Archive for category Shopping
Top 5: Norwegian clothing brands
Interested in Norwegian fashion? There is no shortage of local brands to check out. And although Norway is not exactly known as a cheap shopping destination, with the January sale on now, you might just bag a bargain. Here are some names well worth checking out:
- Moods of Norway: Funky, tongue-in-cheek designs including some real cool men’s suits and tops. www.moodsofnorway.com
- Oleana: Beautiful, quality ladies’ fashion in natural fibers and vibrant colours. www.oleana.no
- Arne Carlos: Swedish-Norwegian duo famous for reinventing the traditional Norwegian jumper. www.arne-carlos.com
- Probat: T-shirts with fun images and slogans, in Norwegian. www.probat.no (Norwegian only)
- Bergans of Norway: Top quality outdoor wear, usually quite expensive, but worth looking out for in the sale. www.bergans.no
And if you’re after Norwegian fashion for kids see also www.elusivemoose.eu/2010/05/22/
Nissenatthuset, Gamlebyen
A great place to stock up on Christmas decorations and stocking fillers, with a wide selection of baubles, table ornaments, glassware, candles, old-fashioned sweets and a lot more. Affordable prices and super friendly service make this a very pleasant shop to visit, whether you want to buy anything, or just browse. They also store some cool Ugly Children clothes (among them the popular lice and milk designs, see www.uglycc.com for more info) and gorgeous hand-made soft toys. Look out for the big Santa sitting outside on a bale of hay, just by the main square in Gamlebyen, Fredrikstad. Open daily now until 22 Dec, 10am-4pm (23 Dec until 3pm only). www.nissenatt.no (Norwegian only)
Norwegian Forest by Cathrine Kullberg
The lamp, the brainchild of Norwegian designer Cathrine Kullberg, was launched in the spring of 2007, and has since become a hit with interior designers and design-conscious customers. It has also received good editorial coverage in the press, both in Kullberg’s native Norway and abroad, and was featured at the 100%Norway exhibition in both Stockholm and London.
Norwegian Forest draws on a classic Scandinavian tradition of using thin wood veneer strips for lighting. It show a pine forest with animals in light and shade. When lit, the blonde birch veneer shines with a warm glow, and the delicately cut forest motif lets light to filter out between the trees. The veneer is laser cut by hand, and the shell is hand sewn onto a steel frame. The lamps are assembled by hand in Kullberg’s studio in Oslo. The high quality finish required means cutting is a minutious job, and production is therefore limited.
The lamp comes in three versions – large pendant, small pendant and table light. The large pendant will set you back $750. Order online at www.cathrinekullberg.com or from your local stockist. These include Huset www.huset-shop.com in the US and www.ourshowhome.com in the UK.
Want to see more? Cathrine Kullberg created a 10m-long ceiling-wall installation at the Emil & Samuel restaurant in Oslo’s Steen & Strøm department store. Check it out next time you’re in town.
Design Forum, Fredrikstad
Looking for clothes a little bit out of the ordinary, preferably in bright colours, and made of quality, natural materials? Then head to the Design Forum, a chain of Norwegian shops with 22 outlets in Norway – including one in Fredrikstad. Here you will find original, fun clothes by Scandinavian designers such as Desigual (my favourite) and Blæst, as well as other popular European names, including Save the Queen, Aventures des Toiles and Lilith. Gorgeous shoes by Camper, El Naturalista and Think (among others) and a good selection of accessories ranging from jewellery to woolly hats. The Design Forum also sells its own range of clothes, produced in Denmark with environment-friendly materials. Only marginally pricier than some of your high street chains, but considering the quality on offer, well worth that little extra.
Bryggeriveien 1A. Tel: 69 31 55 55, www.designforum.no
Lille Special, Fredrikstad
This delicatessen in the Old Town, located in what used to be the local dairy, is so popular that they recently opened a second shop on Gågata, the main pedestrian street in Fredrikstad proper, on the other side of the river. The products on offer are the same in both shops, and range from unusual preserves such as the popular chilli jam to speciality pasta, teas and coffees, chocolates and honey, pesto, sauces and dressings, as well as seasonal offerings such as aquavit gelee or Christmas mustard, among many others. There is also an ad-hoc assortiment of kitchen utensils and tableware, and many pre-packed hampers to choose from, although you can also put your own together should you so wish. A cosy shop gourmet visitors to Fredrikstad may well want to check out.
Voldportgaten 73, Gamlebyen; and Nygaardsgata 36-38, Fredrikstad. Tel: 48 00 25 04, http://lillespecial.com (Norwegian only).