For 125 years, Helly Hansen has been at the forefront of product development and innovation. Since 1877, when the sea captain Helly Juell Hansen made his first "oilskin" waterproof jacket, the company has pushed the boundaries of fabric technology. Trust, protection and quality were the watchwords...the rest, as they say, is history.

Helly Juell Hansen had been at sea since the age of 15. At his age of 35 he was a respected captain, and he knew how it felt to be soaked to the skin, to be cold and miserable. He'd had enough—warmth for the workers was on the way. Helly and his wife Maren Magrethe gathered a stock of coarse linen and linseed oil. They designed and sewed jackets, trousers, and souwester hats for ocean use, then Helly applied oil to the garments and dried them before an open fire.

Helly Hansen's waterproofs were a great success. In their first year of production, they manufactured and sold 2000 items, from clothes to taupaulins. Within 5 years, the sales rose to 10,000 items. Helly Hansen company was born.

The business was officially formed in 1877. Helly Hansen was on the map, but his enquiring mind continually sought to diversify. He knew that the principle of lightweight waterproof fabrics must have multiple applications. The concept of supplying high quality, well priced clothing for outdoors use had become a triumph, and is what drove the company from being the innovator, to being the technological leader it is today.

Helly Hansen now produce a range of Corporate Workwear for the image conscious worker, we detail some of the most popular lines within the range.