Sámi textile artist Britta Marakatt-Labba and Klättermusen, the Nordic pioneer in mountaineering equipment, have come together to create a sustainable collection that both honours indigenous heritage and the Nordic landscape
A natural match, Klättermusen and artist Britta Marakatt-Labba were brought together through their shared love for craftsmanship and the environment. Marakatt-Labba's embroidery weaves stories of her culture and love for the surrounding landscapes, and a yearning for its preservation, making for an intuitive collaborative creation of an inclusive and considered collection.
Experts in outdoor gear for almost 50 years, Klättermusen are a leader in the mountaineering – and sustainability – space. Designed to be the best in the game, its utility and durability equips adventurers for the challenges that can come with exploring the beautiful and unpredictable terrains of our world. Here, Marakatt-Labba’s thread acts as a guide, taking observers through the captivating Sámi history and their rich relationship with nature.
We have a rich tradition of storytelling and I am delighted to be working with a brand that shares a shared belief in the importance of heritage and history
Britta Marakatt-Labba
It was Marakatt-Labba’s own sense of joy found in the mountains that inspired the needlework. “I wanted to work with these images of nature to preserve the narrative,” she explains, “to be able to share them with the generations that come after us.” And to honour her culture, and tell their story. “We [Sámi] have a rich tradition of storytelling and I am delighted to be working with a brand that shares a shared belief in the importance of heritage and history.”
You can sense the pride the two collaborators share in the collection they’ve created. Klättermusen's global marketing director, Ida Holmen, shares in this gratitude too. “Britta's vision has brought to life the part of Klättermusen's heritage that we hold so dear," Holmen says. "The pioneering spirit and the craftsmanship on which the brand was founded are still a large part of our brand. The partnership with Britta feels both natural and special, and we feel that this collection marks a special moment in the brand’s history.”
Featured in the collection’s campaign are Marakatt-Labba’s friends and family from Kiruna – with their innate connection to the nature Marakatt-Labba’s embroidery conveys – their presence adds a further layer of depth to the meaningful collection that depicts and honours their roots, and the humbling mountains they hail from.
The Britta Marakatt-Labba for Klättermusen collection is now available to shop at klättermusen.com