Odlo
Monte Rosa Sports Holding AG · Norway
Odlo is a functional sportswear brand founded in 1946 by the Norwegian Odd Roar Lofterød sen. It is headquartered in Hünenberg, Switzerland, and has been owned by Monte Rosa Sports Holding AG since May 2020.
| Founded | 1946 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Odd Roar Lofterød sen. |
| Owner | Monte Rosa Sports Holding AG (since May 2020) |
| Headquarters | Hünenberg, Switzerland |
| Segment | Sportswear and outdoor |
| Website | odlo.com |
What is Odlo?
Odlo is a functional sportswear brand best known for base layers and underwear for winter, running, cycling and outdoor sport. It was founded in 1946 by the Norwegian Odd Roar Lofterød sen., who led the company until 1979. The operating company, Odlo International AG, was established in 1986 near Zug, Switzerland, and the brand is headquartered in Hünenberg.
History
The company began with women's underwear in 1947 and soon developed a training trouser from Helanca fibres. In 1973 it created the Termic brand, described as the first fully synthetic sports underwear. A 1987 expansion added running, cycling and outdoor clothing, and subsidiaries followed in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and France in 1999. Monte Rosa Sports Holding AG took over the company in May 2020.
Products and positioning
Odlo positions itself in premium technical layering. According to its profile, over 740 people work for the company, and 72 per cent of products are made in Europe and the Middle East, mainly in its own plants in Portugal and Romania, with 28 per cent in Asia.
Odlo and technology
Odlo has a documented record of textile innovation.
- 2002: introduced the Effect by Odlo fibre, with odour-inhibiting silver ions
- 2006: won the MedTec Award with a team for a sensor shirt able to produce an electrocardiogram
- 2008: joined the Fair Wear Foundation
- 2010: won a red dot design award
Why it matters
Odlo is one of the best-known European names in functional underwear and shows how a Norwegian-founded label became a Swiss-based sports group with its own production. Its mix of textile research and in-house manufacturing is unusual in a market that is largely outsourced to Asia.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Odlo?
Odlo has been owned by Monte Rosa Sports Holding AG since May 2020, according to its German Wikipedia entry.
Where is Odlo from?
Odlo was founded in 1946 by the Norwegian Odd Roar Lofterød sen. and is headquartered in Hünenberg, Switzerland.
