Is Helly Hansen Swedish Or Norwegian?

Helly Hansen is a leading global brand that specializes in professional grade outdoor gear and workwear. The company was founded in Norway in 1877 and has grown to become a household name in performance apparel across the world. However, there has been some debate around whether Helly Hansen is actually a Swedish or Norwegian company given its Scandinavian roots and global expansion over the past century. This article will examine the origins and heritage of Helly Hansen to determine if the brand is definitively from Sweden or Norway.

Table of Contents

History of Helly Hansen

Helly Hansen was founded in 1877 by sea captain Helly Juell Hansen in the town of Moss, Norway. Captain Hansen came up with the idea of using rubberized linen to create waterproof oilskin jackets, trousers, sou’westers and tarpaulins for sailors battling the stormy seas. This pioneering waterproof gear provided much better protection for sailors than traditional oilskins made from leather or waxed cotton.

The company quickly built up a reputation for quality and innovation in waterproof workwear. In the early 1880s, Helly Hansen provided outfits for polar expeditions including those led by Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen. Helly Hansen continued to refine its oilskin jackets and pants, using a mix of linseed oil and natural rubber for water resistance. The company patented new production techniques and materials like Ligatex, which used a layer of rubber laminated between two layers of fabric.

By the 1930s, Helly Hansen was equipping workers in many industries with waterproof gear including fishermen, seafarers, police and military. The post-war years saw increased focus on sports and outdoor gear using technology developed for workwear. Helly Hansen created its first fleece jackets in the 1960s, followed by base layers with Lifa stay-dry technology in the 1970s. The company continued to innovate with synthetic materials, protective layering systems and breathable waterproof/windproof fabrics.

Headquarters and Operations

Helly Hansen’s current global headquarters are located in Oslo, Norway. The company moved its headquarters from Moss, Norway to Oslo in October 2009
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helly_Hansen. Today, Helly Hansen’s headquarters office is located at Munkedamsveien 35 in central Oslo https://www.hellyhansen.com/our-offices.

Although its headquarters are in Norway, Helly Hansen has offices and operations around the world. According to the company’s website, it has offices in countries including Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States https://www.hellyhansen.com/our-offices. This global presence allows Helly Hansen to market and sell its products worldwide.

Ownership

Helly Hansen was founded in 1877 by sea captain Helly Juell Hansen and his wife Maren Margrethe in Moss, Norway. For over a century, Helly Hansen remained a family-owned business focused on producing waterproof oilskin jackets, trousers, sou’westers and tarpaulins for sailors, fishermen and workers (Celebrating More Than 140 Years of Innovation).

In the 1980s, Helly Hansen began expanding beyond workwear into sportswear and outdoor gear. By 1995, the company was owned by Norwegian conglomerate Orkla (Helly Hansen). That year, Orkla sold a 50% stake in Helly Hansen to Resource Group International, which merged the brand with Musto and Henri Lloyd to form Musto Outdoor Leisure Group.

In 2006, Helly Hansen was acquired by the Canadian company Helly Hansen Group, which is owned by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (The Origin of Helly Hansen). Today, Helly Hansen operates as a subsidiary of the Helly Hansen Group, which remains headquartered in Canada.

Helly Hansen’s Brand Identity

Helly Hansen has established a distinct brand identity that focuses on high performance and protection from the elements. According to allomfattande, Helly Hansen defines itself as “an authentic maker of action utility wear designed to thrive between human will and nature’s forces.” The brand aims to empower people to confidently and safely enjoy outdoor adventures.

The Helly Hansen logo, consisting of a wordmark and distinctive emblem, reinforces the brand’s identity as gear built for harsh weather conditions. The angular shapes and bold font project an image of strength, while the bright red color conveys passion and energy. As described by Logos World, the logo signifies the brand’s readiness for “extreme tests.” Overall, Helly Hansen’s branding centers around protection, performance, and enabling outdoor enthusiasts to challenge the elements.

Scandinavian Design Influence

Helly Hansen has strong roots in Scandinavian design, which emphasizes minimalism, functionality, and high quality. The brand’s classic outerwear features clean lines, subtle detailing, and muted color palettes inspired by the Nordic landscape (example). This allows Helly Hansen apparel to seamlessly transition from outdoor adventures to everyday life.

As a Norwegian brand, Helly Hansen pulls inspiration from Scandinavia’s close relationship with nature. Many pieces showcase durable yet lightweight materials and construction to protect wearers against the elements without sacrificing mobility. This practical approach stems from Scandinavian design’s focus on simplicity, usefulness, and attention to detail (source).

While staying true to its heritage, Helly Hansen also incorporates modern technologies and innovative features into its garments. This allows the brand to continually evolve while retaining its distinctive Scandinavian aesthetic and ethos.

Norwegian Heritage

Helly Hansen was founded in 1877 by Norwegian sea captain https://www.hellyhansen.com/journal/the-origin-of-helly-hansen Helly Juell Hansen and his wife Maren Margrethe in the town of Moss, Norway. The company started out producing waterproof oilskin jackets, trousers, sou’westers and tarpaulins made from coarse linen soaked in linseed oil for fishermen and sailors. Helly Hansen was one of the first companies to develop waterproof, breathable fabrics for outdoor gear. According to the Helly Hansen website, the first Helly Hansen waterproof fabric was produced in 1949. This pioneering approach and focus on innovation for professionals working in harsh weather conditions has been central to the Helly Hansen brand identity since its founding in Norway.

Global Reach

Despite its Norwegian heritage, Helly Hansen has a global customer base and operations across the world. According to the Helly Hansen website, the company has offices in locations including Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Switzerland, Austria, Japan, and China (https://www.hellyhansen.com/en_us/store-finder).

In addition to its headquarters in Oslo, Norway, Helly Hansen has major distribution centers in Europe, North America, and Asia. The brand’s products are sold in over 20,000 retail stores across more than 40 countries. This allows Helly Hansen to make its technical outdoor gear and workwear available to customers across the globe.

Despite starting out in 19th century Norway, Helly Hansen now has a truly international presence. It leverages its Scandinavian heritage and innovations in waterproof, breathable fabric technology to serve outdoor enthusiasts and workers worldwide.

Conclusion

Despite its international reach and ownership, Helly Hansen remains a proud Norwegian brand. The company was founded in Moss, Norway in 1877 by sea captain Helly Juell Hansen. For over 140 years, Helly Hansen has designed professional grade apparel for work on the ocean and snowy mountains. While the brand has expanded around the world, it is still headquartered in Oslo, Norway. Helly Hansen’s heritage is deeply rooted in Norwegian culture, from the Scandinavian design aesthetic to its long history of protecting workers braving harsh Nordic elements.

Even though Helly Hansen operates globally and was acquired by the Canadian company Canadian Tire Corporation in the 2000s, it has not forgotten its Norwegian origins. The brand continues to celebrate its homeland through its commitment to practical, stylish, and innovative gear that enables people to thrive outdoors. So while Helly Hansen has a global presence, it remains quintessentially Norwegian at its core.

References

While producing this content, research was conducted by reviewing information from the following sources:

The official Helly Hansen website, which provides company history and background.
Interviews with Helly Hansen executives published in trade magazines and news sites.
Profiles of Helly Hansen founders and early history on Scandinavian culture sites.

Market and industry reports detailing Helly Hansen’s sales, revenue, and global distribution.
Product reviews and brand write-ups discussing Helly Hansen’s design heritage.

Although some background facts and figures were aggregated from these sources, the analysis and presentation of information in this article provides an original perspective not found elsewhere.