Alexander Helle, founder of the new rainwear fashion label Norwegian Rain, was very close to a great idea, too close it seems, because in order to grasp it he had to move 1600 kilometers south of his hometown Bergen – the rainiest city in Europe and the perfect place to create a new collection of rainwear – to the centre of the Italian fashion world, Milan. But Alexander Helle isn’t a fashion designer, he majored in economics, and it was during the

tail end of his tenure at the University of Bergen, whilst living in a creative collective in Milan, that he came up with idea of a fashion label specializing in rainwear, with absolutely no clue about how fashion design works.

Once back in Norway, he packed his ideas and sketches and went straight to the renowned, bespoke men’s tailor, T-Michael, and in so doing so encountered his first problem – T-Michaels considered his idea pure crap. But as they say, if at first you don’t succeed, pray for rain. And rain it did. The more the two met, the more it rained. And the more it rained, the more T. Michael became convinced that the world, and he himself, was ready for a new rainwear fashion label. Today the two men are partners and a new label has emerged from rainy skies of Bergen.

The jackets and coats of the new label are extremely well finished, with an astounding attention to detail. Produced in collaboration with an eco conscious Japanese fabric supplier, utilizing a new material that is 100% waterproof, yet has no resemblance to High-tech outdoor rainwear, and is produced with 80% less CO2 emissions compared to normal fabric productions. The perfect clothing for all those who wish to stay dry without looking like the participants of an expedition.
We’d like to thank Bergen and the rain, and tip our hats to Alexander Helle’s love for his idea, T-Michael’s vision and to their crew. And in so doing, we say good-bye Jack, Fjäll and Co. For those who can’t make the trip to Bergen, you can marvel the noble goods at www.norwegianrain.no

We met and interviewed Alexander Helle in Bergen and the photographer Kipling Phillips created a series of pictures, inspired from the quality of the label and the pervasive rain of the city. Here comes the rain. Enjoy!

ABOUT — Who are the people behind Norwegian Rain?

A — When did the company start?

ALEXANDER HELLE — T-Michael, a Ghanaian-born bespoke tailor/designer with London background, who has been running his own tailoring studio in Bergen for 13 years. Grandpeople- A distinctive graphic design studio in Bergen working for clients like Nike as well as small, independent record labels. Myself as the creative director/ manager and valuable contribution from local creatives and enthusiasts. Including a photographer, a writer, a web-developer, a consultant, a mum, a dad and everything in between. All rain-drenched people of Bergen.

AH — Being wet 2 out of 3 days in 28 years makes you wanna be dry. But I'm not sure in which of the 6050 days of rain the idea was actually born. During a sojourn in Milan, I decided to go for it- living in a creative collective that kicked the artistic urge back to the surface. Back in Bergen I spent 3 years of learning the concept of rainwear, after a master in economy, while simultaneously seeking out the most dedicated and skillful local people which now form norwegian rain.

A — Who are your customers?

AH — In the (temporary) guerilla shop in Bergen where we are– launched the brand in september we had a 20 year old hipster trying the same coat as a 90 year old charmer, right next to each other. That was a nice moment as it incorporates all we have been trying to make.ted and skillful local people which now form norwegian rain.

AH — We have free global shipping from our webshop. If you want to come visit us, you'll find us in T-Michael's two stores in Bergen and Oslo. Slowly we will increase our presence globally in shops that awake enthusiasm and if you're lucky we will pop-up with a guerilla shop near you... Keep your eyes open!

A — Where to buy your clothes?