Helly Hansen jacket

Helly Hansen is a Norwegian brand founded in 1877 by Captain Helly Juell Hansen, specializing in professional-grade outdoor apparel and workwear. The company is renowned for innovations such as the first supple waterproof fabric, Helox, introduced in 1949, and the development of the three-layer system for outdoor clothing in the 1970s. Over the years, Helly Hansen has been owned by various entities, including Orkla ASA (1995), the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (2012–2018), and Canadian Tire Corporation (2018–2025). In 2025, Kontoor Brands, an American clothing company known for brands like Wrangler and Lee, acquired Helly Hansen for $1.3 billion. Kontoor Brands is headquartered in the United States and operates as the ultimate owner of the Helly Hansen brand.