Helly Hansen's history of innovation, dating back to 1877, aligns with the RNLI's lifesaving mission. The creation of waterproof and breathable fabrics has revolutionized marine and outdoor gear, directly benefiting RNLI volunteers. 

“Helly Hansen is actually a person,” explains Flaser. “Helly Juell Hansen, who was a seafaring captain back in 1877, had a crew who continued to get wet and cold. They weren't functioning the way they should. They weren't as productive as they could be. So, he had the ingenious idea of adding some linseed oil to cotton, really forming the first waterproof membrane or waterproof coating for a garment. This was the beginning of Helly Hansen as a company, based out of a little town called Moss, just to the south of Oslo.

“In the 1940s, we created a product called Helox, which really became the most industrious use of PVC or PU at the time. And then we rolled into the 1960s with our first pile, Fleece, which was a real invention and a real movement forward in the industry. In the 1970s, we developed with polypropylene, developed our first synthetic base layer, which we could combine with wool that gave us a real ability to move moisture away from the body to help people keep dry and warm. Then in the 1980s, we worked on developing our own form of waterproof breathable membrane, Helly Tech, and it became a system that we used as an ability for us to be able to customize the needs that we had, versus buying an off-the-shelf fabric solution, we could customize it to the levels that we needed it to be to keep our pros and our consumers healthy and happy.” 

The kit worn today by the RNLI is designed by Helly Hansen with a focus on safety, sustainability, and performance, incorporating feedback from real-life conditions to meet the specific needs of volunteers.

“We're really proud of the fact that the evolution has come from a basic rudimentary need of staying dry to now actually being a performance kit,” says Flaser. “What we try to do is really look at the design and development through three key focus areas. The safety elements include the reflectivity and high visibility. The sustainability perspective involves the materials we use and being the most innovative without compromising on the performance side. And performance comes in the form of how the fabrics work and interact with nature. It comes from how we can layer the systems together.” 

The collaboration between the RNLI and Helly Hansen extends beyond product development; it encompasses rigorous field testing in some of the most challenging environments. According to Flaser, "everything is predicated on what happens in the field, and real-life, real-time feedback is the most important thing." 

This approach ensures that the gear not only meets but exceeds the needs of those on the front lines of maritime rescue, enabling them to perform their duties safely and effectively.