66° North
Encyclopedia
66°NORTH is an Iceland
ic clothing manufacturer, specialising in outdoor wear. Though widely popular in Iceland
for many years, the company's products have recently received international attention after beginning exports to the United States
in 2004. The company is owned by the international filmmaker Sigurjón Sighvatsson
.
66°NORTH was founded in 1926 by Hans Kristjansson as a means of making clothing to shield fishermen from the Icelandic elements. It was named after the latitudinal line of the Arctic Circle
which touches the northernmost part of Iceland, the island of Grímsey
. By the 1960s, the company had begun to produce a range of worker-themed casual wear, aiming to design clothes that were both attractive and comfortable in cold climates. The brand subsequently became one of the most popular in Iceland; it was once dubbed by the Wall Street Journal as "practically Iceland's national clothier." In recent years, however, it has faced increasing competition in this home market.
66°NORTH remained little-known outside of Iceland until 2004, when it expanded overseas, selling distribution rights in the United States
and other countries. Distributors have used its Icelandic origins as a marketing ploy to break into the competitive outdoor garments industry. It is currently being sold in a range of department stores, as well as a handful of chain stores, including Urban Outfitters
, with prices ranging from US$250 to $US450.
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic clothing manufacturer, specialising in outdoor wear. Though widely popular in Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
for many years, the company's products have recently received international attention after beginning exports to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 2004. The company is owned by the international filmmaker Sigurjón Sighvatsson
Sigurjón Sighvatsson
Sigurjón Sighvatsson , also known as Joni Sighvatsson, is a veteran Hollywood film producer and businessman. Currently he is the principal of Palomar Pictures, an independent film production company in Los Angeles. Palomar's current project Killer Elite was released September 23rd, 2011...
.
66°NORTH was founded in 1926 by Hans Kristjansson as a means of making clothing to shield fishermen from the Icelandic elements. It was named after the latitudinal line of the Arctic Circle
Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. For Epoch 2011, it is the parallel of latitude that runs north of the Equator....
which touches the northernmost part of Iceland, the island of Grímsey
Grímsey
Grímsey is a small island in the country of Iceland, off the north coast of the main island of Iceland and straddling the Arctic Circle. In January 2011 it had 86 inhabitants....
. By the 1960s, the company had begun to produce a range of worker-themed casual wear, aiming to design clothes that were both attractive and comfortable in cold climates. The brand subsequently became one of the most popular in Iceland; it was once dubbed by the Wall Street Journal as "practically Iceland's national clothier." In recent years, however, it has faced increasing competition in this home market.
66°NORTH remained little-known outside of Iceland until 2004, when it expanded overseas, selling distribution rights in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and other countries. Distributors have used its Icelandic origins as a marketing ploy to break into the competitive outdoor garments industry. It is currently being sold in a range of department stores, as well as a handful of chain stores, including Urban Outfitters
Urban Outfitters
Urban Outfitters, Inc. is a publicly traded American company that owns and operates five retail brands: Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Free People, Terrain, and BHLDN....
, with prices ranging from US$250 to $US450.