Icewear story

Icewear

Icewear is a leading Icelandic manufacturer and retailer of wool products, souvenirs, and outdoor gear. Designed to suit the unpredictable weather of the Icelandic climate and unique landscape, everyone should have a chance to enjoy the outdoors by being warm and well. 

Icewear’s story begins in the village of Hvammstangi in North Iceland, as a small wool factory called Drífa. Operating with a staff of 30 people, the company produces woolen sweaters and other garments in traditional Icelandic patterns, selling them to retailers throughout the country. Under the slogan, “be warm be well,” much of the trade in traditional knitwear at this time focuses on the tourist market, through resellers.

A 25-year-old Ágúst Thor Eiríksson, not long out of university, joins the team and becomes the owner of the company. Ágúst, a young and driven businessman, recognizes the value of the particular qualities of Icelandic sheep wool: how their fibers had developed to withstand their harsh environment, providing a natural material that is breathable, lightweight, water repellant.

The name Icewear is chosen to refer to the type of clothing needed to keep safe and warm in Iceland’s unpredictable elements.

Stores

Icewear has been expanding its physical presence in Iceland with the acquisition of the Vík Wool Factory and the opening of a retail story in Mýrdal on Iceland’s renowned South Coast. Through its increased physical presence, Icewear is building stronger ties with local craftspeople, while continuing to provide quality homegrown products to local consumers and tourists alike.

In 2013, Icewear will continue to increase its physical presence with the opening of an outlet store at Fákafen in Reykjavík, where both new and discounted items are available. The opening of Icewear’s sewing factory in Ásbrú, Reykjanesbær facilitates the production of our non-knitted clothing items. Also in 2013, Icewear’s online store will go live, making our outdoor apparel and of course lines of Icelandic, Norwegian, and Nordic knitwear available for purchase and delivery worldwide.

In April 2018, Icewear will demonstrate its resiliency after a fire destroys the main warehouse and headoffice, destroying a large quantity of inventory. Despite this setback, it will achieve higher profits. Continued growth as three new stores opened, one of which is located Iceland’s largest mall, Smáralind. Icewear employes around 200 people at this point, from all over the world. By 2019 Icewear will have more than 14 stores around Iceland, including locations in Akureyri, Smaralind Shopping Center, and the Westman Islands. Its largest locations will be the knitwear production facility in Vík in Myrdalur (south of Iceland) and the 2200-square-metre downtown flagship store, Icewear Magasín, at Laugavegur 91.

Clothing

Icewear has a long tradition of producing wool clothing, starting out as a little wool knitting factory in the early 1970´s. The traditional way of working with yarn gave them great knowledge of Norwegian-style, Scandinavian and in general, Nordic compositions. Nordic designed pullovers and blankets with authentic patterns have a big place in Icelandic culture. Everybody owns a hand knitted "lopapeysa" or at least warm woolen socks, gloves, hats or other winter accessories. Icelandic sheep provide this beautiful wool which has natural color variations and originally two types of fur; "tog" and "þel" which makes the wool fiber naturally water resistant and warm. These dual layers, when combined in knitted clothing and with great Icelandic heritage, provide the same kind of protection for the human body, even in rain or snow. Free roaming sheep came with the first settlers of Iceland, the vikings, and the wool has not changed a bit.

Icewear continues to use these classical Scandinavian patterns to create traditional Icelandic clothing, and has established itself as a true Icelandic outdoor clothing brand. The clothing is sown, knitted or crocheted with spun or unspun yarn for extra thickness. After all these years, Icewear now owns more than 30 stores. Icewear taps into the harsh Icelandic climate which calls for wind and water resistant outerwear. Hanging onto the arctic circle, the weather conditions on the island can be rough. Icelandic men, women and children choose authentic wool clothing with traditional designs to keep themselves warm. Combining a winter jumper with outdoor apparel such as a wind jacket or even a parka, and you´ll be warm in Reykjavik. When going to the countryside of Iceland, you might want to buy online wool outdoor clothes from Icewear.