Made in Norway Guide | Scan Magazine | Issue 45 | October 2012

PROMOTING BRAND SCANDINAVIA

OCTOBER 2012

Made in Norway A GUIDE BY SCAN MAGAZINE

Scan Magazine | Made in Norway

MADE IN NORWAY

Photo: Alf Børjesson, Norwegian Seafood Council.

Welcome to our guide introducing a wide selection of products and services "Made in Norway". From clothing brands to architecture offices, we have included some of the most innovative and exciting Norwegian companies out there today. Please read on to find out more about what Norway really has to offer.

Nia Kajastie Editor

Published by Scan Magazine Ltd Insert to Scan Magazine, Issue 45, October 2012 Published on 02.10.2012 Executive Editor: Thomas Winther Creative Director: Mads E. Petersen Editor: Nia Kajastie Copy Editor: Mark Rogers Sales and Key Accounts Manager: Mette Tonnessen Scan Magazine Limited 4 Baden Place, Crosby Row, London SE1 1YW United Kingdom Phone +44 (0)870 933 0423 info@scanmagazine.co.uk www.scanmagazine.co.uk © All rights reserved. Material contained in this publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without prior permission of Scan Magazine Ltd.

Scan Magazine® is a registered trademark of Scan Magazine Ltd. This guide contains advertorials/ promotional articles.

SCAN M A G A Z I N E

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Gateway to the Norwegian Export Market Norwegian companies have a reputation as world-class leaders in various sectors, and it is therefore important to improve their visibility in the international market. Navigating through the amount of information online often seems like an overwhelming task, and the effort that is needed to stand out might seem daunting.

By Jørgen Fodstad, Director Nortrade and Norway Exports

To simplify this task, nortrade.com gives you Norway’s most complete overview of exporting companies. The site provides you with a comprehensive overview of news, articles and key organizational links, making your search for information easier when looking to do business with Norway.

Powered by nature Norway, a nation powered by nature, has significant natural resource wealth and an ancient coastal culture. Having steered clear from the financial turmoil the rest of Europe has experienced, international trade is continuing to generate high levels of well-being and social cohesion.

Despite the existing hindrances in the global market, Norwegian export companies have an amazing way of readjusting and adapting to opportunities in new emerging markets. The publication series Norway Exports is distributed to important meeting places for international trade, such as embassies, international exhibitions and chambers of commerce.

Reducing the costs of accessing these networks allows improved visibility for a wide range of Norwegian companies globally.

As a country with an open economy, located at the “top of the world”, our prosperity and high level of employment are dependent on trade with other countries. International trade accounts for approximately 37% of Norway’s GDP, and Norway is among the world’s top five exporters within seafood, offshore technology and maritime services.

Given that the Norwegian coast serves the global market 33 million seafood dinners daily, it is a good example of how much Norwegian quality is sought after.

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Randaberg Church function hall

Reputable restorations and innovative creations With his passion for building restoration combined with his desire to innovate, Ole Serinius Trodahl and his firm have become a respected and recognised part of the architectural scene in Norway.

By Magnus Nygren Syversen | Photos: Trodahl Arkitekter

Trodahl Arkitekter is an architectural firm based in Sandnes, on the west coast of Norway. The area is dominated by traditional Norwegian wooden houses and features a plethora of building styles – from romantic baroque and rococo, to classicism, to the empiric and funkis (functionalism) styles. Ole Serinius Trodahl’s firm is known for its work in building restoration,

rehabilitating old culturally significant buildings, and the architects have received several local awards for their work.

“We do a lot of rehabilitation of houses in the empiric and funkis styles, as well as houses built in the 1950s,” says Trodahl. He explains that a lot of his projects relate to combining restoration with building extensions to older

houses that may have lost some of their original style. “Our job is often to restore the main house to its original style, and then add a modern extension.” Trodahl says it is a pivotal skill within his field to know how to make these modern extensions work in harmony with the original houses.

Trodahl founded his firm in 2001, after having spent the last 10 years of his career working for the Rogaland County Council. “Working for the county council gave me the opportunity to develop my knowledge on the legislation surrounding building restoration, and I also got to work with the Directorate for Cultural Heritage,” he says.

Buildings old and new Trodahl’s firm has had a steady, positive development since its inception eleven

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years ago. “We’ve become more and more professional as we’ve developed,” says Trodahl. He currently has seven employees working for him, most of them young and ambitious architects. “It is important for me to work with younger people because it gives the firm and our ideas more diversity,” says Trodahl. To widen this diversity even further, he often brings in his two sons, both of whom are architects as well, to discuss his projects.

Despite his passion for building restoration, Trodahl is quick to point out the versatility of his firm.

Trodahl Arkitekter works on a lot of new projects in addition to restorations, and the firm has designed everything from houses, to hotels, to schools and even a function hall for the church in the nearby municipality of Randaberg.

This project has been named “Flygelet” (translated: “The Grand Piano”), and the building has a modern look that both contrasts and complements the existing church.

From top to bottom: Left: Køhler Pavillion post-restoration. Photo: Rasmus Nolander. Right: Køhler Pavillion pre-restorations.

Left: Arkjå post-restoration. Right: Arkjå pre-restoration.

Left: Røldal Pilgrimage Center interior. Right: Røldal Pilgrimage Center exterior.

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Trodahl is well versed in designing buildings for a broad spectrum of environments. In cooperation with Studio Ludo Arkitekter, his firm designed a school on Utsira, a small island over ten miles off the coast of the Norwegian mainland, and Norway’s smallest municipality with a population of only 215. This building was designed to blend with the surroundings and mixes modern design with a traditional Norwegian style – right down to the old-fashioned peat roof. On the other side of Trodahl’s spectrum we find an urban hotel

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Clockwise: Kronen Farms apartments; House at Ims; Utsira School

project smack in the middle of Sandnes city centre.

Urban development In addition to his firm’s architectural projects, Trodahl has gained some recognition for his concept development skills.

Sandnes is one of the fastest growing towns in Norway, and the geography and landscape make for a challenging job for architects and urban planners with a lack

of areas suitable for construction.

Amongst other things, Trodahl has proposed an idea for a large-scale development project for new housing along the Gandsfjord. His vision for the area includes the use of water buses rather than building new road connections.

to this, Trodahl took the initiative to create Norwegian Wood, an architectural competition where new and innovative wooden architecture was the focus. The project ran for four years, and around 140 architectural teams from all over the world applied to join the competition.

In 2008, Sandnes’ slightly larger neighbour Stavanger was named a designated European Capital of Culture. Leading up

Although Trodahl did not enter the Norwegian Wood competition himself, his company has had success in other architectural competitions. “We were awarded second place in a competition to design the new Pilgrimage Center in Røldal, only beaten by another Norwegian firm, Lund and Slaatto, in a competition where over 200 teams participated.”

Although content with his current market in Norway, Trodahl is always open to making connections across the borders. “I hope my story can be that of an interesting Norwegian architectural firm, and a story that opens people’s eyes to Norwegian architecture.”

For further information, please visit: www.troark.no Interior view and floor plan of a house in Stavanger.

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A successful business born out of practical thinking Being a mother of five is by all accounts pretty much a full-time job. Yet Therese Wigstrand, the brains behind innovative children’s clothing label Tiljamid and mother of five children aged between two to twelve, has also found the time to become a successful business owner.

By Karin Modig | Photos: Turid Soldal

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The bright, colourful designs are all Wigstrand’s own work, a job she relishes as she can really put her own stamp on and personality in her clothes.

Today, just around two years after she started, Wigstrand runs a small Tiljamid shop in Voss, where she lives, and around 30 Norwegian and international shops and online retailers stock her clothes.

“I realised that there was a huge gap in the market for clothes that would fit children for more than a couple of months,” says the entrepreneur. She decided to try and make some, and shortly after the birth of her youngest, her label Tiljamid was born. Through niftily placed buttons and clever handiwork, one Tiljamid outfit is three sizes in one.

Even more unusual, the clothes are all made from bamboo. “Bamboo grows extremely quickly without the need for pesticides, making it environmentally friendly,” she says. “It also shares many of the same qualities as wool and silk, keeping you warm when it is cold and having a cooling effect when it is warm.”

Herself a qualified nursery school

her degree, sewing was always more of a hobby than anything else. “My mum really supported me when I decided to take the step and make my idea into a business, and her backing and belief in my vision meant a great deal,” she says.

A new collection is due early next year, and having so far concentrated mainly on one-pieces, jumpers and trousers, both swimwear and accessories may well be added to the new line.

Therese Wigstrand. Photo: Karina Tesaker

teacher, Wigstrand’s mum was a seamstress, so she grew up around scissors and fabric. Although it did form part of

For further information and the online shop, please visit: www.tiljamid.no Facebook: Tiljamid Design

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A family business at the heart of traditional Norwegian knitwear iiS finds their inspiration in tradition. Tradition based on Norwegian culture, nature and design, spiced with current fashion and trends, resulting in the ultimate knitted garments.

By Didrik Ottesen | Photos: iiS

The family business - run by Olaug Vesteheim Seland and her daughter Siv Elise Seland – combines Norwegian history and nature when they design their remarkable knitted women and children’s clothing.

“The essence throughout the design is a synthesis of retro knitwear inspired by the Norwegian Lusekofte, which is an institutional item of clothing in this country, and adding to that some global influences,” Siv Elise Seland says.

“Naturally the design has progressed and developed since the first collection was made, but the foundation of the Norwegian tradition and history is mirrored throughout, and it is still based on the Lusekofte, which we all have an affiliation with,” she says.

After completing her design degree in Denmark and Milano, Siv Elise Seland decided to return to Norway and the family

company. Working with knitwear, which was her area of experience and expertise, seemed both liberating and logical.

“The combination is to gather what is fashionable and trendy art and then blend this with the Norwegian foundation we have. But most important of all is that I want women to feel beautiful and comfortable wearing my designs,” she says.

“Originally I wanted to work within an area in which I had experience, which was knitting, and to use our old knitting traditions by adding something new and fresh seemed as exciting an idea as it was natural,” she explains.

“The essence of the design lies in the Nordic light, the endless summer nights and the struggling of the dark winter melancholy,” Seland says.

The products have been carefully designed, normally following an inspirational journey. “I customarily go on a journey prior to starting a new collection. I travel to a large city to get inspiration from art, design, exhibitions and different impulses, and then I try to bring as much of that as I can home with me,” she says.

For further information, please visit: www.iisofnorway.com

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own nature and culture.” From presenting their very first collection in 2007, the rise of Wik & Walsøe has been meteoric. “I think the timing was very good. Norwegian design is in such high demand, people are asking for local design on a completely different scale than just a few years ago,” says Wik about the contributing factors to their success. “Oh, and Alv.” “Alv” means the angel of the forest in Norwegian and is the name of Wik & Walsøe's very first collection of crockery. The simple lines of the light and elegant porcelain pieces paired with the intricate design in subtle shades of grey made Alv instantaneously popular. “Visuality and eye-catching design were our keywords, and we wanted something immediately recognizable in a world that is inundated with information.” With the keywords in place, where did the inspiration for the instantly successful design come from?

“The angel of the forest makes the impossible possible, and I guess in a way that is what Linda and I were trying to do – the impossible. She (the angel) has been so good to us, good as gold, actually,” Wik laughs. “That is why we have launched a five year anniversary remake of the traditional design rendering her in gold.”

Alv series

A fairy tale in crockery Once upon a time there were two Norwegian designers who cared about dreams, visions and Scandinavian heritage. They left their jobs in the design industry to come up with a new Norwegian brand that would embrace everything they loved about Nordic culture. The year after, their first collection of crockery was born and was an instant success. Five years later, the women behind Wik & Walsøe have been crowned the “queens of crockery” and don't appear to be stepping down any time soon.

By Hannah Gillow Kloster | Photos: Wik & Walsøe

When asked about what triggered herself and her co-founder Linda Svedal Walsøe to leave their established jobs to start up

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by themselves, Ragnhild Wik's answer is immediate: “The desire to build a Norwegian brand fundamentally rooted in our

The designers' fairy tale inspiration is not limited to the best-selling Alv series. The new series “Alveskog” features the red deer – a creature surrounded by myths in Scandinavian folklore. “Just like the angel of the forest, the red deer stands for the mythical part of our heritage,” Wik explains, revealing that she and Walsøe find a never-ending source of inspiration in the traditional Norwegian storybook. “The phenomena and myths of Nordic folklore are so fascinating – even if one doesn't necessarily believe in the magic behind it, it is still a powerful part of our culture.”

Another key source of inspiration to the Esmod-educated duo is the wonders of Scandinavian nature. “One day Linda was out running, and she stumbled across a log covered in beetle tracks. She came back fascinated at the intricate beauty of these tracks, and I told her to run right back out and document it,” Wik tells of the

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birth of one of their later series, Leve. The series reflects the trademark Wik & Walsøe lightness and transparency whilst keeping the organic background of its inspiration. “In nature we find imperfect perfection,” Wik states, simply.

Wik & Walsøe were chosen to participate in 100% Norway, the fair that is part of the annual London Design Festival, already in their very first year of existence. They have since been invited to return to the curated event every year and, at the time of writing, were very much looking forward to presenting their new collections in September. “It is so exciting to be in a setting with all this great design and such a great opportunity,” exclaims Wik. Their efforts to bring Norwegian design to the world have not gone unnoticed, with mentions in The Times Magazine and Wallpaper. Wik & Walsøe were also named a Gazelle Company by Norway's leading financial newspaper in 2011, due to the stability and growth they have experienced ever since they started up.

Five years from their starting point, Wik & Walsøe's crockery is being sold all over Norway, as well as in Japan, the United States and Germany (to mention a few).

Celebrating their fifth anniversary with several new launches in addition to the jubilee version of Alv, there can be no doubt that the fairy-tale adventure of the design duo has only just begun.

Alveskog series

Wik & Walsøe can be purchased at Heal's in London.

For further information, please visit: www.wik-walsoe.no

Leve bowls

Leve vase

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The woolly path to success The story of the Lillelam clothing brand is a success story about two determined mothers who turned a great idea into a successful business.

By Magnus Nygren Syversen | Photos: Lillelam

Lillelam’s story started when two mothers noticed a surprising gap in the clothing market. Despite living in a country where temperatures often drop below -20°C during the winter months, Katja Marty Bye and Pernille Sandahl found it an impossible challenge to find soft, warm clothes for their newborn children to feel comfortable in. Today, they own a successful clothing brand, distributing clothes to 140 retailers spread across Norway as well as a selection of stores in Finland, Germany and Switzerland.

Determined to fill that gap the two industrious women sat down and formed a business plan, a plan that would result in the founding of Lillelam two years later.

“We started without anything really. It was just a mother’s idea,” says Bye. The two

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founders spent two whole years planning and constructing a strong and healthy business plan, before launching their company in 2004. Since then the company has grown organically from year to year, and last year, the company had a turnover of approximately 6.3 million Norwegian kroner, or approximately £680,000.

“We are not in this business to realise a dream to become designers. We’re offering something we want ourselves, and work with our customers to constantly better our clothes,” says Sandahl.

Lillelam has become a recognised brand in Norway and offers both a winter and a summer collection. The brand is also split into a casual wear clothing line and a more formal clothing line.

A quality commodity

Pernille Sandahl and Katja Marty Bye

“Quality” and “eco-friendly” have been keywords for Bye and Sandahl since day

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one, and their products are held to high standards in all aspects of production.

Designed in Norway, the clothes use only the finest Merino wool imported from the best Italian wool traders, and are produced at selected factories in Poland and Portugal.

“In Norway there is a tradition for much coarser woollen fabrics, so we have taken our inspiration in regard to both the look and feel of our clothes from more southern countries such as France and Spain,” says Bye. This inspiration has resulted in designs that break away from traditional Scandinavian patterns.

Merino wool is a somewhat expensive and luxurious commodity, and with their target audience being growing children, ages 0 to 10, it was important for Bye and Sandahl that customers got their money’s worth. That is why Lillelam has focused on functional solutions for children to be able to grow in their clothes, and many of their products have folds which make for easy adjustments as the child grows.

show that babies sleep better in Merino wool and that the rate of weight gain in underweight and prematurely born newborns is as much as 61% higher when sleeping on Merino wool compared to a cotton sheet.

“This usefulness is exciting to us and offers many possibilities for future focus areas,” says Sandahl. She also points out that Lillelam has a wide selection of clothes for premature newborns.

Due to the quality of their clothing, Lillelam has been made a brand partner of the Woolmark Company, and having con-

quered Norway, the two founders are now looking outside the Norwegian borders.

“There aren’t that many companies in the world whose primary focus is high-quality Merino wool clothing for children,” says Sandahl. “We are at a point now where we feel like we have a solid enough foundation in Norway that it is time for us to expand into new areas.”

First on the list are Finland and the United States, and the two entrepreneurs are in the process of striking an agreement with a California-based distributor. And while the United States provides a great opportunity for the two, they confirm that they also have their eyes set on the UK, as well as Germany and the alpine countries in Central Europe.

For further information, please visit: www.lillelam.no

Looking beyond the borders Merino wool is soft but highly durable.

The fabric breathes and as such it keeps a child warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Bye and Sandahl point to studies made by the Woolmark Company’s “Mothers and Babies” programme, which

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Children’s clothing inspired by fairy tale mysticism

self but often works closely with other Scandinavian designers.

“I try to make clothes that are unique and a bit different, but at the same time, very Norwegian,” she says. “The range we do includes mostly standard pieces, but with a bit of a twist. Our clothes are distinctive and are often used to add that little bit of ‘spice’ to an outfit.”

Taking inspiration from nature, Norwegian culture and her grandmother’s era, Elisabeth Grønning Rognmo is taking the world of children’s clothing by storm with her Jumina brand. The clothes are made entirely from natural materials and organic fairtrade certified cotton and have a touch of fairy tale magic to them.

By Karin Modig | Photos: Jan Kraft

The company still consists of just Rognmo and her husband, but it has grown through establishing relationships with agents and shops in several countries. Innovation Norway has also provided invaluable support.

”We started Jumina in 2007, following our move from Stavanger to Hamar,” says Rognmo. “I have always had an entrepreneur in me, so it seemed a good time to give an ultimatum to my husband as we moved because of his work.”

A little bit of spice Rognmo works from her shop, Gallery Straw, close to Hamar in a building made from straw bales and clay that is as environmentally friendly and sustainable as the clothes. She designs all the items her-

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“It has been a steep learning curve, but I am very happy with what we have achieved so far,” says Rognmo. “Apart from expanding our sales to more countries, I would love to open a Jumina concept store in the future.”

Jumina showroom . Photo: Jumina

With three young daughters and an education in dress and costume making, it seemed natural that her business would be a children’s clothing one. Run by her and her husband, they started targeting the international market in 2010. They now have customers both in Europe and Asia and are aiming for the US market next.

The Jumina ranges have sizes from ages 2 to 10 and are made to grow with the child, allowing for a longer life of the clothes.

For further information or to order online, please visit: www.jumina.no Facebook: Jumina – a Norwegian fairytale Twitter: @juminaofNorway

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Chill living with ChillNorway “The important thing is to have a little vacation time every day,” said Thomas Houge in a newspaper interview last year. This mentality is the cornerstone of successful Norwegian clothing brand ChillNorway.

By Magnus Nygren Syversen | Photos: Patrick Katzma

“We want to promote the values of ‘chill living’ and a relaxed lifestyle,” says Houge.

He is part of the trio behind ChillNorway, along with his wife Line Gaarud Houge and her sister Nanna Gaarud. With its line

of fashionable but comfortable clothing for girls and women, their brand has become a household name in Norway, and their clothing line is currently represented in ten countries worldwide.

“We use natural materials to design comfortable clothes for those times when our customers just relax and enjoy themselves,” says founder and designer Line Gaarud Houge. Despite perhaps developing a rougher, trendier style through the years, ChillNorway’s concept is the same now as it was when the two sisters, Line and Nanna, started designing a line of casual after-ski wear back in 2004.

Nanna, Line and Thomas

For the first few years, the trio was working out of their own kitchen, using the basement as storage and

the sisters’ father as accountant. “In 2007, we started to make sporty, relaxing tunics, and before we knew it, our clothes were being sold in two or three fashion outlets. Since then things have just snowballed,” says Houge.

ChillNoway’s growth exploded in 2009. In just two years, the company went from a turnover of approximately £184,000 to a whopping £4.4 million, and in 2011, they received the Gazelle Award – a prestigious award in the Norwegian business world that is awarded only to companies with exceptional growth and financial stability.

“It has been great fun, but the growth has taken its toll. We are still a small family business and have to build our company step by step and try to control our growth,” says Houge. Despite being content as a small business, Houge admits that they are playing around with the thought of stepping it up a notch or two. “But in order to do so we need to find a partner with the right resources,” he says invitingly.

For further information, please visit: www.chillnorway.com

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Margunn and Ingar Eide

From Mongolia with slippers When Ingar Eide and his family moved to Mongolia in 2002, they did so to participate in a development project to teach locals how to make felted wool products. Ten years later, their successful slipper company Tova has contributed to giving hundreds of Mongolians a new life.

they took part in a programme teaching locals how to felt wool and make it into a sellable commodity.

By Magnus Nygren Syversen | Photos: Salt studio/E. Rundtom

When the Eide family returned to Norway in 2004, they were determined to continue their work in Mongolia. To do so, they created Tova AS, a company that produces and sells felted slippers on the Norwegian market. In 2012, Tova is a commercial success and puts food on the table for hundreds of Mongolian families through its manufacturing company, Timeless, in Darkhan.

In 2002, a small family from Sunnmøre, on the west coast of Norway, made the big decision to move to the city of Darkhan, a city plagued by alcoholism and unemployment, in one of the poorest countries in the world. Ingar Eide and his family relocated to northern Mongolia to participate in relief work for a society that was still trembling from the fall of the Soviet Union, and through the development aid organisation Norad (The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation),

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“Shoes for life” “Tova is a commercial enterprise and not relief work. We have tried to push this

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thought of ‘helping’ to the side and instead make it into a professional business,” says Ingar Eide. He explains that this is to give their workers in Darhkan their self-worth back – by being working men and women, rather than receivers of charity.

large financial and social gaps,” explains Eide. Tova’s manufacturing company currently have 60 permanent employees in Darkhan, and, freelancers included, Tova has about a hundred people working for them on a daily basis.

“But at the same time we’re not able to put the thought of helping completely away,” admits the businessman. In wintertime, Tova still helps the nomadic sheep farmers that produce wool for their manufacturer by providing them with supplies to survive the harsh Mongolian winter.

Tova’s slogan is “Shoes for life”, and the company has been a member of Initiativ for etisk handel (translated: Initiative for Ethical Trade) – an organisation that works to promote trade in which human and labour rights are protected, and where employees have a safe and good work environment – since 2008. As a part of this initiative, Tova’s employees receive two meals a day while at work, and every employee has social insurance.

The legal minimum wage in Mongolia is as little as approximately £100 a month, but producers working for Eide receive between two to three times that amount.

“If we paid our workers anything more than that, the wages would be too high compared to others in the same area. We want to contribute in developing a strengthened society, rather than creating

his home country when the time is right.

“Since we are still a fairly new organisation, we have chosen to keep our focus here at home, and we have become relatively large in this market,” he says. “But we have always thought that this is a product that belongs in other countries as well.”

For the moment, Eide is in no rush to expand across the borders as widespread distribution and a couple of lucrative deals have given Tova a strong foothold in the Norwegian market. One such deal is with Norwegian state television channel NRK, which produces a yearly advent calendar show for children based on traditional Norwegian folklore. For the last five years, including this coming Christmas, Tova has been creating spinoff products for these shows.

Norwegian product Despite being manufactured in Mongolia, Tova’s felted slippers are very much a Norwegian product, made according to an old Norwegian concept and using traditional Norwegian designs. “We use Mongolian labour based on a primordial Mongolian technique, but the Norwegian backdrop to all of this is very important to us,” explains Eide. All of Tova’s slippers are handmade, have suede soles and are made with 100% Merino wool.

Tova’s products are currently distributed and sold all across Norway, and Eide does not rule out moving outside the borders of

As a leading player in its niche market, Tova is a company on the up, and Eide has seen a very positive development in the last year. “We have been fortunate enough to work with Norwegian designer Tore Håvold, who has given our products a much more refined expression,” he says.

“This has given us a major boost, and we are happy to have him with us going forward.”

For further information, please visit: www.tova.no

Photo: Jon Hals

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Weathering the storm in a fashionable way Fashion is challenging the norms. For designer Lisbeth Lillebøe this meant challenging the generally accepted notion that rainy days are grey and boring. Thus she came up with Blæst ByLillebøe, a range of vibrant and colourful rainwear designed to make women feel good no matter how wet and windy the weather might be.

By Magnus Nygren Syversen | Photos: Øystein Klagegg

Having lived her entire life in Bergen, a city famous for its rainy weather, deciding on designing rainwear must have felt like going back to her roots for Lisbeth Lillebøe.

Surrounded by seven mountains, the coastal city of Bergen has on average over 200 days of rain each year. For the people living there, the unforgiving weather is a natural part of everyday life, and so Bergen’s citizens embrace the old saying: “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.”

Lillebøe took it one step further. She threw out the old ideas of dull and shapeless raincoats, and with the weather as her muse, she set out to create a range of rainwear designed to make women feel good, no matter the weather conditions.

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She wanted to bring colour into the grey and dull scenery surrounding her on rainy days and design raincoats that make women look great, as well as keeping them dry. And so Blæst ByLillebøe was born.

“She wanted to create a fashionable raincoat that you can still wear when the clouds start to break up and the sun starts shining through,” says Anne Gro Starefoss Greve, general manager at ByLillebøe.

Growing popularity Since the start-up in 2005, Blæst ByLillebøe has gone from strength to strength, with interest in their creations growing every day. Lillebøe was given an Award for Good Design by the Norwegian Design Council for her raincoats, and by 2009, the company had grown so much that she decided to bring in a partner. That partner is Anne Gro Starefoss Greve, whose job it is to handle the business side of things, leaving Lillebøe to focus on what she does best – creating new and exciting designs.

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Today Blæst ByLillebøe is a household name in Norway, and their rainwear ranges are sold through distributors in 140 stores across Norway and in 15 countries worldwide – from their close neighbours in Denmark to distant retailers in Australia, on the other side of the planet.

Blæst’s success is based on the ingenuity in Lillebøe’s design combined with the quality of the fabrics used in the production. “All the raincoats are 100% windand waterproof. Pockets, collars and hoods are lined with soft fleece, and all the seams are sealed, making the garments very comfortable to wear,” says Starefoss Greve.

As the brand expands, more elements have been introduced to compliment the clothing line. In addition to raincoats, the Blæst ByLillebøe range today includes accessories such as rubber boots and umbrellas. In wintertime there is a collection of knitwear, and in springtime the cotton collection comes rolling into the stores.

“We also offer a couple of models aimed at the plus size market, custom-fitted for our larger customers,” adds Starefoss Greve. There is a small selection of men’s raincoats as well, but Blæst is first and

foremost a brand designed by and for women.

Shanghai connection The women behind Blæst ByLillebøe are always on the lookout for an opportunity to expand, so when the opportunity came along to launch their brand at a fashion market in Shanghai, there was little hesitation on their part.

As we move closer to the end of the year, Shanghai will experience increasingly wet weather, which could provide the perfect opportunity for Blæst to swoop in, gain popularity and fight their way into the Asian fashion market.

“We have a considerable foothold in Europe now, in countries such as Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany and Ireland,” says Starefoss Greve. “But there is an enormous potential for us in a new market if we become a hit in Shanghai.”

Despite having ventured across borders before and distributing their product in several countries across the globe, this marks the first grand scale bid by Blæst ByLillebøe to break into a foreign market.

The coats will be sold through local suppliers, but Lillebøe and Starefoss Greve have made a conscious choice to keep the very distinct Norwegian name as they aim to make their mark on the Asian market.

“We believe it gives our brand that extra little bit of character,” says Starefoss Greve.

For further information, please visit: www.bylilleboe.no

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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Norway

Rockheim in Trondheim, a national centre for pop and rock music, incorporating exhibitions, a stage and much more.

Architecture the sustainable way Architects Pir II have been making waves in the industry with a philosophy of sustainable development within architecture. Now very much on the social and political agenda, consideration for the environment has been a priority for Pir II ever since they started, and continues to be so.

By Karin Modig | Photos: Pir II

tectural competition run by the city council of Trondheim. The competition was called “The city seeks the water”, and since their inception, Pir II has had numerous projects centred on waterfronts, both in Trondheim and further afield.

Established in Trondheim in 1994, their Oslo office opened in 2008, and they currently employ about 30 people. In addition, they often bring in outside people for projects that require special competencies to ensure the project is developed to its full potential.

Statens Byggeskikkpris three years running. Highly regarded, it is an annual award given by the Norwegian Government’s Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development to new builds that “contribute to raising, renewing and developing the common building practice”.

Finding solutions that are both environmentally friendly and long lasting has been key to the company since the beginning, and they go to great lengths to find the most environmentally friendly solutions, whether it is the material used or the ventilation systems.

In recent years, Pir II have gained attention for being the only architecture company nominated for the prestigious

A clear philosophy

General manager of the Oslo office, Håvard Skarstein MNAL, who has been with the company since 2005, tells Scan Mag-

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Pir II was set up by five young architects following their success in a large archi-

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Norway

azine more about Pir II’s vision and achievements.

“One of Pir II’s pilot projects was the school Kvernhuset Ungdomsskole in Fredrikstad in 2000, and it received awards both nationally and internationally,” he says. “The school was largely built using stone and wood from the plot of land we were building on, so we lowered the CO2 emissions significantly, compared to a building project where materials had to be brought in from elsewhere.”

It was important that the school’s location was in a wooded area, and that it would fit in with its surroundings. Built to minimise the impact on the environment, it has energy-efficient ventilation systems and environmentally friendly insulation.

Statens Byggeskikkpris

The Rockheim building is full of character, with a seamless interplay between old and new.

In 2010, Pir II was nominated for Statens Byggeskikkpris for the first time, for their work with Stokkøya Sjøsenter. A spectacular and unusual project, it was a project of area development on the coast of Trøndelag, with the aim of making it a more attractive tourist destination.

restaurant and a beach hotel,” explains Skarstein. “The hotel in particular is unusual as it is partly built underground.

Overall the whole project was focused on environmentally friendly and simple but efficient solutions, and the result is understated modernity that is not in conflict with the surroundings.”

”The whole centre comprises private and rental cabins, a sandy beach, a bar,

Pir II is currently working on the next step of this project, so Stokkøya really is some-

thing to keep an eye on. Much of the material that will be used is from a high-rise office building in Trondheim that is currently being torn down, so the project is very much in line with Pir II’s philosophy.

The next nomination for Pir II was the very prestigious Rockheim in Trondheim, a national centre for pop and rock music, incorporating exhibitions, a stage and much more. “The building itself is a listed building that had been left to fall apart for

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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Norway

New building for Meterologisk Institutt, the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, in Oslo.

nearly 30 years,” says Skarstein. “So the challenge was to build something fresh and exciting out of this old flour storage from the 1920s.” The result is a building full of character, with a seamless interplay between old and new.

The new building for Meterologisk Institutt, the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, in Oslo was the first project for the Oslo office, and saw Pir II gain its third nomination in a row. More than ever, their commitment to renewable energy, lower CO2 emissions and environmentally friendly fabrics was immensely suitable,

as the institute delivers statistics on climate.

cultural institutions, offices and research buildings in particular.

“With this building, our aim was to halve the amount of C02 gases that would generally be expected in a building project of this size,” says Skarstein. “We sourced materials locally and used materials that are environmentally sustainable. The whole frontage of the building for example is made from 100% recycled aluminium.”

Internationally, they have, among other things, worked in China, and they also have a small office in Buenos Aires, Argentina. “Norway is where we are focusing our work, but we jump at the chance to work abroad when an opportunity arises,” says Skarstein.

Pir II also delivers many smaller scale projects, such as private houses and cabins, and they do a lot of work with schools,

For further information, please visit: www.pir2.no

Stokkøya Sjøsenter is an area development project on the coast of Trøndelag, comprising private and rental cabins, a sandy beach, a bar, restaurant and a beach hotel; Pir II is currently working on the next step of this project.

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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Norway

Left: Daughter Ylva at a fair selling skin products with her mum. Middle: Son Emil lifting a heavy frame of honey. Top right: The farm where the VossaBia magic happens.

The natural approach Rarely do you hear the kind of passion that exudes from Renate Lunde’s mouth when she talks about her company VossaBia and her philosophy behind it. Based on a farm in Voss, she runs a company that offers ecotourism and makes both honey and beauty products from what nature provides.

of honey was the beginning of her foray into making skin products.

“Health and nature are at the very core of what I do, and the philosophy behind it is that I want to convey my interest in these topics while showing people an alternative to city life and the products we use in our daily lives,” she says. “I guess the concept is to remind people to think ‘natural’.”

“My first product was a lip balm, which received a great response,” she says. “Customers would frequently use them on other parts of their skin and would give me great feedback on how it helped their skin problems.” This inspired her to try new products, and she now has a range of about a dozen skincare and beauty products, from face masks to weather protection creams and baby products.

VossaBia very much has a ‘back to nature’ approach, and Lunde uses her surroundings, both the biological diversity and the cultural landscape, to her full advantage, and the two arms of her business fit together around this approach.

She has spent considerable time studying herbs and plants and has taken courses in production of beauty products. The overwhelming positive response she gets motivates her to do more and spurs her on to make new products.

By Karin Modig | Photos: VossaBia

“I want those who come to visit to feel the atmosphere up here and really experience the unique surrounding nature. I invite them out to discover the flora, whether that means lying in the grass on a balmy summer’s day, climbing the mountains or

Renate with her VossaBia lip balm.

picking herbs and plants to make their own natural beauty products.”

Beauty products the natural way Lunde, who is a PhD candidate at the University of Bergen, started keeping bees as a hobby around 2003. Her experience with bees and the benefit and many uses

For further information, please visit: vossabia.no Facebook: Vossabia Twitter: @vossabia

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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Norway

Romeo & Juliet. Wallpaper for Photowall.

The wallpaper that captures Norwegian freshness Believing that wallpaper design should provide another dimension to a room, Scandinavian Surface obtain inspiration from Norwegian nature and wilderness for their designs.

By Didrik Ottesen | Photos: Scandinavian Surface

the production. The company also designs several other products, such as smaller paper- and wood-based wall decor items, trays and other birch veneer based products. “We work with the surface of photographs we capture ourselves.”

“Particularly in the spring when nature kind of comes to life and during autumn when all the surroundings are changing

Ann-Tove Engenes, Kristine Dybwad, Katrine Nylund and Åsne Midtgarden are all designers in the Bergen-based design company, which emphasises design based on the wilderness and the untouched spectacle of Norwegian nature.

Whether this is a suffering tree victim of heavy wind or animals preparing for a long and cold winter, Scandinavian Surface entrench these surroundings when they create their inimitable wallpaper design.

As the name might suggest, surface and surface design are the key elements of

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PanelPiece. Paper wall decor.

Black Beech. Wallpaper for Photowall.

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Norway

and developing towards winter - it’s during these developing stages of nature where one can find the most exquisite forms, shapes and colours,” she explains.

The four women graduated with degrees in the arts, and since the start of the company in 2004, their wallpapers have been used to decorate several Norwegian embassies, the most recent being the embassy in London.

“Wallpaper isn’t something which is changed frequently, so we’re very keen that it should be a lasting expression for people to grow fond of and take pleasure in for a long-lasting period,” Engenes says.

Wallpapers designed by Scandinavian Surface reflect the surroundings that the artists so clearly treasure.

“Norwegian colours and nature inspire us. Preferably the elements that are not conceived as perfect but which look as though they have lived a hard life and resisted heavy wind and rain, or the beauty of a torn and withered flower,” she says.

“We love studying nature and to experience and explore different shapes and colours or remembering when you noticed a moose or an eagle; we then try to seize this overwhelming beauty of Norwegian nature and develop it into products through our design,” Engenes says.

Weaving Wood. Wallpaper for Photowall.

A key factor to Scandinavian Surface and their products is the idea and premise of adding identity to a room with balance, harmony and excitement.

Scandinavian Surface has designed blankets for the major producer Røros Tweed as well as products for Stokke Textiles in a collection inspired by Norwegian nights.

The dramatic wilderness of Norwegian nature can serve many forms of use and pleasure, and Scandinavian Surface has found a unique way of combining it all.

“We aim to create wallpaper design that brings the wall and room to life, and environmentally friendly products that

Tray collection. Laminated birch veneer.

Below right: Wool throw design for Røros Tweed.

sprinkle Norwegian freshness around the house,” Engenes says.

For further information, please visit: www.scandinaviansurface.com

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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Norway

Sleek design with comfort and price at the heart Find a pair of sunglasses that are more than a mere accessory at Mokki AS where style, comfort and price are combined to make the perfect product. Mokki's affordable prices will enable you to expand your sunglass collection without leaving your wallet empty, and you can be sure that you will look just as trendy as a Hollywood star.

By Therese Wallin | Photos: Mokki AS

Moshe Ohana, founder of Mokki AS, says that sunglasses have become more than a fashion statement: “They reflect who you are; not every model fits everyone, and sunglasses should reflect your personality.” He is passionate about what he does, and his hard work has paid off.

Mokki's sunglasses are not only sought after in Norway, but there is an ever-increasing interest among international retailers as well.

Filling a gap in the market with inspiration from warmer climes In 1987, Ohana set up Mokki AS with the vision of creating fashionable sunglasses for all ages and genders, but he wanted to offer his clients more than this basic combination. Ohana developed his brand by sticking to the idea that comfort must be an essential part of all designs, and that all frames should be sold at an affordable price. In 2003, Mokki AS began selling its sunglasses, and things have moved quickly ever since.

Scandinavian design is famous worldwide, but Ohana has managed to incorporate his own influences into the design. Being from warm Israel, where sunglasses are worn on a daily basis, he saw a gap in the market. “When I moved to Norway, I began considering what I could do and what was lacking in the market. There were sunglasses on the market, but the selection was limited,” explains Ohana as he stresses how important his clients are. “I do not want to rob them; I want them to be

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able to afford my designs and always feel that it is good value for money.”

Design, comfort and price – yes, the equation works!

Ohana realised that he would need a partner to get his designs on the market. He faced the challenge of funding his idea and getting the right material for his designs, which he overcame by partnering with a colleague in Hong Kong, who helped him get insight into the sector.

His sunglasses are now so popular in Norway that they have been sold by large retailers such as Gina Tricot and Parfymelle. His designs have also featured in influential Norwegian magazines, including Det Nye and Elle.

“We are seeing increasing international demand for Mokki-designed sunglasses," says Ohana. “At the moment our client base in the Baltic countries is growing particularly fast, but even if you are in Spain, you can order a pair and we will send them to you.” Mokki's fast growth and its quick penetration into the market

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Norway

Moshe Ohana, founder of Mokki AS

is a testament to the quality of a bespoke product and customer service whose reputation precedes it.

Both for children and adults Before setting up Mokki AS, Ohana worked in a kindergarten, and his love for children inspired him to extend his line beyond the traditional sunglass market for adults, and since a few years back, he also designs for children. “Children will not be the ones buying the sunglasses.

That will be the task of an adult,” says Ohana, who as a father is well aware of the importance of keeping children's designs comfortable.

Janne, Norwegian flag

Mattis Blue sky

Mokki Sunflower

Mira Green leaves

Mokki AS offers all the styles that any adult or child could dream of, from classic sunglasses to trendy new ones. Mokki AS has more than 1,000 designs at the moment, but they are continuously adding new ones to their range. Ohana sees his sunglasses as more than a business: “Sunglasses are more than a fashion accessory; they allow you to hide yourself from the world whilst you are observing the environment around you.”

Looking at Mokki's collection, and speaking to Ohana, it is clear that the company's success is the result of the staff's love and commitment to their job, which has allowed the company to create products that have been welcomed by customers with open arms. Ohana's talent, his ability to find inspiration from different sources, and mixing colours with style and function are at the heart of this fast-growing company.

For further information, please visit: www.mokkishop.no Mokki Reading Sunglasses

Sail Babybear

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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Norway

Environmentally friendly waste disposal unit, winner of 2001 State Government Design Contest.

Everybody wants to change the world, but nobody wants to change With customer awareness for “green” vehicles higher than ever and oil prices soaring, customers are seeking other transport alternatives. Accendo is leading the way for sustainable design with the consumer in the driving seat, by designing and developing more user-friendly EV quick charging stations for Salto.

By Anette Berve | Photos: Accendo

“At Accendo we have a saying: ‘everybody wants to change the world, but nobody wants to change.’ This is a fact for most of us in the western world, and our goal as designers is to facilitate the change for the customer without compromising current welfare.” Hedda Heyerdahl Braathen, cofounder of Accendo, emphasizes that the importance of having the environment in

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mind has become absolute for them as designers.

Charge & Go: Zero emission cars become even more desirable Driving an electrical vehicle today is like driving a normal car, except for two important factors: the driving range is limited and the charging takes a longer time

than filling up a car with petrol fuel. With the quick charger stations under development by Accendo for Salto, the charging time of a standard EV is reduced from 816 hours down to 20-30 minutes. This opens up opportunities for long distance travelling, works as a safety grid in the cities and gives the EV drivers more freedom. The development of the quick charge is in collaboration with French company EV Tronic and is due to be ready in May 2013.

Although not the leading eco-country when solely relying on statistics, there is no doubt that Norway has embraced the transport trend of hybrid and EVs despite

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Norway

challenging driving and weather conditions. EV car sales are high in Norway compared to other countries as Norway has a tradition of embracing new technology and sustainable solutions, a character most probably springing from its small population and closeness to nature.

these factors are taken into account can the product genuinely be labelled ecofriendly. So when we design products today, these are elements we always consider.”

Eco design Accendo started in 1999 and is a multiplatform design company that in the past mainly focused on packaging, lighting and public architecture. Accendo was from early on a key player in eco design and development in the Norwegian market in collaboration with Grip, which was at that time the Department of Environment.

When Accendo started out, “eco” and “environmentally friendly” were tasks in the development process that nobody quite knew how to handle, and Braathen experienced that customers believed “eco” was synonymous with “costly”. “Now we know that eco in many occasions can be in fact more cost efficient; one just has to take the whole picture into account,” Braathen explains.

One of Accendo’s first projects was to redesign a bus shelter. The result of integrating the eco design process to the development resulted in fewer individual parts, fewer types of material, it being more user friendly from the installer’s point of view and minimalistic design. It was through a project like this that that the “eco-wheel” became apparent, Braathen explains. “It is not only that a product is recyclable that defines if it is ecological; there are many other factors that need to be involved such as production method, durability, complexity in installation and transport of components. Only when all

Co-founder of Accendo, Hedda Heyerdahl Braathen

the user experience in mind. The aesthetic factor is of course also there, but more as an added bonus.”

Braathen states that Accendo have become more and more aware of the fact that they want to be a part of sustainable projects and eco design in the future. “It is important for us to be a part of developing a world our children can live in, and we work with the environment in focus,” she explains. “We have the opportunity to influence the industry and the environment in a positive way through the ideas that we suggest and decide when we develop new products.”

“We don’t have to paint the future dark just yet; we believe the future is bright if we act right,” concludes Braathen.

“Our goal as designers is to facilitate the change for the customer.”

A more user-friendly design Braathen is quick to explain that the charging stations are by no means a new product, but a new approach to an existing idea. “The quick charge stations that currently are on the market are created by technicians who don’t necessarily take the end user into account and tend to be overcomplicated. When we design, the user is always in focus, but also the other users, such as electricians and the maintenance crew. It is important to also see the product from their point of view. When a product like this is launched, it is vital to keep

FLEXeat multipurpose cutting tool for cheese.

For further information, please visit: www.accendo.no www.salto.no

Sketch of the quick charge station due to be finished in May 2013.

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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Norway

Dale of Norway is the official supplier to the World Ski Championships 2013, Val di Fiemme, and the Norwegian national team.

Norwegian competence and quality for generations With high competence comes high quality, and the Norwegian knitwear producers Dale of Norway are a prime example of this, having produced clothing since 1879.

By Didrik Ottesen | Photos: Dale of Norway

One of the world’s leading producers of knitted clothing, Dale of Norway are still based where they started: in a little village surrounded by the famous dramatic nature of Norway’s west coast.

The long traditions of knitted clothing and high-quality wool have ensured that Dale of Norway has remained where they started, in Dale. In a time where several manufacturers have moved their production abroad, the 130-year-old company has remained to guarantee that the quality of their products is as outstanding as the nature surrounding its office.

28 | Insert to Issue 45 | October 2012

“We have a tradition and we create our design from traditional Norwegian patterns and nature.”

“This is highly important to us as there are very few companies in Norway with such a long and fascinating story as ours, and we have become very international; that is something special and somewhat exotic,” says Arnstein Raunehaug, marketing executive at Dale of Norway.

As much as they have increased their reputation and influence abroad, with online stores in both America and Canada, there is still one factor in particular that re-

mains and makes Dale of Norway uniquely Norwegian.

“We’ve sponsored Norway Skiing Association (NSF) – which includes the Norwegian Olympic Committee – with jumpers for every winter Olympics and World Championship since 1956.”

“Because Dale jumpers are created and designed in Norway, they help build and strengthen our Norwegian identity during these tournaments,” Raunehaug says.

Famous for its established Norwegian design, the company has experienced something of a renaissance as the increasing demand for knitted clothing has spurred their business on.

The same can be said about their products; a renaissance has affected their design, and the company that has attended to Norwegian design and patterns for over a century can also offer more innovative clothing, albeit its traditional designs and ideas are still well rooted.

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Norway

“The Norwegian tradition is important, and we create a kind of history around every model and design we have. We want it to be easily associated with the country, its nature, its people and its history.”

“This jumper will be worn by all the athletes, coaches and staff throughout the 2013 Val di Fiemme World Championship,” Raunehaug says.

“Our latest collection - which is also the official jumper for the 2013 World Championship in Val di Fiemme - is inspired by Fridtjof Nansen’s polar expedition and a jumper he used during it, back in 1893,” Raunehaug explains.

Combining a modern cut and details with a retro Norwegian look, the jumpers form strong associations to the country’s national polar heroes from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

“The entire collection is named after bullet points from that expedition and from Nansen’s history, and all the jumpers – along with all our products – are 100 per cent Norwegian design, production and quality.”

The increased popularity of wool, and its reintroduction into the world of fashion, has its advantages for athletes and in colder climes; however, the advantages are paramount as wool contains air that provides isolation and heat while it also absorbs moisture.

“This year Dale of Norway is launching a new design and expression, which will work perfectly with international fashion, where we combine a modern look with elements of traditional Norwegian patterns; the items are knitted using a new wool type from the village Dale, which is light, soft and comfortable,” Raunehaug explains.

With its high level of practicality and popularity, Dale of Norway is hopeful that the new collection of knitted clothing will follow in the footsteps (or ski tracks) of its highly successful sponsors, to enjoy some triumphs as they take the scene together at the 2013 World Ski Championship.

For further information, please visit: dale.no

Insert to Issue 45 | October 2012 | 29

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Norway

and while they wouldn’t know much about it, they did connect it with quality products – true, pure quality.”

The devil is in the detail Haagensen is keen to present something genuine to the world, something they haven’t necessarily seen before – a part of the essence of Scandinavia. One of the main strengths of the concept, says Haagsensen, is the holistic mind-set. “It’s not just about coffee. While we’ll focus on a Scandinavian roast, a medium roast, which is not as dark as the American and Italian, and include Scandinavian design, the main point is that we’ll think of every little detail.”

Aided by world-known architectural firm Snøhetta and famous designer Andreas Engesvik, the visual impact, design and interiors will represent a part of this whole, bringing Scandinavian heritage and nature into the planned coffee shops in a subtle way.

While serving excellent coffee is at the centre of the Scandinavian Coffee House, Haagensen also wants to offer people a slice, or in this case a cup, of authentic Scandinavia, where coffee follows you everywhere you go in some way or another, from celebrations to everyday life.

An introduction to Scandinavian coffee culture While Scandinavia is known around the world for its design and the general high quality of its products, Nordic coffee culture is not necessarily a well-known concept beyond the region’s borders. However, coffee is very much an essential part of Scandinavia, with Norway and Finland leading the board as the biggest coffee-drinking countries in the world. Norwegian Kim Haagensen, together with partners Sindre Røstad and John Wuya, is eager to give a piece of Scandinavia to the world in the form of his concept - Scandinavian Coffee House.

By Nia Kajastie | Photos: Julie Tørrissen

The original idea for the concept came to Haagensen when he was travelling in Asia as a consultant. “I realised that the most

30 | Insert to Issue 45 | October 2012

valuable thing I have is my Scandinavian roots,” he muses. “Everywhere I went, people would ask me about Scandinavia,

From Ålesund to the Big Apple and beyond Currently, one coffee shop has already been established at the Norwegian Maritime Competence Centre and the new head office for Rolls Royce in Ålesund, Haagsensen’s home town, as an office version of the coffee shop. The premises for the first Scandinavian Coffee House on Kongens Gade 14 in the heart of the town are being prepared, but an opening date has yet to be set in stone.

While the flagship store is planned for Ålesund, the future of Scandinavian Coffee House lies abroad. Haagsensen is planning on opening the next branch in New York and then Tokyo, establishing a strong franchise concept. And unlike some other nationalities, Scandinavians in general, over the years, have learnt to respect the

Photos: Marius Beck Dahle

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Norway

places they travel to and set up offices in.

“Instead of tearing everything down and planting our own concept in the midst, we look at the new places and try to see what we can use there. We would use the history of the place, and we’re actually looking for settings with a lot of history to them. While it’ll be clear that the coffee shops are Scandinavian, it will be done in a subtle way, not screaming it out, with large pictures of mountains plastered on the walls. It’s in the combined details,” says Haagensen. And this is also where Snøhetta and Engesvik can work their magic.

which will also supply coffee for Scandinavian Coffee House.

Thoresen has noted that when going to New York or Tokyo, one cannot just offer

the same as everyone else; instead the concept needs to present Scandinavian coffee traditions to the world. While Scandinavians are known to enjoy their coffee as it is, black and beautiful, the tradition of adding sugar and milk has also been around for long.

“In the end, we don’t believe that we are better than everyone else, but we know we have something genuine and unique to present the world,” concludes Haagensen.

For further information, please visit: scandinaviancoffeehouse.com

The touch of a coffee pioneer Complementing the concept is Scandinavian coffee pioneer Robert William Thoresen, who also won the very first World Barista Championship in 2000, and runs the coffee bars Java and Mocca, and the KAFFA roastery in Oslo,

Remember to also visit Scandinavian Coffee House’s blog, like their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter @ScandinavianCH to keep up to date with their development.

Kim Haagensen. Photo: Kjetil Hasselgard

Insert to Issue 45 | October 2012 | 31

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Norway

Herremann & Lilleba

It’s a bamboo business Seven years ago Silje Sivertsen returned to Norway, after spending a year and a half living in China. With her she had a business idea – in the form of a suitcase filled with bamboo clothing.

By Magnus Nygren Syversen | Photos: Dag Knutsen

“Bamboo is simply incredible,” says an excited Silje Sivertsen. Founding her own clothing brand, Lilleba, Sivertsen was one of the first to introduce bamboo clothing to the Norwegian market. “Bamboo neutralises smell so you don’t have to wash your clothes as often as you would with cotton. It absorbs moisture so it keeps you dry, and the fabric is very good for people struggling with rashes or eczema,” she says.

Lilleba has had great success on the Norwegian market with its line of clothes for children and infants, The women behind Lilleba: Nina Eikerol and Silje Sivertsen. receiving great feedback from happy Besides comfort, the main benefit of using customers and catching the eye of the Norbamboo viscose in clothing relates to prowegian media. “But we also have a line of duction. Bamboo offers a healthy and ecosoft and comfortable underwear and nightfriendly alternative to cotton – it is the wear for women, as well as our Herremann world’s fastest growing plant; it is self-rebrand for men,” says Sivertsen.

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newing and neither pesticides nor artificial fertilizers need to be used in its production.

Lilleba is a member of the Initiative for Ethical Trade (IEH), and all its clothing is produced in South Korea – a country with strict laws regarding emissions, healthy work environments and worker’s unions.

“We would probably have a much bigger turnover if we produced our clothes in China, but for us it is more important to consider the environment and the workers,” says Sivertsen.

Lilleba’s clothing is currently distributed to around 130 stores around Norway, and Sivertsen sees a lot of potential to expand further. “But we’re at a stage now where we can’t do everything ourselves,” she says.

Bringing in Nina Eikerol as a partner in 2007, the two of them do everything from designing the clothes to packing and sending them to their distributors. “We’ve managed to do things on our own so far, but now it’s time to enter the next phase and look for partners in other countries.”

For further information, please visit: www.lilleba.no

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Norway

Norwegian skincare brand looking to expand The organic aloe vera-based skincare brand Essenza caters mainly to the Norwegian market. However, founder Gudveig Dalbakk explains that they are looking for business partners for an expansion beyond the borders of Norway, with a view to establishing themselves firmly in the entire European market. "Everyone needs aloe vera," Dalbakk states, "and our products are especially suitable for Nordic conditions, protecting sensitive skin against harsh weather and repairing skin suffering after long northern winters."

By Hannah Gillow Kloster | Photos: Essenza

Founded by Dalbakk in 1994, Essenza has grown to become one of the key providers of aloe-based skincare products in Norway. Catering to both the private and corporate markets, with products for every kind of skin and every kind of use, the basis of Essenza is, as Dalbakk states, "quality and purity".

When Dalbakk started Essenza in 1994, she was inspired by "a firm belief in the quality of the product she was selling".

Now, almost two decades later, it seems her belief was well founded and is shared by thousands of consumers all over Norway. With raving testimonials from hospi-

tals, beauticians and private customers alike, there can be no doubt about Essenza’s client satisfaction. When asked about the secret behind her success, Dalbakk is firm that there is no secret: "Our success is simply due to the quality of the organic aloe vera we use, the purity of it, and to the extremely high aloe vera content in our products."

The benefits of aloe vera have been known for thousands of years. Dalbakk explains that the quality of Essenza's products is due to the fact that they use pure, concentrated aloe vera, directly pressed from the leaf, rather than dried or watered out aloe

vera. This method of extraction retains all the positive powers of the plant. The aloe content of the products ranges from 28% right up to 99.75% in the aloe juice, one of the company's bestsellers. All their products are bottled in Essenza's own facilities in Norway, which maintain such a high standard that both the Norwegian Army and the lead dairy producer in Norway, Tine Meierier, have made use of them.

All skin deserves protection and nourishment. With their unique formulas and strict attention to quality and purity, Essenza provides just that, and more, giving you healthy skin in all conditions. Essenza is also constantly working on improving their products and always looking for new collaborators.

Gudveig Dalbakk

Essenza's products are available on their website: www.essenza.no

Insert to Issue 45 | October 2012 | 33

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Norway

Shellfish Set

Tapas Set

Cheese grater and knife

The cheese slicer – a Norwegian icon Bjørklund is a company that has managed to accomplish what other businesses only dream of, namely to develop a consumer good that has become a worldwide icon, in this case a cheese slicer. Nonetheless, in truly Scandinavian fashion, almost 90 years after its creation, the company remains true to its origins. The fact that its production has remained in Lillehammer, its inventor's hometown, has allowed it to keep its personality while navigating a global market. Since production started, the company has sold more than 65 million cheese slicers to customers around the world who are looking for the perfect slice of cheese to flavour their day.

The managing director of GIAX, Kristen Gunstad, says that the cheese slicer is still an extremely sought-after product.

"It remains an extremely popular product; it was, after all, invented in Norway.

Although it is often copied, it is never matched, and the original is still produced here in Norway."

By Therese Wallin | Photos: GIAX

More than a kitchen tool that is found in kitchens around the world

In 1925, Thor Bjørklund invented the cheese slicer. He developed this tool after suffering the daily struggle of cutting the perfect slice of cheese with a knife. Today, his legacy lives on, even though his company, Bjørklund, was acquired by the bigger GIAX (Gudbrandsdal Industrier AS).

Although the company expanded its range in the 1990s, its focus on this item of Norwegian heritage has never been stronger.

There is a common tendency to underestimate the importance of good kitchen tools. Customers' satisfaction with Bjørklund’s products is the main factor that has contributed to the company's success. Customers get to take a cheese slicer home that will last close to a lifetime. This commitment to quality is the defining characteristic of the product range offered by Bjørklund.

34 | Insert to Issue 45 | October 2012

Kristen Gunstad

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Norway

While the company started off by focusing on manufacturing and selling cheese slicers, the products on offer have increased through the years. "Customers rely on the high quality we provide, and so when we started expanding the range in the 1990s, our commitment to excellence meant that new products were welcomed with open arms," explains Kristen Gunstad.

Beyond different types of cheese slicers, customers can find products such as shellfish sets, cake servers and tapas sets.

Many of the products have been redesigned and modernised through the years, and the company successfully offers its customers a variety of styles, of both trendy and classical design. The classical cheese slicer, which is based on the 1925 original, is still a bestseller.

"Many want to have different cheese slicers for different occasions. The Amitto

range, whose new surface treatment offers non-sticky slicing, is particularly popular," says Gunstad.

An international interest, thanks to reliable customer service The products are not only available to Norwegians; there is an ever-increasing demand from clients in the international market. "Our cheese slicer has become a Norwegian icon and clients abroad are looking to have an original one in their home,” says Gunstad. Great customer service has ensured that the demand for the Norwegian cheese slicer, and associated products, has remained high. “We take great care to ensure that our products are delivered on time to all our clients," says Gunstad.

Still produced locally

tion and this affiliation has become an important part of the brand and its employees, who have the opportunity to work for an extremely successful but small local business with a wealthy history and personality.

A tightknit team working for perfection Gunstad has been involved in the production and distribution of cheese slicers since 1997. "We are proud of what we do, and we are a tight team of around 10 people, so we rely on each other and have almost become a family in the production of Bjørklund's products."

The products offered are a highlight in any kitchen. They will not only be a stylish addition to your kitchen, but you can be sure that they will last and produce a perfect and tasty slice every time.

Thor Bjørklund was from Lillehammer, Norway, and worked as a carpenter. Although GIAX's factories are located just outside of town, the production of the cheese slicer maintains its local connec-

Retro Salad Set

For further information, please visit: www.bjorklund-1925.no Cake Server

Insert to Issue 45 | October 2012 | 35

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Norway

This autumn, EFG have launched the new seating solutions EFG InTouch, EFG Hippione and EFG MySpace. EFG MySpace is a neat two-seater with sound shielding back, while EFG InTouch and EFG Hippione are modular sofas.

The creators of the unique and customized workplace EFG, one of Europe’s largest furniture suppliers for offices and public environments, have expanded their resources to offer their services to include interior design and consulting; when a company of this size aims to change – they do it in style.

By Didrik Ottesen | Photos: EFG HOV + DOKKA

The Norwegian part of the company EFG HOV + DOKKA can offer some of the utmost services for businesses looking to decorate or create a dynamic and wellfunctioning office space.

“We are transforming from a furniture producer to a decorator of offices. This includes highly skilled countrywide consultants within the field as well as an inhouse architect office. In larger projects we work with interior architects as well,” says Annette Vennesland Enger, market-

36 | Insert to Issue 45 | October 2012

ing manager with EFG HOV + DOKKA, the Norwegian branch of EFG. “The changes also include the way in which we produce our furniture. We’ve developed from being solely producers to subsequently producing customers’ orders. This increases our flexibility as we customize according to the customers’ desires and needs,” she explains.

The new approach also means that furniture is no longer being accumulated in

storage. This allows EFG to adapt more easily according to the customer’s needs and desires by making changes in the product design, or by fully creating new products for a special assignment.

The new way of thinking and the expansion of EFG is due to the fact that they noticed how customers and businesses want a unique interior design, and how many businesses want a designer to help develop and emphasize their brand and profile.

“It’s not just one way of resolving interiors; the solutions we create are based upon a company’s corporate business, its employees and optimizing of their everyday interactions,” Enger says.

The company is working with a “work, meet, relax” model to conquer such interior design challenges. EFG are helping their customers to adapt in areas that will encourage meetings between people, relaxation and increased creativity. These

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Norway

are all areas which help create a dynamic and lively office.

“EFG helps customers by tailoring areas that are encouraging people to meet and be creative and to unwind, as well as areas that create dynamism and an office that comes to life,” Enger says.

Interior design can provide business with financial gain. If designed correctly, office space can capitalize on resources and determine how these resources are used.

There are different ways of optimizing the work process depending on the nature of the assessments, and a perfectly adapted workspace will help tailor the various opportunities and needs.

“This is to create a high-quality working environment for the employees, as health and comfort in the working place are essential,” Enger elaborates.

Flexibility affords new opportunities The increased flexibility in production and the development of customized solutions has also increased EFG’s popularity among interior architects.

Most recently the company delivered most of the interior for DNB, Norway’s largest bank, with 3,500 workstations in Bjørvika.

The concept on which the design was based is called “free seating”. The products are evolved especially for the project and are a result of the collaboration between the customer, Zinc interior architects and EFG.

EFG MySpace

“Previously an office was more a place where one would sit and work; today, however, there is a larger flexibility, and we’ve seen that offices have also become a place to meet, hence the increased importance of modifying the office to be more adaptable for creative and social areas,” Enger explains.

This autumn, EFG have launched new seating solutions developed primarily to meet these challenges. EFG InTouch, EFG Hippione and EFG MySpace are three in-

novations specially developed for the modern office. EFG MySpace is a neat two-seater with sound shielding back which caters to venues in the middle of the business. EFG InTouch and EFG Hippione are two modular sofas, with hundreds of seat and colour combinations.

For further information, please visit: www.efg.no

We also see that the latest product launches are aligned with the overall changes in the company, both the futuristic conference table suitable and adaptable for all types of meetings from 2011 and the soft seating collection from autumn 2012.

The conference table, EFG HideTech, is developed for when a large part of the day consists of meetings. These can be conducted either standing or sitting, and EFG has used their knowledge within the field to develop furniture perfectly suited for the new and modern office solutions.

Insert to Issue 45 | October 2012 | 37

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Norway

The small coffee brewery with the big taste Thirty years ago, foundations were laid for the small coffee brewery that is today called Crema Kaffebrenneri in Norway. A brewery content to be small and leave only a light mark in the world of coffee brewing. Current assistant managing director Mette Nyegard Serkland and her colleagues in Sandefjord have set about changing not the small, but the light: “We’ve made it our main focus to be more visible.”

By Ingrid Marie Holmeide | Photos: Crema Kaffebrenneri

Crema Kaffebrenneri carries merchandise to stock any coffee bar, including equipment, accessories, chocolates and sweets, but their main focus is special made coffee and tea. The increasing demand for loose weight tea resulted in the concept TeaGarden, where one can find a large selection of high-quality teas. “We just launched our new tea, Harvest Fine Tea, a series of high-quality teas in cooperation with the design duo Darling Clementine. We will launch it in England in the near future,” Serkland says.

Although being a national distributor of coffee and tea, Crema Kaffebrenneri re-

38 | Insert to Issue 45 | October 2012

mains a small brewery. “What we do is considered handcraft, and traceability and fair trade are important to us,” Serkland explains. A part of this philosophy is the close connection Crema Kaffebrenneri has with the people growing and harvesting the coffee beans. A few years back, Crema Foundation was started as a support for the workers of Balanoor Plantations in India, assuring they are treated fairly.

“Fair trade is an important part of our business. We aim to increase the amount of certified and fair-trade products in our stock, and also help the farmers we buy

from to achieve such a status as it’s an expensive and difficult process for them.”

Buying most of their coffee directly from the country where it is grown allows Crema Kaffebrenneri to control where it originates from and examine the conditions under which it is grown.

The season leading up to Christmas is a busy time for the staff of 11 in Sandefjord, and Serkland is happy to see their teas and coffees being deemed more than fit as delicious presents beneath the Christmas tree. Courses and cupping are provided, and more than one celebrity has come to the idyllic school transformed into a brewery to challenge their taste buds. Famous chef Arne Brimi and interior designer Halvor Bakke have both launched their own coffee in collaboration with Crema.

Why should you not give your taste buds the same courtesy? Check out Crema Kaffebrenneri’s products and enjoy!

For further information, please visit: www.crema.no

Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Norway

Sleek and functional design from a dynamic duo Two young men are behind exciting design label Morten & Jonas. After five years studying together at Bergen Academy of the Arts, they finished their MAs last year and set up on their own, working from an old sardine factory in Bergen.

By Karin Modig | Photos: Morten & Jonas

“Morten & Jonas mainly work with furniture design and product development,” says one half of the company, Morten Skjærpe Knarrum. “Generally we find inspiration in day-to-day life; often it has to do with seeing the small things in the bigger context.”

They have already had their work shown in numerous exhibitions and have just returned from the 100% Norway ex-

hibition in London’s Truman Brewery, where they exhibited a chair, table and blinds from their collection. Their dynamic and modern designs have also won several awards.

“Mostly we work together, which makes it more exciting as we can bounce ideas off each other, and we learn something new every day,” he says. “We currently have a few balls in the air; one of

them is a project for the Norwegian correctional services.”

Morten & Jonas work both with clients where social aspects are important as well as more commercial businesses. For each project they aim to create sleek and functional designs that stimulate people to think differently and perhaps also raise a smile.

“A lot has happened in the past year, so if we keep having this level of success, we will be very happy,” says Skjærpe Knarrum. “We have certainly had a very good start to our business.”

For further information, please visit: www.morten-jonas.no

Morten & Jonas

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