Scan Magazine | Design Profile | Topaz Arctic Shoes AS
Topaz delivers high-quality products that will keep you warm in the coldest of climates.
Defeat the winter in functional design When facing the freezing, Arctic winters of Scandinavia, having the proper footwear is essential. Quality, the right materials and expertise are essential in creating something that will last for more than one season. Topaz of Norway combines all these traits with traditional design, making their shoes a product that stands out from the rest. By Kari Larsen | Photos: Topaz
Established in 1989, Topaz of Norway is a family-run business founded by one of the last shoe technicians in Norway, Knut Reigstad. He named the factory after the precious stone Topaz and focused the production around traditional sealskin slippers and shoes. In 2005, Reigstad retired, transferring ownership to his four children, who still run it today. Though the technology and production have changed and improved over time, the design of the products is still based on tradition, according to managing director Helge Reigstad. “A Topaz should always look like a Topaz,” he says, “We never try to copy other brands when making a shoe; you should always be able to tell that it’s a Topaz.” 16 | Issue 112 | May 2018
Ethically, Topaz take their responsibility very seriously. Many of their products are made of sealskin, and Reigstad says that it is important for people to know that this is a choice based on ethical, environmental and sustainable reasons. “Seals live their whole lives freely in their natural habitats,” he says. “Hunting them is similar to hunting deer or moose, and they are not a threatened or endangered species.” Topaz are aware that they might not be everybody’s cup of tea. “The materials we use are expensive because of the enormously high quality, and our design is so particular that people either love it or hate it,” says Reigstad. Among the people in favour of the design, however, are quite a few notable names. Uma Thurman bought
five pairs when she was in Norway, and the Norwegian royals have been spotted wearing the design as well. “Our products are both souvenirs and functional,” Reigstad adds. “Tourists buy them because they’re Norwegian design, but people have also used our boots on expeditions to the poles because of the quality.” Want to head to the North Pole, fight the winter freeze, or just look stylish while sporting traditional design? Topaz of Norway has your back.
Web: www.topazofnorway.com Facebook: topazofnorway Instagram: @topazofnorway