Helly Hansen
Kontoor Brands · Norway
Helly Hansen is a Norwegian brand for sailing, skiing, outdoor and professional workwear, founded in 1877 by Helly Juell Hansen and headquartered in Oslo. In June 2025 it was acquired by Kontoor Brands, the US owner of Wrangler and Lee, for about 1.3 billion US dollars.
| Founded | 1877, Moss, Norway |
|---|---|
| Founder | Helly Juell Hansen |
| Owner | Kontoor Brands (since June 2025) |
| Previous owner | Canadian Tire (2018 to 2025) |
| Headquarters | Oslo, Norway |
| Segment | Sailing, ski, outdoor and workwear apparel |
| Website | hellyhansen.com |
What is Helly Hansen?
Helly Hansen designs technical clothing for sailing, skiing, mountain sports and work. Headquartered in Oslo, the brand is used by professionals at sea and in mountains as well as by leisure consumers. It is now part of Kontoor Brands, which describes its portfolio as Wrangler, Lee and Helly Hansen.
History
Helly Juell Hansen and his wife Maren Margarethe began making oilskin jackets in Moss, Norway, in 1877, and the company was exporting from 1878. Over the twentieth century it developed materials including Plarex for workwear and Fibrepile and LIFA for base layers and insulation. The company passed through several owners:
- Orkla, which sold stakes from 1995
- Investcorp from 1997
- Altor Equity Partners from 2006
- Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan from 2012
- Canadian Tire from 2018
- Kontoor Brands since June 2025
Products and positioning
Helly Hansen sits in the premium segment. Its range spans sailing and ski apparel, outdoor jackets and base layers, survival and rescue equipment, and industrial workwear sold under the Helly Hansen Workwear name. The professional business gives the brand technical credibility that supports its consumer lines.
Business model and distribution
The brand sells through sporting goods chains, specialist sailing, ski and outdoor shops, workwear distributors, its own stores and e-commerce. Under Kontoor, Helly Hansen is treated as a growth platform with its own long-term strategy and 2030 financial targets, announced in Oslo. Kontoor reported that Helly Hansen contributed 114 million US dollars in revenue in the second quarter of 2026.
Why it matters
The acquisition by Kontoor marked a denim group's move into technical outdoor apparel, signalling how mature jeanswear companies are diversifying into faster-growing categories. Helly Hansen also illustrates the value of a combined consumer and professional business model, where workwear provides stable demand and product testing for leisure collections.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Helly Hansen?
Helly Hansen is owned by Kontoor Brands, the US company behind Wrangler and Lee. Kontoor completed the acquisition from Canadian Tire in June 2025 in a deal valued at about 1.3 billion US dollars.
Where is Helly Hansen from?
Helly Hansen is Norwegian. It was founded in Moss in 1877 by Helly Juell Hansen and is now headquartered in Oslo.