Helly Hansen

Helly Hansen was founded in Norway in 1977 by Captain Helly Juell Hansen, who saw a need for better protection from the harsh Norwegian environment. He and his wife, Maren Margarethe, began soaking their coarse linen with linseed oil. The state-of-the-art process resulted in water resistant clothing for workers and sea farers, and Helly Hansen was born.

Helly Hansen was awarded the first of many awards at the World Exhibition in Paris, increased production, and expanded its product range. They have been able to tackle many winds of change in the ever-changing world, adapting and expanding into new areas of business. Did you know at one point Helly Hansen had manufactured everything from life jackets made of cork to gas masks and rugs?

Today, Helly Hansen focuses on apparel and bags. The company has developed a long list of first-to-market inovations, such as the first supple, waterproof fabrics over 140 years ago. Other breakthroughs include the first fleece fabrics in the 1960s, the first technical base layers in the 1970s, and various, patented, award-winning systems for temperature regulations. Helly Hansen's ski uniforms are worn and trusted by more than 60,000 professionals, and can be found on Olympians, national teams, and at more than 200 ski resorts and mountain guiding operations around the world.