Oslo Nights

 This years Nåløyet Award winners are Norwegian Rain and Cala & Jade.

- Norwegian Rain won because they stood out from the other nominees. Their technical level is very high, the concept is unique, strong and very pure. They are such worthy winners, says Gisle Mardal, head of jury and director of Norwegian Fashion Institute.

We are well into this seasons Fashion Week, and fashionistas are gathering to sip sparkling liquids and kiss cheeks at all the fashion shows and events. Tonight was the night of the annual, prestigeous Nåløyet – “The eye of a needle” – awards by Henne, where Norway’s most talented and promising designers are cheered and rewarded.

A jury of both national and international knowledgeable judges, mostly within the fashion industry, have had the tough job of choosing the candidates, and subsequently the even tougher job of deciding the winner.

Gisle Mardal agrees to the fact that it certainly gets more and more difficult to chose which candidates to include in the nomination process, as the industry level has increased the past years.

This year Norwegian Rain, created by the designduo Alexander Helle and T-Michael, won the price of Best Designer.

-  It feels absolutely delightful to have won! Many of the other candidates are good friends of ours, and we know how competent and talented they are, so we feel really honored to even be nominated, Alexander Helle of Norwegian Rain, tell us backstage.

The brand with the catchy name focuses solely on raincoats, an idea sprung out of Alexander Helle living in Bergen for most of his life. Craving better looking outerwear living under constant rainclouds, he persuaded his friend and tailor T-Michael to join in on his project.

Read “Bergen Showers” – the story about Norwegian Rain design.

Now Norwegian Rain is very popular in Bergen, but the designduo are also trying to make it internationally, and are particulary «big in Japan», with the fashionable Japanese fancying their minimalistic, slighty avant garde esthetics.

-  I hope this award will give us a foot in the door, one that it will lead to all kinds of exciting opportunities. Either way, to win feels like a huge vitaminboost!, Helle continues.

Cala & Jade won the price of Best accessorize designer.

- Their love for their field and work, and the brilliant consept of the «moduls» made them clear and worthy winners, though the competition was tough, says Gisle Mardal.

Words: Caroline Westbye Krager, Photo: Rut Gjævert