Norwegian Rain is a Norwegian fashion brand based in Bergen, specialised in hi-tech, waterproof outerwear with a sartorial look for men and women.
Contents
Background
The company was founded in 2008. In August 2009 the brand pre-launched its debut collection as part of the pop-up shop “Shhhhhhh…/Store” in Bergen, Norway. A following article in British fashion magazine Dazed & Confused opened the doors to the international markets for Norwegian Rain. In January 2010 the label was invited by the fashion trade show WHITE in Milan to launch the label on international ground /. The debut collection was highlighted and later picked out as 1 of 7 as “Talented Newcomers 2010” by Vogue Italia led by Franca Sozzani and WHITE.
Duo
Alexander Helle, Creative Director / founder
Alexander Helle (born March 8, 1981) was born and raised in Bergen, Norway. Attended Norwegian School of Business and Administration, NHH . After a master exchange at Università Bocconi in Milan he went home to join forces with local creatives to shape the 2-year master's degree on the establishment of the Norwegian Rain project.
T-Michael, Bespoke tailor / designer, co-founder
Michael Tetteh Nartey (born July 2, 1966), known as T-Michael, is a Bespoke Tailor and Designer. Ghanaian born T-Michael moved to Bergen in 1989 where he finished a degree in men's tailoring at Bergen Yrkeskole. He launched his own studio and label “T-MICHAEL” in 1996 with the aim of blurring the lines between bespoke tailoring and ready to wear, offering high quality suits, shirts, cuff links, scarves and leather goods. He has written, produced, designed and Co-directed 4 short films. T-Michael has collaborated with Kirk Originals, Art Comes First and Nick Hart of Spencer Hart, Savile Row
Collaborations
Norwegian Rain was established on the principle of dugnad, a Norwegian word for a small cooperative. All members of the brand are shareholders. Bergen-based photographer Bent René Synnevaag and the award winning designer studio Anti Grandpeople are all part of Norwegian Rain. Artists and creatives from Bergen, as well as other international brands have been linked to the brand. As a part of their presentations at international fashion fairs, Norwegian Rain actively includes in their presentations, various members of the creative scene in Bergen. Visual communicating designer Birk Nygaard and sound artist Jorgen Larsson have contributed with their works at Norwegian Rain's installations at Pitti Uomo in Florence, Italy. For the AW14 collection, Norwegian Rain teamed up with Japanese fashion designer Miharayasuhiro to outdoor two limited edition raincoat styles. Norwegian Rain has also created a capsule collection based on handmade waterproof hats, combining artisan crafts and functionalism with Florentine hatmakers, Superduper Hats. A collaboration with Amsterdam-based denim designer Denham resulted in a unisex jacket and was launched for SS2015
The hi-tech
The coats utilize hi-tech fabrics with waterproof membranes from Japan – specifically made for the offshore industry and other high-performance uses. The fabrics are in general made from recycled polyester.
The design
The silhouettes and detailing of the collection stems from the tailoring background of bespoke tailor T-Michael. In the Autumn Winter Collection 14/15, the line expanded with padded winter coats.