It is over 120 years since Helly Juell Hansen made his first waterproof sailing jacket. Helly was a Norwegian sailor who spent his life fighting the forces of nature. At the age of 15, and after only five years at sea, he passed the Mate's examination. Five years later he obtained his Master's certificate. Throughout this time in the North Sea he felt the weather pounding his body. To afford some protection innumerable hours were spent oiling clothes to make them waterproof before bad weather set in.
Helly Hansen wanted more protection than this so when he came ashore he took it upon himself to develop better rainwear for Norwegian seamen.
