Unravelling the history of Napapijri

Surely many people have seen clothing with the Norwegian flag as a logo. This is a premium Italian brand – Napapijri, representing casual women’s and men’s shoes, clothing and useful accessories.

How and when the brand was created

The brand’s history dates back to 1987. In the small Italian city of Aosta, the Rosset family was engaged in the production of suitcases and travel bags under the Green Sport Monte Bianco brand. However, they soon decided to launch a separate line of travel accessories. The new idea was based on combining style and innovative materials.

The first product released with the logo of the Italian brand was the Bering Bag made of waxed canvas fabric. The bag was named after Vitus Bering – a Russian-Danish naval officer who became one of the first explorers of the Bering Strait.

The production of bags, backpacks and suitcases in Aosta reached an impressive scale in a few years. High-quality and technologically innovative products have become the most popular accessory for travelers.

Encouraged by the popularity and demand, Napapiri launched a new experiment. In 1990, the brand launched a clothing collection consisting of thick knitwear and warm winter jackets. This is how Napapijri Skidoo high-quality anoraks appeared to the world.

The experiment was extremely successful. Soon, clothing with the Norwegian flag became internationally known as a quality product for any, even the most severe weather conditions. This served as an impetus for the intensive development of the brand:

• In 1997, Napapiri opened his first store in Chamonix, France. In 2002, the brand launched the children’s line Napapijri Kids. The collection included about 80 unisex wardrobe items and accessories.
• In 2003, the company presented a joint Skidoo collection with designer Karl Lagerfeld.
• In 2005, the brand began to produce sunglasses and shoes.
• At the same time, the company became part of the American VF Corporation. After that, Napapiri’s headquarters moved to Lugano, Switzerland.
• In 2008, the brand’s own store opened in Milan, and a few years later a new line 66° 33’ Special Project was created, designed by Japanese designer Yoshinori Ono. The numbers in the name indicate the latitude of the Arctic circle.

In 2012, Napapiri released The Denim Project collection, which included 5 models of jeans and a denim jacket in the style of shabby chic.

2012 was a landmark year for the brand. It was then that the company opened the hundredth branded clothing store in Stockholm and the first outlet in Asia (Seoul).

Napapijri clothing is of high quality, and this is not an unsubstantiated statement for advertising purposes. During the development phase of each new collection, the company often organizes various expeditions to test technological materials.

Meaning of the name and logo

The name Napapijri means the Arctic Circle in Finnish. The company’s logo is the brand name, with the upper half of the letters painted black and the lower half white, which means the South and North Poles.

The brand name, in addition to the logo, is the flag of Norway – a country with a harsh climate and beautiful landscapes, which gave the world many great travelers and explorers. Many questions arise about the correct pronunciation of the name. Many people mistakenly call it “Napapiji”. However, the correct pronunciation is Napapiri.

Features of the materials used

The brand initially produced convenient, technological and versatile products to make them comfortable both on city streets and on mountain slopes. The company uses the best technologies and innovative materials to create models:

Econyl-recycled nylon, which has all the properties of a primary material. For the first time, the material was used for sewing Scidoo Infinity jackets.

Cordura-water-resistant and durable nylon, created on the basis of twisted threads. Durable and strong material that resists the harshest climatic conditions.

Ze-knit – a knitted fabric with a different stitch pattern. Moreover, the products are obtained one-piece, without a single seam, using digital technologies.

Thermo-fibre is an innovation from VF Corporation. Polyester insulation consisting of air-trapping and light microspheres.

All materials used by the company to create products pass numerous tests for quality, density and strength, weather resistance and other characteristics.

Most popular models

Napapiri from the first day of its existence sought to create functional and fashionable clothing, the technical characteristics of which combined street style with mountain equipment. We can distinguish truly iconic models of Napapijri clothing:

1. The Skidoo anorakhas been one of the most popular models for more than 30 years. The jacket is made of lightweight and durable, water-resistant and windproof fabric that can protect you from any weather conditions.
2. Rainforest jacket. It is much lighter than Skidoo and has a lower degree of protection from low temperatures. The original is made of polyamide fabric, characterized by durability and warmth. Individual variations have been developed, for example, the Rainforest Winter insulated winter down jacket or the Rainforest Team line, made in bright colors.
3. Napa by Martine Rose. A combined collection created in collaboration with Martin Rose. The collection combines oversized silhouettes with high-tech materials, bringing youth style and bright colors to the models. The collaboration continues to exist successfully to this day.
4. Headwear of this brand is represented by an amazing variety. The most famous model is the Napapijri Semiury. This is a classic hat with a pompom and the Norwegian flag, made of acrylic with the addition of wool, viscose and polyamide.