Born in 2004, Swedish bag brand Sandqvist is a modern creation that nonetheless rounds up the virtues of vintage. The man behind it is Anton Sandqvist. He designs alongside his younger brother Daniel and while the pair is based in urban Stockholm, they share a love of the outdoors lifestyle - with hiking, skiing and fishing top of the list. With those cosmopolitan and country influences both key to their lifestyles, it means that the bags are likewise adaptable. Anton tells us all about it...

The bags seem perfectly adapted to both country and city. Is that a conscious thing?

I don't like having different things for the city and the country, so we try to be more generic. I personally use the same backpack for short mountain hiking as well as for work. I'd like to see more of this, like a nice parka that has the functionality for outdoor and the looks for the city.

'For me personally it is a lot about being yourself and letting that show in your style'

How do you and Daniel work together when you get into the design process?

With our third core member Sebastian we sit down and talk about styles we are missing and what we want to do new for the coming season, and

how to improve the existing styles. Then once we have finalized the ideas, we share the basic design work. But, the final steps, like defining every small detail and the corner radius of a leather patch, I usually end up doing as I have most contact with the manufacturers.

Are you still into ski-hiking?

Yes, as soon as I get the chance, which unfortunately is too seldom nowadays with a lot of work with Sandqvist and, soon, three kids at home. But one of my most memorable hikes was in Narvik, where you ski at 2000m up, with a view over the city, the islands and the open sea. I have made several hikes here with some friends from Finland. As most Finns I know, they don't bullshit too much and instead just go for it. We were on the way down from a top hike and came to a passage. Heikki, who had done this route before, advised in his typically Finnish way: 'Anton, here comes a passage that needs some focus. Just make sure to be stable on the skis, make the right turn and you are through.' I did as he said, turned around a cliff corner, found myself on a 50 cm wide ice shelf with a snow wall on the right hand and a 200 meter freefall on the left. I made the turn and stood steady on the skies as he said but my heart was beating at 200 bpm.

What are the defining features of men's style right now?

For me personally it is a lot about being yourself and let that show in your style. I guess it also shines through in our bags.