Q&A with Helly Hansen's Kari Andersen
by Beki Knowles 30 May 2016 13:14 BST
30 May 2016
Helly Hansen Team SCA kit © Helly Hansen
Kari Andersen has been working for Helly Hansen at its HQ in Oslo, Norway since 2009. She started as a Product Developer and has worked with flotation, sailing, ski and mountain gear and accessories. Most recently, Kari has worked as Design and Development Manager with a team of seven “Professional Services” colleagues. These special projects have included the Volvo Ocean Race (VOR), national alpine ski team, Walking With The Wounded, coast guard and rescue uniforms, and ski resorts.
Q: What does a typical day or project look like for you?
Kari: My days vary a lot – often a project starts with a customer meeting to decide the products, then I go back to the drawing table and make sketches and build the styles after given specifications, before travelling to the factory in Asia or Europe to ensure test samples are within requirements. Once this has happened, the product(s) then go back to the customer for field testing and adjustments, before being approved for production. I follow the products closely throughout the process.
Q: Please can you tell us more about the Volvo Ocean Race project, in particular about the Team SCA. How did the partnership happen? How long did the planning take?
Kari: Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15, was a very exciting project that started 18 months ahead of the race start. Our partnership came to life as both SCA and Helly Hansen share many of the same values – both are experts in their fields, and want to offer the best and most innovative products possible. Sailing is one of Helly Hansen’s expert areas and by adding a women’s team – Team SCA – it was a good challenge for our brand.
Q: Did you continue to make changes to their kit during the Volvo Ocean Race? Were there any challenges? How did you overcome them?
Kari: As all women, the sailors in Team SCA were conscious of all details – such as comfort, fit and appearance. The fit was a bigger challenge this year compared to earlier VORs, as we had to develop a heavy duty collection suitable for female sailors – all varying in height and size, but that also fit the support crew, which were mostly men. Ahead of the race and during the Volvo Ocean Race, I met the sailors and amended their kit to ensure best performance for each leg of the race. Sewing fleece lining for extra warmth, adjusting leg lengths on pants and survival suits, changing and repairing neck and cuff seals on heavy ocean gear, applying heat transfers, and developing new midlayer pieces such as salopettes and jackets during the race based on the necessary requirements identified, by the team.
Q: What did you learn from the project?
Kari: You can never prepare for all situations on a project like VOR, but when we started the project there would be many long days, travelling and problem solving required onsite. However, when the amazing women from Team SCA won the Lisbon-Lorient leg, (which is my favourite movement during this project!) you just know it’s all worth it! We celebrated with champagne in the Helly Hansen office that day!
After such a successful project, it’s important to take all feedback back to the drawing table and into consideration for further opportunities. The feedback from professionals is so important for Helly Hansen, as it enables us to develop our gear based on user needs and demands. During VOR, we had feedback coming in directly from the boat during the race, plus feedback sessions with the sailors and support crew ahead of the race in Lanzarote and Alicante, as well as during the Cape Town, Lisbon and Gothenburg stopovers. Based on feedback from the female sailors, Helly Hansen designed and created a new female sailing collection, which will be launched for summer 2017 – watch this space!
During a long term project like this, I learned and experienced new things almost every day. Not only about developing sailing gear, but also about the lifestyle and environment of sailing. Honestly, I wasn’t a “sailing person” before this project, I’m more a mountain and winter experienced person. But during this project, I took sailing lessons, went sailing with ambassadors and felt the “buzz”! And I liked it! You’ll be pleased to know, I’m still sailing today!
Q: What’s your favourite thing about your job, and why?
Kari: To be part of a team that develops gear together with the professionals, whether it is for sailing, mountain or ski – it’s what makes my job so interesting, challenging and a lot of fun! No one project is the same!
Q: What’s your favourite piece of kit you’ve designed? Why?
Kari: My favourite kit is a set of a 3-layer jacket and pant that was designed and developed together with the charity organisation, Walking With The Wounded (WWTW), which Helly Hansen has been sponsoring since 2010. Making specially-developed gear for the North and South Pole expeditions, together with the polar expedition guide, Inge Solheim, and the soldiers (and HRH Prince Harry!) was a great experience. The set’s design, fabric and functionality with its simplicity is so usable and has since been used in several expeditions. Today, it is the working uniform for search and rescue organisations, such as Norwegian People Aid.
Q: What is your career highlight or favourite memory? Why?
Kari: The highlights from the projects I have worked on are the WWTW South Pole expedition when handing out the kit at a training camp in Iceland. We had worked non-stop day and night with preparations, and to see the enthusiasm and gratitude among the soldiers the morning after was just great!
My other highlight would be from the VOR, when Team SCA won the Lisbon-Lorient leg. Tracking the boat on the app created a crazy engagement and excitement in the office, texting and emailing each other with updates day and night!
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