Makia / Bamse

We have collaborated on a unisex clothing line with Bamse, the strongest bear in the world. If you’ve grown up in Scandinavia, there’s a high chance that you’re very familiar with Bamse and his friends. But in case you’re not, Bamse is a beloved Swedish cartoon character created by Rune Andréasson, first appearing in 1966 on television and later in 1973 as a comic.

The Makia / Bamse collection features jersey products made from organic cotton, including t-shirts, long sleeves, hoodies, sweatshirts, and hats. The prints are inspired by Bamse’s world and feature Bamse (obviously), classic comic book sound effects, and dunderhonung, the secret behind Bamse’s fantastic strength. And, since he’s the strongest bear in the world, we included a handful of prints of Bamse flexing his impressive guns.

But the reason for this collaboration was not only to honor the strength of Bamse’s physique – we wanted to pay tribute to the strength of his heart. After all, Bamse is also the kindest bear in the world. Together with his friends, he is always fighting the good fight and standing against bullying, racism, and violence. Or, as Bamse himself says: “You can’t beat anyone into being nice.” For us, those sound like words to live by.