Shopping

What’s the one thing you should buy when coming to Norway? Well, that obviously depends on your budget, as we are not a low-prized nation by any stretch of the imagination. However, you can find some true gems on a limited budget as well – as long as you know what you’re looking for.

In the last decade or so, the interest in Scandinavian design has grown significantly, mostly thanks to young designers who combine traditional materials such as bare wood, leather and wool with contemporary styles and impulses. Furniture, lighting, carpets and other decor items (often deceivingly simple-looking and minimalistic) are attractive among high-end shoppers.

Fashion is another focus area for young Norwegian creatives, and in the last few years several local clothing brands have gotten international recognition. Scandinavian fashion design is known for focusing on functionality, sometimes minimalism, and bright colours – a consequence, perhaps, of the the long, dark winters. Either way, the probability of finding high-quality wool and knitwear is high in Norway, as the art of knitting has long traditions here.