It’s the end of the month, and you’re skint, exhausted and hungry. You open the fridge to find a half-empty pack of mushrooms, a couple of limp leaves of bok choi, and a bottle of hot sauce with a smudged use-by date.
Against all odds, you throw them together with some hard-boiled eggs and a packet of instant ramen that predates your university days – and somehow produce something absolutely scintillating. A bowl of ramen with a piping-hot broth that leaves your tongue tingling from the fermented hot sauce in the best possible way.
The reason for this weird analogy? Partly because the person writing this is skint, exhausted and extremely hungry. But mainly because Fjällräven have just announced a new release from their Samlaren line – a collection built around the same ideology of making the most of what you’ve got. Only, instead of withered mushrooms, they’re working with surplus fabric.
Originally introduced as a way of putting leftover materials to good use, Samlaren has since grown into Fjällräven’s playground for more experimental design. This latest collection leans into patchwork-inspired constructions made from single surplus fabric types, with subtle differences in detailing giving each piece its own personality. Like any great end-of-the-month meal, it’s proof that working within limitations can sometimes produce the most interesting results.
The latest release centres around two bold colours used throughout the collection – a vivid orange and a deep navy. These tones have been worked across everything from cargo shorts and gilets to hooded jackets and a selection of suitably choice headwear.
Personally, we’re big into this release – and Samlaren as a whole. It gives us a chance to see Fjällräven in a light we rarely get from the brand. It’s like watching them put their fashion hat on for a moment: experimenting with more lifestyle-focused silhouettes while still staying grounded by the idea of reworking and reuse.
Even the campaign feels like a slight departure from the Fjällräven we’re used to seeing. Shot against the backdrop of what looks like an old shipyard, the collection’s orange and navy tones pop beautifully against the washed-out surroundings.
All in all, it’s another fantastic release from one of Fjällräven’s most intriguing side projects, proving that some of the best creations arise when you’re up against it. Whether that means reworking surplus fabrics, or just whatever’s left lurking at the back of your fridge.
Fjällräven’s latest Samlaren capsule is set to release on May 19th from fjallraven.com
