack

Ane Briefcase

Arvid 15" Laptop Bag

Dustin Laptop Bag

Helmer Backpack

b l u e c a n va s # s q a 1 3 2

k h a k i c a n va s # s q a 0 5 1

k h a k i c a n va s # s q a 0 5 0

y e l l ow c a n va s # s q a 2 4 1

c o g n a c b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 2 4 3

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 1 0 4

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 0 0 4

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 2 4 4

Ekstedt Apron

Izzy Reporter Bag

Stig Backpack

To r b j รถ r n T r u n k 4 0 L

Ane Briefcase

C h r i s t i a n To t e B a g

Dustin Laptop Bag

Helmer Backpack

b r o w n c a n va s # s q a 1 7 9

b l a c k c a n va s # s q a 2 3 0

b l a c k c a n va s # s q a 1 8 1

b l a c k c a n va s # s q a 0 1 4

ta n b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 3 0 6

ta n b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 1 1 8

ta n b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 0 8 0

c o g n a c b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 2 4 5

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

s p r i n g / s u m m e r

Leather Classics

c o l l e c t i o n

2 0 1 3

Urban Outdoor

J o h n We e k e n d B a g

Lennart Briefcase

Otto Briefcase

Robin 13" Laptop Bag

Kåre Bumbag

L a r s - G ö r a n H i k i n g Ba c k pa c k

M ats L a p to p Bag

c o g n a c b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 1 9 4

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 0 6 6

ta n b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 0 2 7

c o g n a c b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 1 7 0

black cordura #sqa234

black cordura #sqa147

black cordura #sqa260

J o h n We e k e n d B a g

Lennart Briefcase

Otto Briefcase

Kåre Bumbag

L a r s - G ö r a n H i k i n g Ba c k pa c k

M ats L a p to p Bag

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 2 2 3

ta n b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 0 6 7

c o g n a c b r o w n l e at h e r # s q a 2 2 1

blue cordura #sqa235

m u lt i c o l o r c o r d u r a # s q a 1 4 9

blue cordura #sqa261

Joseph Reporter Bag

Otto Briefcase

Robin 13" Laptop Bag

c o g n a c b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 1 9 5

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 0 2 6

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 1 6 9

Items&Cases

Urban Outdoor A b r a h a m D o l l a r Wa l l e t

A i n a Z i p p e r Wa l l e t

V i l g o t Z i p Wa l l e t

Wa l t e r S l i m C a r d Wa l l e t

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 2 5 4

c o g n a c b r ow n l e at h e r #sqa201

ta n b r ow n l e at h e r #sqa216

c o g n a c b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 3 0 4

Arne 17" Reporter Bag

Erik Messenger Bag

Hans Hiking Backpack

A b r a h a m D o l l a r Wa l l e t

A s t r i d L a r g e Z i p Wa l l e t

V i l g o t Z i p Wa l l e t

W i l m a Z i p P u r s e Wa l l e t

black cordura #sqa227

blue cordura #sqa145

black cordura #sqa150

red cordura #sqa193

c o g n a c b r o w n l e at h e r # s q a 2 5 5

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 1 6 7

c o g n a c b r ow n l e at h e r #sqa225

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 0 7 2

Arne 17" Reporter Bag

Erik Messenger Bag

Hans Hiking backpack

A b r a h a m D o l l a r Wa l l e t

A s t r i d L a r g e Z i p Wa l l e t

Wa l t e r S l i m C a r d Wa l l e t

W i l m a Z i p P u r s e Wa l l e t

blue cordura #sqa112

green cordura #sqa146

blue cordura #sqa151

orange cordura #sqa259

ta n b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 3 0 8

c o g n a c b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 1 6 8

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 3 0 3

ta n b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 0 7 3

Erik Messenger Bag

Hans Hiking Backpack

Ingo Sportsbag

A i n a Z i p p e r Wa l l e t

V i l g o t Z i p Wa l l e t

Wa l t e r S l i m C a r d Wa l l e t

V e i r o n 6 - c a r d Wa l l e t

black cordura #sqa144

red cordura #sqa192

green cordura #sqa152

blue cordura #sqa157

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 2 0 0

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 2 1 5

ta n b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 3 0 7

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 0 7 0

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

s p r i n g / s u m m e r

Items&Cases

c o l l e c t i o n

2 0 1 3

Items&Cases

V e i r o n 6 - c a r d Wa l l e t

S l i m B e lt

Stoffe Lighther Holder

M i c k e l Wa s h b a g

Pascal iPad Case

Vi v e k a i P a d C o v e r

Sinclair 13" MacBook Case

Sinclair 15” MacBook Case

ta n b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 0 7 1

ta n b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 2 5 7

c o g n a c b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 1 7 2

b l a c k c a n va s # s q a 2 3 6

b l a c k c a n va s # s q a 2 6 2

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 1 2 6

b l a c k c a n va s # s q a 2 6 6

b l a c k c a n va s # s q a 2 7 0

V e i r o n 6 - c a r d Wa l l e t

S ta n l e y B e lt

Va k t i s K e y P o u c h

O rva r i P h o n e 4 C a s e

Pascal iPad case

Vi v e k a i P a d C o v e r

Sinclair 13" MacBook Case

Sinclair 15” MacBook Case

c o g n a c b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 2 2 4

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 0 7 6

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 1 9 6

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 1 6 5

b l u e c a n va s # s q a 1 2 2

ta n b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 1 2 7

b r o w n c a n va s # s q a 2 6 7

k h a k i c a n va s # s q a 2 7 1

E r l i n g 2 - c o l o r b e lt b l a c k & b r o w n l e at h e r # s q a 2 5 8

S ta n l e y B e lt ta n b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 0 7 7

Va k t i s K e y P o u c h

O rva r i P h o n e 4 C a s e

Pascal iPad Case

Ove 13" MacBook Cover

Sinclair 13” MacBook Case

c o g n a c b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 1 9 7

c o g n a c b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 1 6 6

b r o w n c a n va s # s q a 2 6 3

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 1 2 4

k h a k i c a n va s # s q a 2 6 8

N o r b e rt B e lt

H a r d y Wi d e B e lt

Va s u m a S u n g l a s s P o c k e t

O rva r i P h o n e 5 - C a s e

Pascal iPad Case

Ove 13" MacBook Cover

Sinclair 13” MacBook Case

b l u e c a n va s & c o g n a c b r o w n l e at h e r # s q a 2 5 1

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 0 7 8

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 1 7 5

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 2 4 9

k h a k i c a n va s # s q a 2 6 4

ta n b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 1 2 5

r e d c a n va s # s q a 2 6 9

N o r b e rt B e lt

H a r d y Wi d e B e lt

Va s u m a S u n g l a s s P o c k e t

O rva r i P h o n e 5 C a s e

Pascal iPad Case

Sinclair 13" MacBook Case

Sinclair 15” MacBook Case

b r o w n c a n va s & c o g n a c b r o w n l e at h e r # s q a 2 5 2

ta n b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 0 7 9

ta n b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 1 7 6

c o g n a c b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 2 5 0

r e d c a n va s # s q a 2 6 5

b l u e c a n va s # s q a 1 2 0

b l u e c a n va s # s q a 2 0 9

N o r b e rt B e lt

Fritis Key holder

M i c k e l Wa s h b a g

k h a k i c a n va s & c o g n a c b r o w n l e at h e r # s q a 2 5 3

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 2 0 2

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 2 3 7

Steve iPhone Pocket

S l i m B e lt

Fritis Key Holder

M i c k e l Wa s h B a g

Steve iPhone Pocket

A n d e r s F l at C a s e

Magnus Briefcase

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 2 5 6

c o g n a c b r ow n l e at h e r # s q a 2 0 3

b lu e c a n va s # s q a 2 1 2

c o g n a c b r o w n l e at h e r # s q a 0 5 3

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 3 0 1

c o g n a c l e at h e r # s q a 3 0 2

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 2 9 9

c o g n a c l e at h e r # s q a 3 0 0

Made In Sweden Series

b l a c k l e at h e r # s q a 0 5 2

t h e

s a n d q v i s t

j o u r n a l

n o

Care Instructions

Leather

Canvas

Sandqvist’s leather bags and wallets are made of vegetable-tanned full-grain leather with a natural feel to it, which ages beautifully. No pigment or dye is used to cover up natural defects in the leather, which means that there may be some scratches or marks as a result of the natural manufacturing process. This is completely normal and gives the product a personal touch. Vegetable-tanned leather is affected by sunlight, water and dirt. If you take good care of it, a beautiful patina will develop. . Sunlight makes light leather a little darker over time. . Warm and dry air can dry out the leather. Thus, if the leather gets wet, dry it at normal room temperature, instead of close to a radiator or some other heat source. . If the leather is dirty, wipe it with a slightly damp sponge and use some mild soap if needed. Wipe gently and do not rub too hard. In order to make the bag more resistant to water and dirt, you can use an

Our canvas bags are made of strong (18 oz) cotton canvas which is untreated. This means that the fabric is not water resistant and that the colour will be bleached by sunlight, giving your bag a beautiful patina over time. The fabric is dyed, but has not been washed since then. We do not recommend using a canvas backpack in combination with a white t-shirt in heavy rain, since there is a risk of the dye coming off the canvas similarly to raw denim, though to a lesser extent. If you want to make your bag more rain resistant, we recommend that you use an impregnation agent designed to protect cotton outerwear from water. Please always try the agent on a smaller area inside the bag before using it on the entire product. Another method is rubbing the canvas with wax, which is heated to melt into the fabric using an iron. Dirt can usually be removed with a damp cloth and some mild soap. We recommend that you use grease on the leather details.

impregnating agent on it or treat it with leather grease or a leather conditioner. When grease is used on light leather, it normally turns slightly darker. Before you go ahead with the entire bag, try using grease on a smaller surface inside the bag where you can see how the color is affected. Also, the leather becomes a little softer after greasing it, which may give a slightly different feel to the bag. If you are looking to keep its original appearance, it’s a good idea to impregnate or grease only the bottom of the bag, since this part is the most exposed when the bag is placed on a wet surface. If in doubt, If in doubt, ask your local shoe maker or in a shoe shop. Please only use products specifically made for leather. 64

Cordura Cordura is a textile material that has its origins in the military industry of the 60s. It is known for its high durability and tear resistance. Sandqvist uses a strong (1000 x 1000 denier) cordura fabric with nylon 6-6 at the base and a polyurethane coating on the inside—a material often used in climbing backpacks in the 70s and 80s, before high-tech materials started to dominate the market. Sandqvist’s cordura material is waterproof and extremely durable. You can wash your cordura bag with a damp sponge and some mild soap. You do not have to use any impregnating agent on your bag.

Bag & Items ab S w e d e n b o r g s g ata n 3 , 1 1 8 4 8 S t o c k h o l m , S w e d e n www.sandqvist.net f l a g s h i p s t o r e : S w e d e n b o r g s g ata n 3 , S t o c k h o l m ceo: Anton Sandqvist anton@sandqvist.net +46 705 27 69 10 s a l e s c o n t a c t s c a n d i n av i a : S e b a s t i a n We s t i n s e b a s t i a n @ s a n d q v i s t . n e t + 4 6 7 0 9 8 5 4 7 3 1 s a l e s c o n ta c t i n t e r n at i o n a l : Da n i e l S a n d q v i s t d a n i e l @ s a n d q v i s t. n e t + 4 6 7 3 9 8 1 0 4 7 6 p r e s s c o n t a c t : S e b a s t i a n We s t i n s e b a s t i a n @ s a n d q v i s t . n e t + 4 6 7 0 9 8 5 4 7 3 1 p r e s s s h o w r o o m a n d p r e s s l o a n s : S p a lt p r S t o c k h o l m + 4 6 8 6 6 7 0 5 2 1