ABBA Polar cape
Replica of the ABBA Polar cape that was worn by Agnetha and Anni-Frid on the tour of North America & Europe in 1979 and Japan in 1980.
The ABBA Polar cape was worn by Agnetha and Anni-Frid on the tour of North America & Europe in 1979 and Japan in 1980. The cape was a collaboration with iconic designer Owe Sandström and scenographer Rune Söderqvist (who also was the one who mirrored the letter “B” in the ABBA logo). They wanted to create a stage experience that reminded of the north of Sweden and made the colors inspired by ”when the sun breaks through a frozen lake and creates the special shade of light blue, pink and purple”. To emphasize the connection to the mountains in the north, Sandström and Söderqvist used a pointed shape for both the backdrop and the capes.
The versatile designer, teacher and zoologist Owe Sandström created most of ABBA’s stage costumes. ABBA started working closely together with Sandström early in the band’s career. It all began an evening at the concert venue Berns in Stockholm when ABBA performed among the famous Swedish artists Zara Leander and Lasse Berghagen. Frida, who had a big interest in fashion and sewing, got to know the other artists were styled by this man Owe Sandström – so she went up to him and asked him to help ABBA design their stage outfits. Both Frida and Agnetha loved colorful clothes and had a lot of ideas of how they wanted the looks, and Sandström transformed them into reality.
Today, you can view the original costumes at ABBA The Museum.
“This cape was used during the North America, Europe & Japan tour in 1979-1980. Costume designer Owe Sandström and set designer Rune Söderqvist wanted the opening outfits and the backdrop to reflect the Northern light, the glaciers and the mountains. This is the result and a design that still works so well. Only used for the opening of the show but the impact was massive.” – Ingmarie Halling, curator at ABBA The Museum and part of the ABBA tour crew.
100% Polyester Satin
Measurement: 170cm wide and 130cm long.
Inspired by the North America, Europe & Japan tour in 1979-1980 – ABBA’s third concert tour.
It took off in Alberta, Canada and closed in Tokyo, containing 52 shows in 40 cities, across 13 countries. It came to be the last tour before ABBA unofficially broke up in 1982.
A piece of pop art.
Created to give an illusion of icebergs reflected in an ice-covered lake, this cape was worn by Agnetha and Frida during their North America, Europe & Japan tour in 1979 and 1980.