Norway warms up to ‘Nordic Cool’

Norwegian commentators may roll their eyes at the expressions “Scandinavian Cool” and “Nordic Cool,” but some fairly major media events and exhibitions far beyond Norway’s borders have been showcasing what they consider “cool” Norwegian design and culture in recent weeks. Now Norwegians are also taking part in a major exhibition in Washington DC, designed to [...]

Norway still in knots over knitting

Knitting has cast off its old-fashioned image to become as hot as, well, the warm garments it creates. Wool creations now grace the catwalks, Norwegian-style knitwear is trendy around the world and knitting books topped bestseller lists this Christmas. A younger, hipper crowd is casting on, and yarn producers are clacking up the profits. Knitting [...]

‘Moods of Norway’ makes money

The young men behind the rapidly expanding Norwegian clothing chain “Moods of Norway” reportedly have pocketed an estimated NOK 50 million in dividends following what the founders themselves call “a fantastic year.” Newspaper Dagens Næringsliv (DN) reported last week that founders Peder Børresen, age 34, and Simen Stålnacke, 36, are among those doing extremely well [...]

Fur flying over Fashion Week ban

Norway’s biggest annual design showcase, Oslo Fashion Week (OFW), banned fur from its catwalk this year – an international first that has been greeted by praise within the country and criticism from the fur industry and some in the Scandinavian fashion community. The week of events, held between February 14 and 20, is featuring showings [...]