Helly Hansen is one of the best-known Norwegian brands and one of the oldest brands in the world. It dates back to 1877. It used to produce waterproof gear for workers on the North Sea, while today it makes globally popular outdoor apparel, whose name is synonymous with protection from water, air and snow.

It was established in the part of the world with dominantly cold weather and for a long time, it produced apparel that kept the cold out; with expansion into other world markets, it extended its range to camping and sailing apparel as well.

In its early years, Helly Hanson was an innovation pioneer. They were the first to introduce plastics into production, which was revolutionary at the time; however, the material proved challenging since it prevented air circulation. In the later years, the challenge was overcome to create a breathable material that provided just as strong protection from the rain, water and cold.