Helly Hansen
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| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Clothing Survival and rescue gear Fishing equipment |
| Founded | 1877 |
| Founder(s) | Helly Juell Hansen |
| Headquarters | Oslo, Norway |
| Area served | Worldwide |
| Key people | Peter Sjölander (CEO) |
| Products | Industrial workwear Outerwear Street wear Survival and rescue gear Fishing equipment Rafts Lifeboats Rubber products Tarpaulins |
| Revenue | NOK 1400 million (US $228 million) (2005) |
| Employees | ~600 |
| Website | hellyhansen.com |
Helly Hansen is a high-end producer of textiles and special gear for sports and work on the ocean and in the mountains, headquartered in Oslo, Norway (previously, from the time it was founded in 1877 until Oct 2009, the company was headquartered in Moss, Norway). Today, the brand is recognized for its foul-weather fishing gear and can be seen both on television (Deadliest Catch)[citation needed] and in movies (The Perfect Storm, Touching the void),[citation needed] but has become popular in all levels of industrial workwear, survival and rescue, and performance outerwear.[says who?] On the consumer side, Helly Hansen has a strong following[weasel words] in both the sailing and snowsports communities, as well as producing apparel and footwear for casual and general active use.
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[edit] History
Helly Juell Hansen had been at sea since the age of 15; in 1877, at the age of 35, he and his wife Maren Margarethe began producing oilskin jackets, trousers, sou'westers and tarpaulins, made from coarse linen soaked in linseed oil. Over the first five years they sold ca. 10,000 pieces.
In 1878 the company won a diploma for excellence at the Paris Expo, and began exporting its products.
After Helly Juell Hansen's death in 1914, company leadership passed on to his son Leiv Helly-Hansen, an experienced merchant.
In the 1920s a new fabric, which Helly Hansen called Linox, was developed. The surface was glossy and attractive – and, best of all, non-sticky. Over the next 30 years the name Linox would transfer to a PVC (polyvinyl chloride) application.
In 1931 another new fabric, Lin-O-Let, was launched. Very thin and light, it could be made in many colors and was used in waterproof leisure and outdoor clothing for women and children.
[edit] Product development
A change for the brand came in 1949 when Helox was developed.[citation needed] This thin sheet of translucent PVC plastic sewn into waterproof coats and hats became a popular item. About 30,000 Helox coats were produced each month. Plarex, a heavier-duty version of Helox, backed by fabric, was developed for workwear, creating durable, waterproof clothing for industry.
A product developed for the outdoor and workwear markets was Fibrepile. This insulation layer was warm, lightweight and fast-drying, used for wearing under waterproofs. It was used by Swedish lumbermen, who discovered that it offered good insulation against the cold, and ventilated well during hard, physical work in the forest. It protected against snow and light rain[citation needed] for proof, staying durable and warm after washing.
[edit] LIFA
The layering story was completed in the 1970s, with the development of LIFA. The Italian researchers that discovered how to spin yarn from polypropylene fibre were rewarded with the Nobel Prize in 1963. This fibre used in LIFA, kept the skin dry and warm by pushing moisture away from the body, making it the ideal base-layer fabric for outdoor and workwear use. It was the birth of the 3-layer Systems of Dress with LIFA close to the body, Fibrepile as an insulation layer, and rainwear for protection.
[edit] North Sea oil exploration
As the oil exploration industry kicked into gear during the seventies, the company developed survival suits for offshore workers. In 1980 the company's breathable, waterproof fabric system – called Helly Tech – was launched.
[edit] Technology behind the clothing
Helly Tech garments use both hydrophilic and microporous technology. Hydrophilic garments have water-loving molecular chains which pass water vapor to the outside. Microporous garments have tiny pores that allow water vapor to pass out of the fabric without letting rain droplets in.
[edit] Company takeovers
Investcorp acquired Helly Hansen in 1997.
In October 2006, Investcorp sold its interest in Helly Hansen to Altor Equity Partners, "A private equity firm focusing on investments in companies based in the Nordic region."[citation needed]
[edit] Streetwear
Helly Hansen clothing developed a large following amongst the British working class urban youth in the late 1990s. The tough, hardwearing jackets found an unlikely brand appeal for "scallie" urban youth in the north of England. Cold winter nights and the new range of designs were attractive to youths who spent cold nights outdoors. The brand developed a mass appeal and is now sold in sports shops, far wide of the hiking and specialised clothing shops of before.
[edit] Partnerships
In February 2011, a three-year partnership with guiding company Mountain Madness was announced. The agreement between the companies means that Helly Hansen will be outfitting all of Mountain Madness operations guides "with technical apparel from head to toe" beginning the 2011 season and extending through 2013.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ "Helly Hansen Forges Three-Year Partnership with Mountain Madness Guides". Transworld Snowboarding. February 10, 2011.
