THE ARCHIVE

This history is not just a timeline; it is a record of human persistence in extreme cold. From the factory floor in Larvik to the world's most desolate poles, we have spent over a century refining the science of the mesh.

MISSION:
To combat nature with superior engineering.

Our History

Field Notes: A Century of Mesh

1887

The Foundation

Jacob Jacobsen, youngest of 20, leverages his family textile expertise in Larvik to launch his own enterprise. He learned the trade on the factory floor, a grit that still runs through our veins today.

1937–1949

The Quest for Comfort

Seeking to solve the weight of water-logged wool, the Jacobsen family and Captain Henrik Bruun engineered a mesh fabric inspired by Viking chain mail. It proved airy, light, and effective against the harshest elements.

1953

The Everest Summit

Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reach the top of the world. Outfitted in Brynje health shirts, they conquered Everest. "We nailed the bastard!"

Hillary and Norgay Everest Expedition

Archive: Everest Expedition, 1953

1976–1997

The Synthetic Shift & Arctic Double

The introduction of SUPERthermo changed moisture management. In 1997, we launched the Arctic Double, the gold standard for expedition layering.

2014–2026

Modern Records

From the first unsupported cycle to the South Pole (2014) to modern round-trip South Pole expeditions (2026), our gear remains the choice for the world's most extreme environments.

+ CHAPTER 05 / COMMITMENT We don't do seasons. We don't do trends.

We make garments that last.

Repairable

Designed with construction methods that allow for easy repairs, extending the life of your gear for decades.

Timeless

Our aesthetic hasn't changed much since 1953. We focus on function over fashion cycles.

Tested

Every stitch is proven in the world's harshest environments before it ever reaches your back.