Norwegian Rain’s Paris flagship studio. Photo: shehanhanwellage
Norwegian Rain Stylish and functional global raingear If you’ve experienced the seemingly never-ending rain in Bergen, Norway, the rainiest city in Europe, you’ll know the importance of sturdy rainwear. In 2008, Bergen residents Alexander T. Helle and Michael T. Nartey known as T-Michael identified the need for a reliable raincoat that also fulfilled a desire to remain stylish. This led them to create Bergen-based Norwegian Rain, a functionally fashionable rainwear label. Meticulously researched and developed, today, Norwegian Rain is a go-to collection for customers looking for iconic and practical rainwear. By Molly McPharlin
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Photos: Norwegian Rain
Helle, a master’s student in business school, believes Norwegian Rain solves a problem not just for people in Bergen, but globally as well. “People have different styles, lives, jobs, body shapes. If what you’re wearing does not reflect your personal style, then it doesn’t work for you,” says Helle. “We knew that if you want to make something, it has to work everywhere and not be limited to just a local market or a certain location. Our mission was to create a collection that spanned all the way from classic to experimental.” Helle believes Norwegian Rain offers extreme function in a stylish garment. “This way you don’t need 18
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Issue 160
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November 2023
Alexander T. Helle and Michael T. Nartey, the duo behind Norwegian Rain.
to choose between style and function in your varied urban life. It’s two categories in one. It’s outerwear that is just as suitable for nice weather as storms. It’s comfortable to wear in either.” International Flagship Stores Norwegian Rain has four flagship stores. The first was set up in Bergen, where Nartey, a local tailor and designer, already ran a successful tailoring studio and his own design brand, T-Michael. After this, Norwegian Rain expanded to Oslo, the capital of Norway. In 2017, Norwegian Rain moved outside Norway’s borders to open their third flagship store in London. Britain proved a successful market, but when the building’s landlord refurbished the building, Norwegian Rain had to move. While looking for new premises, they heard about a fantastic building in Paris, in the Marais district. Nartey says, “We put the whole shop in a truck and moved everything across the channel to France.”