Brands like Norse Projects: 6 alternatives, from workwear staples to technical outerwear
The closest matches to Norse Projects, in our view, are Arc'teryx, THE NORTH FACE Purple Label and Carhartt WIP: brands that sit between workwear, outdoor clothing and plain everyday basics. Wikipedia says Norse Projects was founded in 2004 as a retail streetwear shop and art gallery, and lists Copenhagen as its headquarters, and FashionUnited credits Anton Juul, Mikkel Gronnebaek and Tobia Sloth. Carhartt WIP also began on the distribution side: its timeline says it was established in 1994 to be the exclusive distributor of Carhartt in Europe.
Norse Projects' prices are in euros on END., so the price notes say 'no like-for-like price' unless a real match exists, and we found none. We have sorted the picks by what you are probably after: outdoor and technical fabrics, Italian sportswear, or a widely stocked workwear route.
Last verified · 49 sources checked · how we chose
The short answer
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Closest on outdoor and technical
Wikipedia says it began in North Vancouver in 1989 as Rock Solid; Highsnobiety describes a Palace capsule built around an Alpha SV GORE-TEX jacket.
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Everyday outdoor from Japan
Hypebeast describes casual wear blended with technical fabrics in a more fashion-forward style.
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Workwear route, widely stocked
HBX calls it 'the streetwear version of Carhartt'.
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Italian sportswear, adidas and New Balance
Wikipedia lists collaborations with Adidas, New Balance, Supreme and Nike.
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Italian garment-dyed outerwear
The brand's site calls garment dyeing a defining hallmark of its collections.
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Tokyo military and workwear
Heddels says later work added traditional workwear and Ivy League style to early olive drab and camouflage.
What 'like Norse Projects' usually means
In our view, alternatives usually offer one or more of three things: the plain, functional look (minimal design, muted colours), the workwear and outerwear heritage, or the shop-turned-label story. Few brands deliver all of them.
Wikipedia describes Norse Projects as blending influences from streetwear and classical workwear with high-end fashion, and Lex.dk describes a functional aesthetic that bridges skate culture and Nordic minimalism. The official site lists knitwear, trousers, sweatshirts, shirting, T-shirts, outerwear and accessories, with collections including Core and Gore-Tex. Highsnobiety lists collaborations with Vans in 2013, Dr. Martens in 2016, and adidas and New Balance silhouettes in 2017.
On END. in October 2026, with no sale marking, the Standard T-Shirt in white was €70, the Standard Hoodie in black or dark navy €225, Standard Chinos €199 and the Arresskov Compact Cotton Shirt Jacket €265.
6 brands like Norse Projects, ranked by how close they get
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#1 · $$$–$$$$
The closest on outerwear in our view. Wikipedia says Arc'teryx began in 1989 in North Vancouver as Rock Solid and was renamed in 1991. We could not confirm the founding year on the brand's own site.
What it shares
- Technical outerwear: Highsnobiety describes a Palace x Arc'teryx capsule with the Alpha SV GORE-TEX jacket as its hero piece, and the Norse Projects site lists a Gore-Tex collection
- Brand collaborations: Highsnobiety describes a Palace capsule, and Off-White FW20 gowns made from altered Arc'teryx jackets, saying whether a bigger project would follow remained to be seen; Highsnobiety says Norse Projects teamed up with Vans, Dr. Martens, adidas and New Balance
- A premium line within an outdoor brand: Wikipedia describes Veilance, founded in 2009, as Arc'teryx's luxury formal streetwear line
Where it differs
- Arc'teryx's site labels it 'an Amer Sports Brand'; we could not find a source that states who owns Norse Projects
- Arc'teryx's site links an outlet and a 'Find a store' page but gives no store count
- Price vs Norse Projects
- No like-for-like price. OutdoorGearLab gave the Beta SL jacket a list price of $500 USD in March 2025; the Canadian storefront showed a Cormac Hoody at $120 with only a dollar sign. Norse Projects' jackets on END. are in euros: the Arresskov Compact Cotton Shirt Jacket at €265.
- Best for
- Technical outerwear and hoodies from an outdoor specialist.
Beta SL jacket (previously Beta LT), list price $500 USD (OutdoorGearLab review, 5 March 2025) · Cormac Hoody, arcteryx.com Canadian storefront $120.00 (dollar sign only) (arcteryx.com, Oct 2026) · Cormac Hoodie, evo Canada (Serene Heather, sold out) CA$100.00 (evo, Oct 2026) · Kragg Canvas, Asphaltgold (was EUR 159, sold out) EUR 67 (Asphaltgold, Oct 2026)
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#2 · $$$–$$$$
Goldwin's history dates the start of Purple Label sales and nanamica's founding to 2003. It is a Japan-focused line, so availability is the catch.
What it shares
- Everyday clothing built from technical fabrics: Hypebeast describes casual wear blended with technical fabrics in a more fashion-forward style; Highsnobiety says Norse Projects worked with GORE-TEX on its signature jackets
- Workwear-flavoured outdoor styling: Houyhnhnm describes urban outdoor, naming 65/35 bay head cloth, an oversized trail jacket and overalls based on US Navy deck pants; Wikipedia describes Norse Projects as blending streetwear and classical workwear
- Muted colour: Houyhnhnm names a palette of white, navy and gray
Where it differs
- Gear Patrol reported in October 2016 that Purple Label was available only in Japan, and Complex reported in February 2019 that it had never previously reached Europe; Norse Projects' site has a country selector covering Denmark, Norway, Europe, the UK and the US
- Highsnobiety says the label is owned by Goldwin, while Hypebeast calls it an imprint of The North Face
- Price vs Norse Projects
- No like-for-like price. Houyhnhnm gave the 65/35 Trail Jacket at ¥35,200 and Trail Hooded Parka at ¥28,600 in March 2022, with no tax status stated. Norse Projects' prices on END. are in euros.
- Best for
- Understated outdoor clothing, if you can source it from Japan.
65/35 Trail Jacket, nanamica capsule ¥35,200 (Houyhnhnm, 7 March 2022) · 65/35 Trail Pants, nanamica capsule ¥23,100 (Houyhnhnm, 7 March 2022) · Trail Hooded Parka, nanamica capsule ¥28,600 (Houyhnhnm, 7 March 2022) · Field Long Sleeve Striped Tee, Forget-me-nots ¥16,500 (Forget-me-nots, Oct 2026)
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#3 · $$
The brand's newsroom says Carhartt WIP was established in 1994 by Edwin Faeh. It is the more widely available option here, with over 100 stores across Europe, Asia and the US.
What it shares
- Workwear as the starting point: the brand describes adapting the core products of the American workwear brand Carhartt; Wikipedia describes Norse Projects as blending streetwear and classical workwear
- A distribution and retail start: the timeline says it was established to be the exclusive distributor of Carhartt in Europe, and Wikipedia says Norse Projects began as a retail streetwear shop and art gallery
- Footwear and brand collaborations: its US About page lists Converse, Nike, Patta and Vans; Highsnobiety lists Vans for Norse Projects in 2013
Where it differs
- Wikipedia says Carhartt WIP is often marketed as comparable to Stüssy or Supreme; Lex.dk describes Norse Projects as bridging skate culture and Nordic minimalism
- The newsroom says Carhartt WIP operates over 100 retail stores across Europe, Asia and the US; Wikipedia places Norse Projects' flagship in central Copenhagen
- Price vs Norse Projects
- No like-for-like price. END. (UK) listed the Hooded Chase Crew Sweat at £69, in pounds, against Norse Projects' euro prices on END.; Carhartt WIP's euro figures we have are sale prices.
- Best for
- Workwear basics from a widely stocked label.
Chase T-shirt, Shale/Gold €39.99 (sale) (Impericon, Oct 2026) · Hooded Chase Crew Sweat, Grey Heather & Gold £69 (END. (UK), Oct 2026) · Single Knee Pant, Blue Worn Used Wash £87.95 (sale; regular £119.95) (Urban Industry, Oct 2026)
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#4 · $$$–$$$$
Wikipedia says designer Massimo Osti founded Stone Island in 1982 in Ravarino, Italy. Business of Fashion reported that Moncler announced in December 2020 it would acquire the brand.
What it shares
- Functional, military-influenced clothing: Wikipedia describes sportswear and nautical influences with military-inspired details and a functional look; Wikipedia describes Norse Projects as blending streetwear and classical workwear
- adidas and New Balance on both sides: Wikipedia lists Adidas and New Balance among Stone Island's collaborations; Highsnobiety says Norse Projects worked on adidas and New Balance silhouettes in 2017
Where it differs
- BSTN describes the removable compass patch as the brand's marker; Urban Industry describes a distinctly Scandinavian approach to simplicity for Norse Projects
- The Industry reported that Moncler would buy just over 50% of Stone Island from Carlo Rivetti; we could not find a source that states who owns Norse Projects
- Price vs Norse Projects
- No like-for-like price. END. Canada listed a Patch Logo T-shirt at CA$275, in Canadian dollars, so we do not compare it with Norse Projects' €70 T-shirt.
- Best for
- Italian sportswear with a recognisable patch.
Patch Logo T-shirt, END. Canada CA$275 (END. Canada, Oct 2026) · Garment Dyed Hoodie, END. Canada (Sage on sale at CA$364) CA$560 (END. Canada, Oct 2026) · Patch Logo Polo, END. Canada CA$309 to CA$325 (END. Canada, Oct 2026) · GHOST Bomber jacket, Breuninger Netherlands EUR 895 (Breuninger, Oct 2026)
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#5 · $$–$$$$
The brand's own site says Massimo Osti founded Chester Perry in 1971 and that it was renamed C.P. Company in 1978. Archivio85 gives 1975, a conflicting date.
What it shares
- Military, workwear and sportswear influences: the brand's site describes that blend, and Wikipedia describes Norse Projects as blending streetwear and classical workwear
- adidas collaborations: Wikipedia lists a 2021 collaboration with adidas Spezial, and Highsnobiety says Norse Projects worked on adidas silhouettes in 2017
Where it differs
- The Clothes Supplier says C.P. Company is subtler than Stone Island, with details such as goggle hoods and lens sleeves; Urban Industry describes a distinctly Scandinavian approach to simplicity at Norse Projects
- MAM-e says C.P. Company was sold in 2010 to FGF Industry and in December 2015 to Tristate Holdings Limited
- Price vs Norse Projects
- No like-for-like price. cpcompany.com listed the Flatt Nylon Lens Re-Colour Overshirt at £595 (checked October 2026). Archivio85's euro listings were sale prices on out-of-stock items, such as a T-shirt reduced from €99.95 to €79.95, so we do not compare them with Norse Projects' €70 T-shirt.
- Best for
- Italian goggle-hood outerwear and garment dyeing.
Eco-Chrome R Mixed Re-Colour Goggle Jacket, cpcompany.com £975.00 (cpcompany.com, Oct 2026) · Eco-Chrome R Mixed Re-Colour Hooded Gilet, cpcompany.com £750.00 (cpcompany.com, Oct 2026) · Flatt Nylon Lens Re-Colour Overshirt, cpcompany.com £595.00 (cpcompany.com, Oct 2026) · Jersey 30/1 label print crew T-shirt, Archivio85 (original €99.95, sale €79.95, out of stock) €79.95 sale (Archivio85, Oct 2026) · Garment dyed Chrome-R lens pocket cargo pants, Archivio85 (original €329.95, sale €179.95, out of stock) €179.95 sale (Archivio85, Oct 2026) · Pro-Tek shell lens detail hooded jacket, Archivio85 (original €399.95, sale €269.95, out of stock) €269.95 sale (Archivio85, Oct 2026) · Chrome nylon bucket hat, Archivio85 (original €129.95, sale €99.95, out of stock) €99.95 sale (Archivio85, Oct 2026)
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#6 · $$–$$$$
The brand's site and Heddels date WTAPS to 1996 and credit Tetsu Nishiyama, while Highsnobiety and END. say 1997.
What it shares
- Workwear and military codes: Heddels says later work added traditional workwear and Ivy League style; Wikipedia describes Norse Projects as blending streetwear and classical workwear
- Vans on both sides: Heddels says the first WTAPS x Vans collection came in 2006, and Highsnobiety says Norse Projects teamed up with Vans in 2013
Where it differs
- Highsnobiety names GPS coordinates, a sickle logo and a tagline among WTAPS' signatures; Lex.dk describes Norse Projects' aesthetic as functional
- Highsnobiety says WTAPS opened its first and only flagship, GIP-Store, in 2011 and until recently sold only from its showroom
- Price vs Norse Projects
- No like-for-like price. Overkill listed a BDY 01 cotton T-shirt at €155 with no sale label (checked October 2026). It is a different design from Norse Projects' €70 Standard T-Shirt on END., so we do not compare them.
- Best for
- Military-coded Tokyo clothing, at a higher price point.
Vans Vault x WTAPS hoodie (Smokey Olive) $125 (StockX retail price, released Dec 2022) · WTAPS x New Balance Academy long-sleeve T-shirt (Heather Grey) $150 (StockX retail price, released Aug 2021) · BDY 01 cotton T-shirt (pink) €155 (Overkill, Oct 2026) · Ghill sweater (black) €179 (Overkill, Oct 2026) · SDDT2001 ripstop trousers (olive drab) €235 (Overkill, Oct 2026) · Standard Supply x WTAPS hanging pouch €69 (Overkill, Oct 2026) · Pertex x WTAPS T-7 cap €95 (Overkill, Oct 2026)
At a glance
| Brand | From | Price tier | vs Norse Projects | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norse Projects | Copenhagen | $$–$$$$ | — | Danish minimalism, Gore-Tex outerwear, workwear basics |
| Arc'teryx | Vancouver | $$$–$$$$ | No like-for-like price | Alpha SV jacket, GORE-TEX shells |
| THE NORTH FACE Purple Label | Tokyo | $$$–$$$$ | No like-for-like price | Field jackets, nanamica collaboration |
| Carhartt WIP | Germany | $$ | No like-for-like price | Workwear, Detroit jacket |
| Stone Island | Italy | $$$–$$$$ | No like-for-like price | Compass patch, garment-dyed fabrics |
| C.P. Company | Italy | $$–$$$$ | No like-for-like price | Goggle jacket, garment dyeing |
| WTAPS | Tokyo | $$–$$$$ | No like-for-like price | Military utility, crossbones motif |
Price tiers use the directory's $–$$$$$ scale and describe typical retail positioning, not exact prices.
A note on dupes and replicas
We don't list replicas or sellers of them. We found no source on counterfeit Norse Projects or on how the brand handles it, so we make no claim about it. What the sources show is where Norse Projects sells: its official site, with a country selector covering Denmark, Norway, Europe, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States and the rest of the world, and retailers such as END..
A genuine alternative is a different brand with its own designs. The picks above were chosen on that basis: each is a separate label selling under its own name.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best brands like Norse Projects?
In our assessment, Arc'teryx, THE NORTH FACE Purple Label and Carhartt WIP come closest: outdoor and workwear brands with plain, functional clothing. Stone Island and C.P. Company are the Italian options.
Are there cheaper brands like Norse Projects?
We could not show a clear case. Carhartt WIP is a workwear-rooted label with over 100 stores, but the prices we found for it were in pounds or on sale. The nearest euro T-shirt, WTAPS's BDY 01 at €155, is a different design from Norse Projects' €70 Standard T-Shirt, so we show it for context only.
Who founded Norse Projects?
FashionUnited credits Anton Juul, Mikkel Gronnebaek and Tobia Sloth, and Lex.dk names the same three. Wikipedia says the company was founded in 2004 as a retail streetwear shop and art gallery.
Who owns Norse Projects?
We could not find a source that states who owns Norse Projects. FashionUnited's profile does not state owners, shareholders or a parent company, and Wikipedia names none.
Is there a Norse Projects dupe?
We don't list replicas. Each brand on this page sells under its own name, and we do not list replica sellers.
Where can you buy Norse Projects?
The official site has a country selector covering Denmark, Norway, Europe, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States and the rest of the world. END. also lists the brand.
How we chose these brands
We shortlisted six brands from the directory whose story, outerwear or look overlaps with Norse Projects, using only brands whose research records we have completed. Facts such as founding, ownership and prices come from the numbered sources in each brand's research record, opened and checked in October 2026. Rankings, 'what it shares' and 'best for' are our editorial judgement: no reputable source we found compares most of these brands to Norse Projects directly. Price comparisons are like for like only where the garment, currency and listing type are comparable, which in practice means we found no euro like-for-like match; otherwise we say so. Prices are single snapshots from retailers and brand sites and will change.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Norse Projects
- FashionUnited: Norse Projects
- Lex.dk: Norse Projects
- Urban Industry: The history of Norse Projects
- Norse Projects: Official site
- Highsnobiety: Norse Projects
- END.: Norse Projects
- Gear Patrol: Norse Projects Aros Chino deal (2018)
- Wikipedia: Arc'teryx
- Arc'teryx (brand site)
- Highsnobiety: Arc'teryx x Off-White FW20
- Highsnobiety: Palace x Arc'teryx
- Arc'teryx: Cormac Hoody (Canada)
- evo: Arc'teryx Cormac Hoodie
- OutdoorGearLab: Arc'teryx Beta LT review
- Asphaltgold: Arc'teryx Kragg
- Goldwin: corporate history
- Hypebeast: The North Face Purple Label brand page
- Highsnobiety: The North Face Purple Label x nanamica
- Houyhnhnm: nanamica trail capsule, 2022 (machine-translated)
- Gear Patrol: The North Face Purple Label (2016)
- Complex: The North Face Purple Label (2019)
- Forget-me-nots: The North Face Purple Label
- Carhartt WIP Newsroom: Information
- Carhartt WIP: History timeline
- Wikipedia: Carhartt
- HBX: Carhartt Work in Progress
- Carhartt WIP US: About
- Impericon: Carhartt WIP Chase T-shirt
- END. (UK): Carhartt hoodies
- Urban Industry: Single Knee Pant
- Wikipedia: Stone Island
- Business of Fashion: Moncler acquires Stone Island
- The Industry: Moncler and Stone Island
- BSTN Chronicles: Stone Island
- END. Canada: Stone Island tops
- Breuninger: Stone Island jackets
- Wikipedia: C.P. Company
- MAM-e: C.P. Company
- Archivio85: C.P. Company
- C.P. Company official site
- The Clothes Supplier: Stone Island vs C.P. Company (2025)
- WTAPS: Feature 08 (brand site)
- Heddels: WTAPS
- Highsnobiety: WTAPS clothing brand
- END.: WTAPS
- Overkill: WTAPS
- StockX: Vans Vault x WTAPS Hoodie (Smokey Olive)
- StockX: WTAPS x New Balance Academy L/S T-Shirt (Heather Grey)