The Nike Sportswear “Ostrich/Gum” Pack includes the Nike Air Huarache, Nike Air Max 1 and the Nike Huarache NM. All three silhouettes are built with an all-over White leather base with subtle hints of Ostrich print embossed into the panelling, completed with Gum rubber soles. The iconic Air Max 1 includes the exposed air unit, while the Huarache maintains its durable heel strap and neoprene sock liner. Other details to each silhouette include White laces, leather patch logos, and laser perforations on the toe of each Air Max. Available in both stores and online now.
With the brand now in its 11th year, we thought it was important to take a look back at the brand and its origins as it rapidly becomes one of the leaders in casual day to day luggage. Sandqvist was founded in 2004 by Anton Sandqvist, at the time Anton was a highly renowned civil engineer through his time spent at an international electronics company. However, Anton found that he was no longer challenging himself mentally in his job and decided it was time to try something where he could be himself whilst still creating. So, with this in mind he went out and bought an industrial sewing machine.
Initially, the Swedish born creative simply wanted to create a bag that catered to his every day needs as nothing on the market at the time was really cutting it for him. Following 30 hours of work, the bag was finished and pretty much immediately friends and family started to ask where he had bought it from. Anton pretty quickly realised that there was a hole in the market for his functional, well designed and not too expensive bag.
Having developed a relatively large interest in the bag in such a short space of time, Anton found a manufacturer that made bags for the Russian Military and took delivery of all the necessarily materials required to create the bags. The materials were sent off to Estonia for sewing and within a month Anton's basement was filled with the first 100 Sandqvist bags.
Eighteen months later, Sandqvist had become a small yet reputable brand within Sweden with about 15 retailers nationwide. With the brand still at start up level, Anton was still working his day job and in order to cut down on delivery costs he often delivered the bags himself on his scooter, adding a very personal touch to the brand.
As the business expanded Anton moved his stock in to the People Magazine office, a physical publication founded by his brother Daniel and child hood friend Sebastian. He then offered the pair a partnership in the business as payment for his use of the office. This expansion allowed Anton to broaden his horizons in terms of design development as he bought new collection to the market, including the now infamous Arne bag.
In 2007 Sandqvist started to show up in major Fashion Publications due to the massive increase in popularity as they started to produce bags by the thousand in China. Naturally, the trio's fashion industry knowledge grew and before they knew it they were participating in the Copenhagen International Fashion Fair.
With the brand now developing at a considerable rate, Anton never lost sight of his main objective which was to take influence from his life experiences when designing collections.
A continued search for highly skilled leather suppliers led to them opening two factories in India with a long tradition of tanning and sewing leather.
By 2010 Sandqvist was continuing to grow on a daily basis with more and more retailers, sales agents outside of Sweden and an online store. This lead to Anton leaving his job in order to direct all of his time towards the demanding development of the brand. In November that year, Sandqvist finally had its own office and when People Magazine was put on hold, Daniel and Sebastian became full time employees. Swedish fashion magazines, Cafe and King, awarded the company a design prize which ultimately led to the opening of the brands first flagship store, which was closely followed by a second in Gothenburg.
What started as a hobby just over ten years ago, has now turned into a full time job for Anton, with seven employee's working closely on one of the worlds most reputable luggage brands. The word 'Sandqvist' now carries an immense buzz with the design conscious customers around the world.
View our full range of Sandqvist here.
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