66 North

Founded in 1926 to brave the elements

66°North was founded in 1926 by Hans Kristjánsson with the purpose of making protective clothing for Icelandic fishermen and workers braving the North Atlantic elements. Hans lived in Suðureyri in Súgandafjörður, in the Westfjords of Iceland. Here, weather conditions were extreme, and having suitable clothing was a matter of life and death.

Hans was passionate about creating garments to provide protection against these harsh conditions, so he moved to Norway to learn how to tailor and sew fishermen‘s clothing. When Hans moved back to Suðureyri in 1926 he founded Sjóklæðagerð Íslands (Fishermen‘s clothing factory of Iceland), now better known as 66°North.

66°North derives its name from the latitudinal line of the Arctic Circle which touches Súgandafjörður.