*Disclaimer- this is not a sponsored post- it has been written of my own accord after purchasing the product as a regular customer*
(Firstly I want to point out that the mug in the picture isn't empty (any excuse for a cup of tea), but half full (I can be optimistic sometimes) because I didn't want it going cold while I was carefully crafting the perfect book pile. Just didn't want anyone thinking the photo was staged- yes, I definitely did take a trip down the garden with a full backpack, two books (including The Complete Works of Shakespeare) and a cup of tea... Sounds chill though.)
Following my previous post on SCRT, a clothing brand I came across on Instagram, I thought I'd do something similar with another I have recently found.
With it being September and the start of a new year at uni (help), I decided I needed a new backpack for carting around all the stuff I seem to need each day (rowing kit, books, folders, laptop, food etc). Also a rucksack is great because I spend a lot of time on my bike, so a shoulder bag would be really annoying. I've always wanted one of those Fjallraven Kanken bags because I think they're cool and sometimes I'm feeling/looking (haha) edgy enough to pull it off. But after a few weeks of pining after them online, I came to the conclusion that a) they're stupidly expensive and b) when I looked at one properly in a shop I decided it would probably be too small for the ridiculous amounts of sports kit I sometimes carry. After that I sort of gave up (I'm terrible at shopping), but then I came across Absolutely Bear on Instagram, who were promoting a sale on their Cedar Backpacks, and I think I ordered one pretty much straight away (which is unusual for me- I usually faff around with whatever it is in my basket for days/weeks trying to decide whether I really need it or should be spending the money).
As a brand, Absolutely Bear , stands for something quite unique (as far as I'm aware) within the world of fashion. On their website they describe themselves as "a London based ethical fashion and charitable clothing label", whose suppliers are members of the Fair Wear Foundation and who work to produce their clothes using renewable energy sources and sustainable materials. As well as providing chilled out urban fashion in an environmentally friendly way, they also give 10% of their profits to two charitable partners. More information about what they do can be found on their website here. Absolutely Bear are also very passionate about exploring the outdoors, something which I am also a fan of, and their products (and Instagrams) reflect this. So it was all sounding pretty good, but what about the backpack?
VALUE FOR MONEY
Considering all of the above, as well as the quality of the bag itself, I would have been more than happy to pay full price (only £40) if there hadn't been a sale on at the time. But with the 15% off offer (which is still going I think!), paying £34 plus delivery was really very good for a 19 litre backpack. This kind of pricing makes these bags (and their other products) accessible to lots of people, including students, which I think is great because so many of the cool independent clothing brands I find online are all way out of my price range and that makes me sad.
QUALITY AND DESIGN
You can tell by just looking at it online that the quality is going to high; it's made from 100% cotton canvas (as well as being 100% vegan) and it looks sturdy and well-made. When it actually arrived I was really pleased- the material is thick and strong, but doesn't look overly heavy or cumbersome so it's practical but still looks good. The straps are really well attached so that when I went away for the weekend and the bag was full to the brim, I didn't feel as though I was straining the backpack and I was confident nothing would tear. I also really like the the thick drawstring and the leather (not actually leather) buckles, as they secure everything in nicely and create a stylish finish to the front of the bag. Although to start with I was a bit put off by the fact that the buckles are real and not just poppers (I thought it might take a while trying to get in and out of the bag), I soon came round as I realised that these made it more authentic and also will be good for making sure nothing ever falls out or gets nicked.
FEATURES
I was really attracted to the fact that the backpack has a padded section for laptops up to 14". Luckily for me, I've recently bought a new laptop of this size, but it probably wouldn't have been the end of the world if I hadn't, as I could have used that section for a book or two. As far as inner compartments go, this is actually all that the bag has to offer, which I think is a bit of a shame. I would have quite liked to have an inner zipped pocket for little things like paracetamol, lip balm etc that I don't want just floating around and getting lost in with everything else. Also, a pocket on the front of the bag might be a useful addition, maybe for keys that I just want to grab quickly, or for bits of food I don't want getting squashed. Despite the lack of pockets, I still love it and I think it's been designed well with the user, as well as aesthetics, very much in mind.
THE VERDICT
As this has been almost an entirely glowing review, I think it's probably clear that I'm very pleased with my purchase and would definitely recommend it to others (although I do like being unique in amongst the Fjallraven crowd). Even if you don't need a backpack, I would also recommend just browsing their website. They have a pretty small but select range and everything is very reasonably priced (and there's also a sale on!!). But as well as the products, I think the brand itself is brilliant and the people behind it are promoting really important contemporary issues in a way that definitely has a place in contemporary society and I hope to support them in the future by buying more of their products.
If you want to do the same (or just see cute pictures of bears), then follow them:
@absolutelybear on Instagram and Facebook
@AbsolutelyBear on Twitter
What do you think? Please leave a comment below- I'd love to hear from you!
