Norwegian Rain founders receive the highest Norwegian design award
It is with immense pride and joy that we announce our founders, Michael Tetteh Nartey (T-Michael) and Alexander Torgnes Helle, have been honored with the Jacob Award by Design and Architecture Norway (DOGA). This prestigious award, the highest recognition for active designers in Norway, celebrates their groundbreaking contributions to fashion and textile design.
Press release from DOGA
Rainwear entrepreneurs receive the highest Norwegian design award
They have put Bergen and Norway on the international fashion map with their high-quality urban rainwear. Now, fashion designers Alexander Helle and Michael Tetteh Nartey (known as T-Michael) receive the prestigious Jacob Award from Design and Architecture Norway (DOGA).
The prize was awarded at the textile conference of NF&TA in Oslo on 19 November.
“Norwegian Rain is an example of how Norwegian manufacturers who invest wholeheartedly in quality, sustainability and design, can achieve great success both internationally and here in Norway,” says Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry, Cecilie Myrseth.
According to the Jacob Award jury, this year’s recipients have been trailblazers for Norwegian fashion and textile design. “Since they founded Norwegian Rain in 2010, they have managed to combine innovative material technology with classic tailoring. Inspired by Bergen’s rainy climate, they have developed waterproof clothing that is both practical and stylish, appealing to urban, fashion-conscious people worldwide,” states the jury’s rationale.
Norwegian Design with Global Appeal
Helle and T-Michael have opened flagship stores in Bergen, Oslo, Paris, and Tokyo. Today, 75 percent of their production is aimed at export – a clear indication that Norwegian design has international appeal.
“The plan was all along to get out into the world. When you create clothing, you are competing with the whole world anyway. To assert ourselves, we must have a quality and an identity that stands out,” says T-Michael.
The company has emphasized a sustainable business model that limits overproduction. Looking ahead, they are focusing on a concept store model and are already present in a variety of stores and high-traffic locations like hotels and museums. Here, customers can feel the fabrics, try on the fit, and then choose their color via an online ordering solution.
“We want to be part of the solution, not the problem. We are no longer interested in overproduction or massive clothing inventories,” says Helle.
Jury's statement (Norwegian)
Begrunnelse fra Jacob-prisens jury 2024 v/Guri Mo
Jacob-prisen 2024 tildeles T-Michael og Alexander Helle som en anerkjennelse av deres banebrytende arbeid for norsk mote og tekstildesign. I sitt virke forener de tradisjonell skreddersøm med moderne teknologi og estetisk sans og balanserer kommersiell innsikt med kunstnerisk håndverk. De treffer en nerve som resonnerer med dagens tidsånd, og som gir dem en særstilling både i det norske og internasjonale motebilde.
T-Michael og Alexander Helle er verdensledende på sitt fagfelt og fremmer også norsk design på en enestående måte internasjonalt. De har oppnådd stor suksess i flere land og har flaggskipbutikker i Tokyo og Paris.
Siden de startet Norwegian Rain i 2010, har de klart å forene nyskapende materialteknologi med klassisk skreddersøm. Inspirert av Bergens våte kima, har de utviklet vanntette klær som både er praktiske og stilfulle og appellerer til de urbane og motebevisste.
T-Michael, opprinnelig fra Ghana og nå bosatt i Bergen, har bakgrunn som skredder og jobber i skjæringspunktet mellom kunst og håndverk. Hans design er en blanding av tradisjonell skreddersøm og nyskapende konsepter. Fra hans hånd kommer plagg av høy kvalitet, rike på kulturelle referanser og raffinerte detaljer.
Alexander Helle, en bergenser med en mastergrad i business, har kreativ nysgjerrighet, estetisk sans og kommersiell teft. Denne kombinasjonen har vært avgjørende for å omsette ideer til produkter som lykkes i markedet.
Lidenskapen de begge har for design, form og kvalitet er fundamentet i samarbeidet mellom Helle og T-Michael. Nøkkelen til suksess er at de utfyller hverandre når det kommer til kompetanse og egenskaper. Helles kommersielle bakgrunn og fokus på funksjonalitet sammen med T-Michaels dedikasjon til håndverk og detaljer gir et unikt partnerskap.
T-Michael og Alexander Helle er en motvekt til fast fashion. De prioriterer kvalitet, overlegne materialer, dyktige håndverkere og bærekraftig produksjon. Deres tidløse plagg er laget for å vare. Slik setter de en standard i motebransje som andre ser opp til.
Om Jacob-prisen
Jacob-prisen ble innstiftet i 1957 og er oppkalt etter den første som mottok prisen – gullsmeden Jacob Tostrup Prytz.
Jacob-prisen deles årlig ut av Design og arkitektur Norge (DOGA). Prisen gis til aktive utøvere som har dokumentert utmerket arbeid innenfor fagområdene design og arkitektur, har hatt stor innflytelse på sitt fagområde eller flyttet grensen mellom fagområder. DOGA oppnevner en uavhengig fagjury som vurderer kandidater nominert av både publikum og juryen selv.
Jacob-prisens jury 2024
Guri Mo, interiørarkitekt og partner, ZINC (juryleder); Jon Amund Søfferud, fagansvarlig og prosjektleder, Manufacture Oslo; Linn Riise Handal, landskapsarkitekt, og prosjektleder, Curve Studio; Are Kleivan, grafisk designer og eier, Are Kleivan Studio; Eva Tøftum, senior industridesigner, reMarkable.
Tidligere vinnere
I sin mer enn 60 år lange historie har bla. disse mottatt Jacob-prisen: designer Grete Prytz Kittelsen, arkitekt Sverre Fehn, industridesigner Tias Eckhoff, møbeldesigner Peter Opsvik, tekstildesigner Sigrun Berg, klesdesigner Solveig Hisdal, arkitekt Reiulf Ramstad, interaksjonsbyrået Bengler, klesdesigner Elisabeth Stray Pedersen, designbyrået Goods og landskapsarkitekt og arkitektkontoret Lala Tøyen.
Jury's statement (English, machine-translated)
Rationale from the Jacob Prize Jury 2024 by Guri Mo
This is an unofficial version of the Jury’s statement (available in Norwegian only), machine translated using AI tools.
The Jacob Prize 2024 is awarded to T-Michael and Alexander Helle in recognition of their groundbreaking work in Norwegian fashion and textile design. Through their craft, they combine traditional tailoring with modern technology and aesthetic sensibility, balancing commercial insight with artistic craftsmanship. They strike a chord that resonates with the spirit of the times, securing them a unique position in both the Norwegian and international fashion scenes.
T-Michael and Alexander Helle are world leaders in their field and promote Norwegian design in an outstanding way internationally. They have achieved significant success in multiple countries and have flagship stores in Tokyo and Paris.
Since founding Norwegian Rain in 2010, they have successfully merged innovative material technology with classic tailoring. Inspired by Bergen’s rainy climate, they have developed waterproof garments that are both practical and stylish, appealing to the urban and fashion-conscious.
T-Michael, originally from Ghana and now based in Bergen, has a background as a tailor and works at the intersection of art and craftsmanship. His designs blend traditional tailoring with innovative concepts, resulting in high-quality garments rich in cultural references and refined details.
Alexander Helle, a native of Bergen with a master’s degree in business, combines creative curiosity, aesthetic sensibility, and commercial acumen. This combination has been essential in transforming ideas into products that succeed in the market.
Their shared passion for design, form, and quality forms the foundation of their collaboration. The key to their success lies in how they complement each other’s skills and attributes. Helle’s commercial background and focus on functionality, paired with T-Michael’s dedication to craftsmanship and detail, create a unique partnership.
T-Michael and Alexander Helle are a counterbalance to fast fashion. They prioritize quality, superior materials, skilled artisans, and sustainable production. Their timeless garments are made to last, setting a standard in the fashion industry that others aspire to.
About the Jacob Prize
The Jacob Prize was established in 1957 and is named after its first recipient, goldsmith Jacob Tostrup Prytz.
The prize is awarded annually by Design and Architecture Norway (DOGA). It recognizes active practitioners who have demonstrated excellent work in the fields of design and architecture, have significantly influenced their field, or have pushed the boundaries between disciplines. DOGA appoints an independent professional jury to evaluate candidates nominated by both the public and the jury itself.
Jacob Prize Jury 2024
Guri Mo: Interior architect and partner, ZINC (jury chair)
Jon Amund Søfferud: Professional lead and project manager, Manufacture Oslo
Linn Riise Handal: Landscape architect and project manager, Curve Studio
Are Kleivan: Graphic designer and owner, Are Kleivan Studio
Eva Tøftum: Senior industrial designer, reMarkable.
Past Winners
In its more than 60-year history, notable recipients of the Jacob Prize include designer Grete Prytz Kittelsen, architect Sverre Fehn, industrial designer Tias Eckhoff, furniture designer Peter Opsvik, textile designer Sigrun Berg, clothing designer Solveig Hisdal, architect Reiulf Ramstad, interaction agency Bengler, clothing designer Elisabeth Stray Pedersen, design agency Goods, and the landscape and architecture firm Lala Tøyen.
