Please could you tell us a little about Klättermusen's history?
Gonz: Klättermusen was started by a group of young and idealistic mountaineers who, led by Peter Askulv, came together to make the best possible mountaineering equipment. During an era shaped by growing social and ecological awareness, they were determined to have well-considered design steer their business practices, and they wisely chose to stick with their principles even as Klättermusen grew in popularity. The combination of cutting-edge science, field experience, and sustainable production that guided the first prototypes is still applied today.
What brought you to Klättermusen?
Gonz: Whilst on a mountaineering expedition, I suddenly realised how extremely technical and research-intensive outdoor equipment has to be. What is perceived as a simple garment can have the equivalent technical know-how of an electronic device. As I researched the subject further, I, like many others, fell under the spell of Klättermusen: a small Swedish company quietly toiling away for 40 years, using cutting-edge science to create outdoor equipment of unparalleled durability with a minimal and sometimes even negative ecological footprint. The company founder was getting ready to move on from the business side of things, so I saw an opportunity to carry on this tremendous legacy and help create the change that I want to see in the world, particularly the business world.
Isabelle: I grew up in a world of handicrafts – everything from tie-dye with plants to pottery and wool tanning. This meant a lot of trial and error and experimenting with different approaches to find out what works best. Growing up this way fostered a curiosity in where materials come from and the process of refining them.
Klättermusen not only allows me to question the fundamentals of a product’s construction but actively encourages it – it’s our way of moving forward. Klättermusen’s practices have never been about checking boxes; instead, we create the best possible product in a sustainable way, which absolutely has been, and continues to be, about finding different and better ways of doing things.