Helly Hansen is a Norwegian apparel brand founded in 1877 in Moss by merchant navy captain Helly Juell Hansen and his wife Margrethe. The brand's story began with a simple but groundbreaking invention: Hansen impregnated rough linen canvas with linseed oil, producing a flexible, waterproof fabric that shielded sailors from the relentless Nordic elements. Just one year after its founding, the company took home an award at the 1878 Paris World Exhibition — and from that point on, Helly Hansen has continuously set the standard for protective apparel in extreme conditions, from open water to high alpine terrain.
One Hundred and Fifty Years of Innovation
Over the decades, Helly Hansen has never been content to stop at a sailor's rain jacket. In the 1970s, the company invented Fiberpile — a pioneering fibrous-structure material that served as the blueprint for modern fleece. It retains its insulating properties even when wet, fundamentally changing how layering systems are approached on water and mountain expeditions. Around the same time, Helly Hansen developed the LIFA system — the world's first technical base layer engineered to move moisture away from the body, which became the cornerstone of modern layering theory. The three-layer clothing system (base layer – mid insulating layer – outer shell) was shaped in large part by Helly Hansen technologies. Today, the brand backs its outerwear with its own HELLY TECH membrane technology, used across jackets and pants for a wide range of outdoor disciplines.
Professional Partnerships and End Users
Helly Hansen supplies apparel to professionals who push gear to its limits in the world's harshest environments. The brand is an official partner of numerous prestigious sailing regattas and racing associations. More than 55,000 ski resort workers worldwide wear Helly Hansen, placing the brand at the top of the market for professional ski industry workwear. The brand collaborates with polar explorers and alpinists who field-test equipment under extreme conditions. Over 80% of revenue is generated outside Norway — across Western Europe, North America, and Asia.
Helly Hansen at Militaria.pl
At Militaria.pl you'll find Helly Hansen apparel built for those who are active in the field — jackets, pants, and base layers for outdoor and tactical use. It's a natural fit for soldiers, rescue professionals, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts looking for gear with a proven track record of protection in extreme conditions. Norwegian quality, ready for any field activity — from the mountains to the sea.
