Årebonaden - a rediscovered original and a piece of Jämtland's storytelling tradition
Sometimes history finds its way back to us when we least expect it.
So it was with the Årebonade - one of all Paul Sahlin's beloved parish bonades. For a long time we thought the originals were lost. The printing frames were missing from our records, no notes were preserved and we feared that the pattern might never be printed again.
But then, one day, when we went through our archive, they were in front of us:
Unmarked films with the original motif of the Årebonad.
A silent return after decades.
That's where the work began - work that wasn't just about reviving a pattern, but about bringing a piece of local cultural history back to the printing tables.
A pattern that tells the story of Åre
Årebonaden is created by Paul Sahlin, and is a rare example of Jämtland's pictorial tradition in textile form. The motif is rich and filled with details that together capture both history and geography. It features the mountain world of Åre, the iconic mountain railway, Åre church, reindeer and grouse, and the well-known trail crosses that guide hikers through the mountains. The sign points to Storlien, Duved, Tännforsen and Blåhammaren - places that many people remember.
The motif also features a depiction of Nils Thomasson, the Sámi photographer who documented life in Sápmi and Jämtland for more than five decades. His portraits and photographs are an invaluable part of the region's cultural heritage, and his presence in the bonade makes the motif even more significant.
Sustainability and local ownership
Like our other products, Årebonaden is printed and sewn in Jämtland. We use water-based pigment inks and produce in small editions. Each copy is hand-checked before it leaves the printing house. Because Årebonaden has such a strong connection to the region, part of the proceeds go to the Åre Parish Local History Association. It feels like an obvious way to give back.
A motif to carry with you - or pass on
The Åre headdress is more than a pattern. It is a heritage, a memory and a story. Now it's available both as a bonad and as a pillow, two ways to keep the story of Åre alive in homes where the mountains mean something deeply.
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