We saw an article in the New York Times titled “This Is the Coat to Wear to Davos,” (location of the World Economic Forum in Switzerland). The point of the title is that if you want to be warm enough in the Swiss Alps, it’s hard to look professional in a puffy down coat. Michael Berkowitz, a NY commodities trader, decided he needed a warm alternative that would look good accompanying his boss outdoors on the way to meetings. Not finding good alternatives, he founded Norwegian Wool Coats. His goal: Create a coat that combined the warmth and performance of his ski jacket with the tailoring and design of his favorite wool coat.
Michael’s research confirmed the key issue behind the dilemma: Fashion designers are based in the warm climate of Italy, whereas high-performance coats (think Canada Goose) are based in northern climates where warm features are more important than style. Seeing a big gap in the market to fulfill both functions, Michael started Norwegian Wool in 2014, and with positive results on a small scale, quit his job in 2015 to focus on the business full-time.
Those of us with Raynaud’s will appreciate the time and attention to detail that went into planning these garm