Explore More - 2019

Dale of NORWAY Famous

Dale of NORWAY Famous for its classic designs and supreme quality, this heritage knitwear brand is sold on board Viking ships. The story behind it is an inspiring tale of eco-entrepreneurialism The village of Dale is nestled between steep mountains, waterfalls and fjords on the west coast of Norway. It was these natural resources that made Norwegian businessman Peder Jebsen recognize Dale as an ideal place to establish a textile production facility utilizing the valley’s potential for natural hydropower—and easy access to the finest Norwegian wool. He secured the rights for the local waterfalls, and soon afterward, steamboats loaded with new machines from England arrived. The Dale of Norway textile facility was completed in 1879 and has remained active in Dale ever since. The company grew very quickly, becoming the largest employer in the region. Skilled knitters and artisans joined the business, and it was not unusual for several family members to make their livelihood working for it, passing on their expertise to the next generation. Dale of Norway has long been recognized as the leading Norwegian knitwear brand and is known for its outstanding quality and important innovations. Based on research with different wool types, in 1912 the brand introduced premium worsted wool that helped create the long-lasting quality and sumptuous feel that has remained synonymous with Dale of Norway to this day. This commitment to excellence has seen the brand sponsor the Norwegian national ski teams since 1956. Dale of Norway has launched a collection designed exclusively for Viking including a ladies’ Viking Ragnhild sweater and a men’s Viking Tor sweater. The zipper pull on the Viking Tor is the same shape as the Thor’s hammer jewelry, which is sold on board all Viking ships, while the Viking Ragnhild showcases the Viking brooch design on its zipper pull. The pattern for the women’s sweater was inspired by textiles on the famous Oseberg ship. ECO-FRIENDLY AND COMPLETELY NATURAL Dale of Norway has a long and proud history of environmentally friendly products and production. Its knitwear is made with 100% natural wool, one of the most eco-friendly fibers available. In fact, it is often called “nature’s own Clockwise, from above left: Karine Hagen in a Dale of Norway sweater; the brand has always been popular with both men and women; the Tor design in the Viking collection high-tech fiber” due to its superior properties. Furthermore, Dale of Norway’s production is powered by sustainable hydroelectric energy generated by local waterfalls in the valley, and only environmentally friendly materials are used in the production of all its knitwear. Dale of Norway’s award-winning Knitshell jackets are a technical wonder made with wool. Naturally water-repellent yarn is given a soft, windproof finish to create comfortable, sporty and elegant jackets for a range of uses —perfect for skiing and hiking even in the harshest weather conditions. These striking designs travel easily from the mountains to the city. 22 VIKING.COM | EXPLORE MORE 2019

CULTURE A piece APART Museums Kopi Smykker, a Denmark-based company, casts and hand-produces replicas of Viking jewelry from master molds On board our river and ocean ships, we are proud to introduce our guests to a line of jewelry from Museums Kopi Smykker. These beautiful pieces are replicas of authentic artifacts from Scandinavia and Europe, inspired by actual jewelry pieces and early Viking motifs. The replicas are made from 14- and 8-karet gold, sterling silver and bronze in the company’s own workshop on Funen. On our ocean cruise ships, we have taken inspiration from original Viking motifs, applying them as designs on windows and menus. We have carried these through to onboard fashion with a Dale of Norway sweater for men and for women, designed exclusively for Viking. The men’s navy sweater features a zipper pull of a Thor’s hammer, inspired by a piece of Viking jewelry. The women’s sweater, its design taken from textiles of the Oseberg ship, has a zipper pull featuring the round brooch motif. You can see these stylish items on our staff at Guest Services. Happy shopping! EXPLORE MORE 2019 VIKING.COM 23