About us

Originally from Canada

Akammak was born in Canada, and our brand is inspired by the pioneering peoples who learned to protect themselves from the cold and passed on their knowledge from generation to generation.

Today, our thermoregulating sportswear for men and women carries on the spirit of these pioneers by combining the traditions of exploration, innovation and sustainability. We focus our research on designing clothing that is increasingly well-suited to outdoor conditions, whether cold or hot. Comfortable and durable clothing that allows complete freedom of movement.

Our aim is to create sportswear for men and women that is comfortable to wear, protective and supportive.

Our goal is to create a second skin that can adapt to harsh and wild environments, but also to everyday environments, which can sometimes be perceived as harsh in a professional setting.

Akammak means ‘companion’ or comrade in the Inuit language. This is the spirit of the Akammak brand, to accompany you ever further into adventure with that desire for freedom that we all carry within us. Our clothing has been tested, tried and approved by top athletes, extreme adventurers, amateur sports enthusiasts and everyday sports professionals. Skiing, running, mountaineering, kayaking, sailing, from the Altiplano to the peaks of Tibet or the Himalayas via Lapland, we follow you in the conditions you choose, from leisure to extreme sports, with clothing that protects you for a long time to come.

The story of the Bear and the Inuit legend

Our brand of sportswear for men and women draws its inspiration from Inuit legend. Nook is our mascot or totem animal, and is the emblem of the Akammak brand. Choosing an animal as a symbol immerses us in ancestral traditions.

Since ancient times, humans have selected animals to express or unite the identity of a clan, family or nation. Coats of arms and banners often feature an animal chosen for its qualities. The polar bear symbolises above all adaptation to the environment, and few predators disturb it.

An Inuit legend tells that in ancient times, the polar bear - Nanouk - could become a man: all he had to do was remove his skin, his beautiful, warm white fur. In turn, the man who wore the bear's skin could become Nanouk. He then became strong, ingenious and able to adapt to his difficult and wild environment.

The founding legend among the Inuit is a being often called Sedna, a young woman. Sedna fell from a boat during a storm. Her father, for reasons the legend does not explain, tried to kill her by cutting off her fingers as she clung to the side of the boat. She sank to the bottom of the ocean, where she still lives. Her fingers turned into marine mammals: seals, walruses, whales and sperm whales. Without fingers, Sedna cannot comb her hair, and sometimes marine mammals get caught in her long black hair. When this happens, the hunt is unsuccessful and the Inuit people risk starvation. The sorcerer, the tribe's medicine man, the angogoq, enters a trance and travels to the bottom of the ocean to comb her hair and free the animals.

The Inuit

Human occupation of Canada's North Coast dates back 8,000 years, following the retreat of the glaciers. Various cultures have succeeded one another over the millennia. More recently, the Innu inherited this territory from their ancestors. The first contacts with Europeans were established in the early 16th century with Basque fishermen who came to hunt whales in the waters of the St. Lawrence River. The Innu then occupied a large part of northern Quebec-Labrador. At that time, they lived by gathering in the summer and hunting and fishing. The word ‘Eskimo’ is said to have come to us through translation from the language of the Algonquin Indians, their neighbours. Translated as ‘eaters of raw meat’, this word was brought back to Europe in the 19th century by pioneers. It thus entered everyday language. Today, the word Inuit (or Inuk in the singular) is used to refer to the inhabitants of the Far North, meaning ‘the People’.

A traditional way of life

Hunting is an essential activity. In the 1970s, the Inuit were primarily hunters. They obtained most of their resources from hunting: food, skins for clothing, and bones for making tools and everyday objects. In winter, the Inuit hunted marine mammals (seals, walruses, whales). During the summer, they migrated inland to hunt caribou, fish for freshwater fish and gather berries and herbs. 

The men hunted, while the women prepared the skins, made clothes, dried meat, and also fished. Once the caribou was killed and skinned, every part was used: the meat, the skin; the skin from the forehead, for example, was strong enough to be used for soles. It took several skins on average to make a parka, while the softest parts were used for trousers. The antlers were used to make tools, the tendons were used to make sewing thread, and the fat was used as fuel for lighting.

Gentle upbringing 

Despite the harsh environment, traditional Inuit families treated their children with great gentleness and patience. Hitting or scolding children was not acceptable. Most knowledge was passed on orally. The Inuit considered generosity to be a high value that was rewarded. Gentleness and kindness were considered necessary character traits. As society was based on group cohesion, these qualities were cultivated. One of the most severe punishments was to show less affection to a child. Ostracism in a tribal society was a major threat. 

Some common words of Inuit origin

Parka: derived from a Russian term of Samoyedic origin referring to an animal skin used for protection.

Inukshuk is a pile of stones built by the Inuit people, meaning ‘that which has the ability to act like a human being’.

Anorak: some explorers, however, retained a name other than parka: anorak, which is a type of hooded jacket that is very practical for polar regions. The anorak was used as early as 1903 during expeditions.

Kayak: a small boat or canoe made of skins sewn together and assembled on a light frame of bone or wood, used from Greenland to Alaska. Modern kayaks are made with rigid hulls. Some manufacturers continue the tradition of canvas kayaks, such as Nautiraid in France. Founded in 1936, it continues to manufacture kayaks and canoes made of flexible, lightweight and durable canvas.

Igloo – (not to be confused with frozen food products) is a small house made of ice. This ice dwelling gave rise to the trend for ice hotels, where you can sleep in rooms with beds, floors and walls made of ice! It's best to be well dressed.

A short glossary of Inuktitut words

Hiding place: Talu

Food: Niqi

Lighting a fire: ikipoq

What is your name?: qanoq ateqarpit 

Northern lights: arsarneq

Oar: iput

Whale: qilalugaq

Something beautiful: gik

Drink water: imirpuq

Hunting: maqainniq

It's hot: urquujuq

Polar bear: Nanuk

Brown bear: Alaq

There are different forms for the word companion: Peqat, ila, inoqat, aippaq

On the road

Akammak follows you on the road. To stay close to your challenges and our ambassadors, our blog relays news, events and the environment, escape and performance: explore the Akammak blog, as well as our Twitter and Pinterest accounts. Share your best stories with us by joining the community on our Facebook fan page! Discuss your events, find your next teammates, get the best technical advice... as a member, you can enjoy a range of benefits...