FORBES.COM | November 15, 2018
Holiday Gift Guide 2018: Best Outdoor, Sports, Ski And Winter Gear
For the Lady In Your Life: I actually got my wife one of these, and she loves it, so I know what I am talking about. The outdoor apparel industry is a crowded space with new entrants every single year and lots of niche startups. This makes it all the more remarkable how Norwegian brand Kari Traa has taken the industry by storm - a few years ago I had never heard of it, now I see displays in every better ski shop I walk into. Founder Kari Traa is a Norwegian freestyle skier who won Olympic Gold in 2002, Silver in 2006, and Bronze in 1998. Now her eponymous company makes “Sportswear for girls by girls” as it says, and this is great looking, high performance stuff that is equally at home on the race course and at après. Traa has expanded into urban wear, workout gear, and lots more, but the heart and soul of the line is base layers of all or part merino wool with modern takes on the traditional Scandinavian sweater design, with bright, colorful geometric patterns and a distinctive look that announces itself as Kari Traa. You’ll have to explore the site (unfortunately no US page) or stores (REI carries a lot of it) and base your shopping on personal preferences, but bestsellers like the Lokke tops and bottoms (shown) run in the ballpark of $110-$130 for perfect 100% merino base layers that are so attractive she won’t want to cover them up.