Apr 25: 66 North

66 North is the Arctic Circle. There is a marker which shows its location in those countries through which it passes.
One of the well known companies in Iceland is 66 North. They have a number of shops including a large one in Keflavik airport.

Clothing and other accessories are sold by this company, and their advertising is very much linked to the landscape and weather of Iceland.

I own several items of 66 North clothing, and my blue Esja jacket (pictured here) is probably one of the things I have worn the most since I bought it about 7 years ago, and it still looks great and is very comfortable. Sadly it is no longer available, so would be good to see it back in stock.

66 North is one of the iconic brands from Iceland. It offers 'everyday technical wear' and it's certainly better than most clothing manufacturers in terms of quality. The company was founded in 1926.

It was founded in 1926 by Hans Kristjánsson with the purpose of making protective clothing for Icelandic fishermen and workers braving the North Atlantic elements. Hans Kristjansson lived in Suðureyri in Súgandafjörður in Westfjords of Iceland where weather conditions were very harsh and suitable clothing was simply a matter of life and death for Icelandic fishermen.

Hans was passionate about creating garments that would hold up to the harsh conditions fishermen faced while trolling the seas of Iceland so he moved to Norway to learn how to tailor and sew fishermen‘s clothing. When Hans moved back to Suðureyri he founded Sjóklæðagerð Íslands (Fishermen‘s clothing factory of Iceland) now better known as 66°North.

66°North derives its name from the latitudinal line of the Arctic Circle which touches Súgandafjörður where the company was founded in 1926.