Icelandic Clothing & Fashion Brands

But Iceland has a great deal more to offer than just the (admittedly lovely) woollen sweater. Take a small glance beneath the surface—or, even better, a short stroll through downtown Reykjavík—and you will discover a variety of beautiful and inventive designs for every occasion. To assist you in navigating this wealth of riches, here is our list of Iceland’s 11 most notable design houses.

KRON by KRONKRON

Though they make a wide variety of women’s clothing, including dresses, shawls and leggings, the husband-and-wife team that make up Kron are known primarily for their shoes. Their colourful, often floral patterns and intricate craftsmanship make their work instantly recognizable, and they’ve received worldwide acclaim for their one-of-a-kind aesthetic and the consistent quality of their output. 

Launching in 2008, they gained instant recognition for their vibrant style, their attention to detail and their original ways of combining fabrics and textures. Defying tradition and going their own way, they immediately marked the course that would lead them to where they are today… and what a place it is.

KRON by KRONKRON
Main outlet KRONKRON: 63 Laugavegur, 101 Reykjavík
Shoe outlet KRON: 48 Laugavegur. 101 Reykjavík

Inklaw

The first pure streetwear brand to come along in Iceland, Inklaw was started in 2013 by two friends who admired the contemporary hip-hop style of dress but found precious little of it in their local shops.

Entirely self-taught, they launched into experimentation, initially distributing simple designs to their friends, but soon expanding their influence through tireless productivity and social media marketing. 

• See also: Shopping in Iceland  

Today, while they do enjoy a fair bit of attention within Iceland, particularly among hip-hop heads, Inklaw has primarily cemented themselves internationally; the brand has gained acclaim with a wide variety of celebrities, such as Justin Bieber, Steve Aoki and Migos, as well as several NBA players.

Each piece is minimalistic and made by hand, often incorporating spray paint in the designs, and with the sleek modern designs on offer, it’s no surprise that Inklaw’s become a smash hit with people in the spotlight. With their brand rising rapidly, it’s safe to say this talented team of young designers is only just getting started.

Inklaw has no physical boutique in Iceland, but their clothing can be purchased through the Inklaw Website.

Myrka

Founded on the twin precepts of rebellion against establishment and expression of pure individuality, Myrka, led by Harpa Einarsdottir can best be described as an artistic, high-end streetwear label.

Incorporating an anti-trend, socially conscious platform married to a minimalist yet outré aesthetic, the designs tend toward monochrome, combined with subtle touches of contrasting colour. 

Inspired by Icelandic folk tales and mysticism, Myrka also wonderfully evokes the contrasts of Icelandic nature, given the juxtaposition of textures and colours on display. And, since mass production is the furthest thing from their philosophy, each piece is handcrafted, labelled and numbered—yours to keep, and no-one else’s.

In KIOSK, you’ll be able to purchase Myrka streetwear.

KIOSK

Ran by five big names in Icelandic fashion -  Anita Hirlekar, Bahns, Eyglo, Hlín Reykdal and Magnea - KIOSK has become something of an institution on the Reykjavík fashion scene. Co-owned by four Icelandic designers, each of whom takes turns behind the counter, it is an elegant boutique filled with premium designs from a carefully curated set of labels.

On offer: a wide variety of dresses, sweaters, shirts and trousers, mostly skewing female, but sporting some unisex pieces as well. 

EYGLO’s irreverent, colourful and frequently humorous designs mix with Milla Snorrason’s sleek striped black-and-white numbers, while Kyrja’s gracefully minimalistic pieces sit next to Sævar Markús’s mystically infused designs. For any fashion enthusiast visiting Reykjavik, KIOSK is one of the must-stops.

KIOSK Reykjavík
6 Ingólfsstræti, 101 Reykjavík

Farmers Market

Started in 2005, Farmers Market (known to most through their store names, “Farmers and Friends”) is a parade of contrasts: according to their own manifesto, they position themselves “on the crossroads between past and present, national and international, country and city.”

True to that creed, they are a fascinating combination of new and old, mixing classical Nordic design themes with more modernist touches. 

• Book Nature Tours here 

Their choice of fabrics is old school, with a focus on sustainability, and their entire aesthetic—right down to the environs in their two boutiques—is charmingly rustic, with wood and wool featuring prominently.

Their textiles are always prime grade, not just Icelandic but from places as far-flung as India and Australia. With their uncompromising attention to detail and quality, this is one design house you won’t regret shopping with—and regardless of what you get, you’ll most likely own that garment for the rest of your days.

Farmers & Friends
37 Laugavegur, 101 Reykjavík
2 Hólmaslóð, 101 Reykjavík

66° North

The wizened grandparent of Icelandic clothing design, 66° North is long established as a premium purveyor of high-end outerwear. Founded in 1926 in Reykjavík, the company originally provided fishermen with the rainwear they needed to withstand the buffeting fury of the Northern oceans, but it’s grown several nautical miles beyond that by now. 

• See also: Weather in Iceland and Best Time to Visit 

Over the course of the near-century they’ve been in existence, the company has been active and alert, constantly adapting their production to incorporate the latest in textile technologies for their varied high-end lines of technical wear.

If you’re doing anything at all outside of the capital, they will serve you well. It’s a tad on the pricey side, but with 66° North, you always get what you pay for.

Click to see All 66° North Retail locations

Herrafataverzlun Kormáks & Skjaldar

Another institution, Kormákur & Skjöldur have long ago ensured that in the hearts and minds of any even remotely traditionally fashion-conscious male in the greater Reykjavík area, they are the one, the only and the ultimate. And with good reason: entering the store itself is like a rite of passage.

They gently ask you what you’re looking for today. If you say a bow tie, you will be gently directed towards the bow ties. If you say a suit, you will be gently directed towards a cavernous space where choice paralysis will soon overtake you; there is simply too much beautiful clothing on offer for you to parse it properly.

Your best bet is to just spin in a circle, point at something and have someone bag it up for you. In this place, you can’t possibly go wrong.

Herrafataverzlun Kormáks & Skjaldar
59 Laugavegur, 101 Reykjavík

STEiNUNN Boutique

In a design landscape that already tends to draw heavy inspiration from the country’s actual landscape and culture, STEiNUNN’s nature influence is possibly the most striking.

This is evident in the names of her collections (“The Lava Glass Collection” and “The Black Snow Collection” among them), but also in the flavour of her designs: Knitwork is prominent, and she often uses traditional Icelandic fabrics with inventive modern twists. 

• See also: The Fascinating History of Icelandic Architecture 

Since coming onto the scene in 1986, she has won over 15 international awards in addition to giving dozens of lectures and exhibitions. One of the most celebrated designers in Iceland’s history, her boutique is another must-visit.

STEiNUNN Boutique
17 Grandagarður (Old Harbour), 101 Reykjavík

Hildur Yeoman

Another of the scene’s biggest stars, Hildur Yeoman is known for her frequent and distinctive use of imagery, with pictures—sometimes even photographs—featuring heavily in her designs.

Though she is known primarily as a fashion designer, the essence of her work is found in these visual elements, and a case could legitimately be made for her being a visual artist first and foremost, just one who happens to specialise in clothing.

Her boutique, which opened in 2017, features a number of other designers’ work in addition to her own. It’s not limited to clothes, either; along with beautiful garments of many types, the shop offers a variety of goods, including jewellery, shoes, lingerie and various interesting trinkets and ornaments.

Yeoman Boutique
22b Skólavörðustígur, 101 Reykjavík

Another Creation

One of Iceland’s most innovative and forward-thinking design outlets, Another Creation offers personalised avant-garde high fashion, with the distinguishing element being a sort of modular functionality: each garment has parts that can be removed, mixed and matched, allowing the customer to decide for themselves the final configuration of the piece.

The designs themselves tend towards monochrome and beige, sometimes shot through with veins of gold, favouring more reflective fabrics such as silk and leather rather than earthier textures. Unique among its peers, this house is well worth checking out.

Another Creation
Studio: 12 Miðstræti, 101 Reykjavík (open1PM - 5PM weekdays)
Also available at the Kiosk Boutique, 6 Ingólfsstræti, 101 Reykjavík

The Handknitting Association of Iceland

Last but not least, special mention must be made of this small basement shop in the centre of Skólavörðustígur.

It’s a cramped and cosy no-frills space that offers what are very simply the finest-quality traditional Icelandic woollen sweaters you can find (in addition to everything you could possibly need if you want to do some knitting of your own). 

• See also: Secret Spots & Hidden Gems in Reykjavík 

Despite the homey environs, it's not a budget shop—a sweater will run you around USD $200, with a tax rebate to the tune of $30—but out of all the expensive things you can get in Iceland, this is one of the best buys you can make.

This is where you will find a beautiful garment that will last you a lifetime, and they don’t make ‘em better anywhere.

The Handknitting Association of Iceland
19 Skólavörðustígur, 101 Reykjavík