66°North has launched a new product line to mark the company’s 100th anniversary, drawing inspiration from fishing net making and Iceland’s fishing industry. The line includes outdoor clothing, swimwear, a bag, a belt and a keyring. The bag features an outer layer made from recycled fishing net from Hampiðjan.
The product line is the result of a year-long collaboration between 66°North and Hampiðjan. From the outset, Hampiðjan’s staff worked closely with the 66°North design team to find a fishing net that would meet both the technical and visual requirements of the project. During that time, numerous types of netting were examined and tested, with factors such as raw material, twine thickness, mesh size, colour and the presence or absence of coating all taken into account.
As part of the search for the right material, the 66°North designers were also in contact with Hampidjan Baltic in Lithuania to explore the options available there. Product photography for the collection was also carried out at Hampiðjan’s net loft in Skarfagarðar, Reykjavík. In the end, the team selected recycled fishing net that 
retains the distinctive character of its origins while also complementing the design and functionality of the products.
The collaboration brings together two Icelandic companies with long histories rooted in the fishing industry. 66°North was founded in 1926 as Sjóklæðagerð Íslands (Icelandic Waterproof Clothing Company), manufacturing protective clothing for Icelandic fishermen. Hampiðjan was founded in 1934 and has spent more than nine decades developing and manufacturing fishing nets, fishing gear and related solutions for the fishing industry.
Although the two companies have evolved in different directions, they share a common heritage. Both were established to meet the needs of people working at sea and have built their expertise around developing products that perform reliably in demanding conditions. In this anniversary product line, recycled fishing net from Hampiðjan is given a new purpose, becoming part of a design inspired by the history of Icelandic fisheries.
View the collection here.
