Bergans Defines Sustainability with Launch of Summer 2017 Line
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Bergans of Norway Defines Sustainability with Launch of Summer 2017 Line
New line includes the first products produced under its new environmentally-minded standards
LONGMONT, Colo. – July 20, 2016 – Drawing on its Norwegian heritage of passion for the outdoors, and expanding its warm weather offerings, Bergans of Norway will unveil an extensive line of new products for summer 2017 at the upcoming Outdoor Retailer Summer Market show in Salt Lake City next month.
Earlier this year, the company challenged itself to Expedition 2020, an ambitious program to toughen up and expand its environmental standards. The new summer line shows the depth of that commitment with eco-friendly fabrics, production technologies, and redesigned packaging.
Bergans’ new offerings include several additions to its premier Slingsby mountaineering line and to its growing lifestyle clothing line. The company’s commitment to protecting the environment is demonstrated through the use of bluesign®-approved materials, Responsible Down Standard (RDS) insulation, mulesing-free and recycled wools, and fabrics such as Ecodear®, a plant-based polyester fabric, and Repreve®, a fiber made from locally sourced recycled plastic bottles mixed with organic cotton.
“At Bergans, we care about how our actions affect the world around us. Our mantra, ‘What we love, we will protect,’ embodies the spirit of our sustainability program,” said Byron McCann, marketing manager for Bergans USA. “We’re creating real world solutions for challenging issues, which are reflected in our summer 2017 line – our most ambitious yet.”
Two new garments in the line include the Slingsby Ultra Jacket and the Filtvet Tee. The Slingsby Ultra, a shoulder season jacket for hiking and alpine mountaineering, features windproof Ecodear® on the chest and sleeves, as well as highly wicking stretch fabric for temperature regulation and freedom of movement on the back. MSRP is $239.00. The Filtvet Tee, made of Repreve, is a lightweight and super-soft, technical tee for hiking with an MSRP of $39.00.
With a long history deeply rooted in performance backpack design, Bergans gives a respectful nod to its heritage with a new collection of vintage-inspired day packs. The line takes simple, functional styles from the company’s past and combines them with modern materials, construction and functionality.
Two notable packs are the Olso and Knekken II, the latter being named after the original Knekken offered in the 1950s. The Knekken II is named for the kink, knekken in Norwegian, in the back panel designed to follow the curve of the spine to ensure comfortable carrying. The 17-liter Oslo features an integrated reflector tape tucked inside a small external pocket that can be pulled out and attached diagonally across the pack for high visibility, then stowed away when not in use. It’s a great choice for urban cycling or walking. MSRP for the Oslo is $65.00 and the Knekken II is $75.00.
Bergans of Norway is exhibiting at the Outdoor Retailer’s Open Air Demo in booth D362, where retailers will be able to demo Bergans’ line of Ally foldable canoes, and at the Salt Lake City Convention Center in booth 14017,where the company’s complete line of outdoor clothing and packs will be on display.
For more information about Bergans of Norway and its products, go to www.bergans.com. For North American sales questions, contact Keith Patterson at keith.patterson@bergans.com.
ABOUT BERGANS OF NORWAY
Bergans was established in 1908, when Ole Ferdinand Bergan invented the first anatomical backpack. During a hunting trip, he cut and shaped a juniper branch to match the curve of his back and attached it to his heavy, loose-fitting rucksack, a design mirrored in every modern anatomical backpack.
Today, backpacks, outdoor and lifestyle clothing, and tents are part of the portfolio of Bergans of Norway, as well as the ALLY brand of packable canoes. Legendary adventurers such as South Pole conqueror Roald Amundsen, Mount Everest pioneer Sir Edmund Hillary, and heroes of our time such as Polar explorers Rune Gjeldnes and Cecilie Skog, and even jibber and X Games Freeride competitor Anders Backe trust Bergans for their outdoor adventures.
The headquarters of Bergans Fritid AS is situated in Hokksund, Norway, 60 km southwest of Oslo, where 90-plus employees work in development, research, design and sales. Bergans is a market leader in Norway and steadily growing in several international markets throughout Europe and North America (www.bergans.com).
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Bergans USA, LLC
Chip Smith, o: 801.656.0472 x1, c: 801.597.7515, csmith@soarcomm.com
Beth Cochran, c: 406.579.7909, bethcochran@whatsuppr.com
Bergans of Norway
Christoph Centmayer, o: +47-40 62 40 99, christoph.centmayer@bergans.no
