Combine the desire to look stylish with rain and wind that makes you want to stay inside for most of the year, and you won’t be surprised to learn that Danish clothing brands have taken Scandinavia — and the rest of the world — by storm. Here’s the ultimate guide to the best Danish fashion brands…
If you ever find yourself in the center of Copenhagen, you’ll quickly realize that the Danes are a fashionable bunch. Danish fashion is designed to work well with the country’s questionable weather, but form is just as important as function for many individuals.
Copenhagen Fashion Week is arguably the best time to see Danish clothing brands in action, and you might notice a couple at New York Fashion Week — plus others — throughout the year.
But even if you have no plans to join the catwalk yourself, you will probably find yourself dressing *a lot* smarter if you ever decide to make Copenhagen your home. You can start preparing for multiple tones of black in your wardrobe, too.
Sweden might steal most of Scandinavia’s headlines in the fashion scene, but turning your nose at Denmark isn’t the wisest decision. This article will discuss the best Danish fashion brands, plus more.
High-street clothing stores and brands
Before we look at brands and designers in more depth, knowing the main stores selling Danish apparel is wise. Major Danish cities have a selection of key department stores you’ll probably bump into when visiting the country, and we’ll identify the main ones below.
ILLUM
Copenhagen’s Strøget shopping street is loved by fashionable tourists, especially those hopping across the bridge from Sweden. If you’re a local, however, you probably won’t frequent this part of the city unless you want to upgrade your wardrobe. ILLUM is one of the most popular places for those interested in that particular activity.
ILLUM is a huge department store that sells multiple Danish clothes brands, including the likes of Samsøe & Samsøe. You’ll find menswear and womenswear, along with clothing for kids and apparel to exercise in.
This department store also has a wide selection of homeware items, along with a rooftop terrace that offers views over Strøget and its surrounding areas.
Getting to ILLUM is easy. You can walk from Kongens Nytorv and Gammel Strand metro stations, both of which are almost the same distance from the store. Alternatively, you can walk down Strøget from Rådhuspladsen; expect big crowds if you do so on the weekend.
Magasin Du Nord
Magasin Du Nord is another popular department store brand selling Danish clothing. The chain was founded in Aarhus, Denmark’s second-largest city – but its main store is in an elegant Copenhagen building close to Nyhavn and on Kongens Nytorv.
Like ILLUM, Magasin Du Nord — known colloquially as Magasin by the locals — has a huge range of products from Danish clothing brands available. You’ll find numerous brands like Mads Nørgaard and Wood Wood, with clothing for both men and women available.
Magasin Du Nord has a broad selection of homeware items, too, in addition to a large food court.
In addition to the main store, Magasin Du Nord has a shop in Kongens Lyngby — which is just north of Copenhagen. You’ll find other outlets in the capital region, too, along with one in Aarhus. Odense and Aalborg both have stores as well.
Salling
Salling stores are more common in Jutland than they are in Copenhagen, but like Magasin and ILLUM, Salling has several Danish clothing brands that you can purchase. You’ll find department stores in Aarhus and Aalborg, and both of them have a rooftop area that offers a panoramic view of those respective cities.
Danish apparel brands you can purchase from Salling outlets include Mads Nørgaard and Jack & Jones.
What famous clothing brands come from Denmark?
Now that you know where to shop for any brands that interest you in this article, you’re ready to discover the best Danish clothing companies. Below is a comprehensive list that includes some of our favorites; you might have heard of many, but others will perhaps surprise you if you aren’t from Denmark.
Mads Nørgaard
Mads Nørgaard is one of the most popular Danish clothing companies, especially among younger generations. The company was founded in 1986 by, you guessed it, Mads Nørgaard; you’ll find its flagship store along Strøget in Copenhagen today.
This Danish fashion brand sells both men’s and women’s clothing, and you’ll almost certainly see one of its bags if you spend long enough in the Danish capital. Attire is more affordable than some of the other brands on this list, but don’t mistake that for cheap.
The good news, however, is that most of the clothes you’ll get are of excellent quality and will last you for a lengthy period of time.
Mads Nørgaard also has an extensive collection of clothes for children. Much of its range for everyone focuses on attire you can wear during the spring and summer, such as light jackets, t-shirts, dresses, and swimming attire.
Samsøe & Samsøe
Samsøe og Samsøe is perhaps the most famous Danish clothing company to go international. Since it was founded in Copenhagen in 1993, the brand has expanded to several countries in Europe — including Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands; you’ll find outlets in both London and Amsterdam.
Samsøe og Samsøe is one of the higher-end Danish clothing brands on our list, and all of its attire is of an excellent quality. You’ll find t-shirts for the warmer months, in addition to cozy but stylish sweaters for those periods of the year when it’s cold and rainy.
Like Mads Nørgaard, Samsøe og Samsøe caters to men and women.
The company was founded by Klaus and Preben Samsøe, which is where the name originates. Its flagship store is in Copenhagen; in addition to its independent stores, you’ll find Samsøe og Samsøe items in numerous department stores throughout the world.
Han Kjøbenhavn
If you want to dress like someone that works in a cutting-edge creative studio, Han Kjøbenhavn is probably the brand you’ve been looking for all this time.
The clothing brand is popular with the younger generation, and unlike many Scandinavian clothing designers, you’ll notice that many of its items have very clear logos on the front.
Han Kjøbenhavn is one of the newer brands that we’ve included on our list, and it has been around since 2008. The company focuses on menswear and womenswear, along with eyewear; you’ll find clothing for various times of the year.
In addition to clothing and eyewear, you can buy a broad range of Han Kjøbenhavn accessories. These include socks, wallets, bags, and hats.
Han Kjøbenhavn has its flagship store in Downtown Copenhagen, and you’ll also find many of its items in some of the department stores we mentioned earlier in this article. In 2022, Han Kjøbenhavn expanded to the UK with a new shop in London.
Les Deux
As you might already have guessed from the name, Les Deux takes much of its inspiration from French fashion. But make no mistake, it’s very much Danish — and it is, perhaps, one the best Danish clothing company if you’re looking for stylish menswear of a high quality.
The elegant Les Deux clothing brand has been a key member of the Danish fashion scene since 2009. The company has an interesting mix of influence, having been founded by a Dane and a refugee from the Congo.
Those influences are evident to see in its clothing, with Scandinavian minimalism combined with international flair.
Les Deux has a partnership with Danish football club FC Copenhagen, with which it made a unique range of shirts and jackets. You can wear these while cheering the side on at Parken, but you won’t need to worry about going home to change if you happen to head on a night out in town after the match.
Les Deux focuses primarily on menswear, and you’ll find a wide range of stylish outfits. The company sells jackets, t-shirts, hoodies, jeans, and much more. You’ll find several outlets throughout Copenhagen, along with a wide selection in Magasin and ILLUM.
Ganni
Ganni is a popular clothing brand throughout Scandinavia, but it has its roots in Copenhagen. The clothing outlet was around before the Danish capital matured into the dynamic modern-day city you see, having been founded in 2000.
Frans Truelsen started the company, which Nicolaj and Ditte Reffstrup have run since 2009.
Of all the Danish clothing brands we’ve mentioned in this article, Ganni has arguably the most loyal following; its Instagram followership of one million tells you everything you need to know in that respect.
The company focuses on womenswear, and you’ll find a huge range of clothing for all seasons — including swimwear, jeans, shirts, and various other items.
Ganni’s flagship store is next to Gammel Strand metro station in Copenhagen. You’ll find a selection of other outlets throughout the capital region, too, so it won’t be difficult to get what you need when you’re in the Danish capital.
Moss Copenhagen
Moss Copenhagen isn’t as well-known outside of the Nordics as some of our other listed brands, but it’s pretty popular in Denmark — especially in the capital region. The company has established itself locally and has been around since 2010; you’ll notice its name on several street corners.
Moss Copenhagen prides itself on sustainability, and like Ganni, the company focuses primarily on womenswear. You’ll find various clothing types, including bags, jumpsuits, and jackets. Items are pretty affordable, making it a solid entry-level Scandinavian clothing brand for women.
In addition to Copenhagen, Moss Copenhagen has stores in other parts of Denmark — including Aalborg and Aarhus.
Wood Wood
Wood Wood is another relatively well-known Danish clothing company in a local sense, and its items suit a range of styles. You can purchase several other clothing brands throughout its outlets, but Wood Wood designs a lot of things on its own as well.
The company was founded in 2002 and remains headquartered in Copenhagen to this day. You’ll find a wide selection of fashionable jumpers, in addition to shirts and bottoms that you can wear to multiple occasions. Wood Wood sells attire for men and women.
Wood Wood has several stores in the Danish capital, including one at Copenhagen Airport. You will also find an outlet in Aarhus, in addition to another couple of stores in Berlin.
Norse Projects
If you’re looking for minimalist Scandinavian fashion, Norse Projects is an excellent starting point. This Danish clothing brand was founded in 2004 by Mikkel Grønnebæk, Anton Juul, and Tobia Sloth.
The company has since expanded internationally beyond Copenhagen, but it’s a major player locally and not just across other borders.
Norse Projects caters to men and women, and you’ll find clothing that’s suitable for various seasons. Granted, it’s one of the more expensive brands on our list — but everything is of a high quality and will last you a long time.
This Danish clothing company sells outdoor jackets, in addition to hats, long-sleeved shirts, and more. Besides being high quality, you can ensure that what you get will keep you warm and dry during those tricky Danish winters.
Norse Projects has outlets in Copenhagen, and you’ll find stores in various countries — including the UK — selling its clothing.
Baum Und Pferdgarten
Baum Und Pferdgarten was founded in 1999 by Helle Hestehave and Rikke Baumgarten, and the German translation is a wordplay on both of their names; “hest” is Danish for horse, which is “Pferd” in German.
Clever naming aside, Baum Und Pferdgarten is one of the most popular Danish womenswear brands in the country. You’ll find a wide range of dresses designed by the company, in addition to shirts, bags, and more.
Baum Und Pferdgarten has a couple of shops in Copenhagen, and you’ll also find a variety of places to purchase items online — including Boozt and more.
Won Hundred
Won Hundred has been in the Danish clothing brand landscape since 2004, when Nikolaj Nielsen opted to found the company and bring his ideas to life. The company primarily specializes in jeans, so you can think of it as something equivalent to Nudie Jeans in Sweden.
Won Hundred has made an effort to commit to a more sustainable future, and the company sells various products made from organic materials. In addition to its jeans, you’ll find various other clothing items to purchase — including shirts, vests, and more.
You can buy Won Hundred clothing in several stores throughout Copenhagen, including its showroom in Frederiksberg.
Malene Birger
Malene Birger is another innovative women’s fashion designer to make our list of Danish fashion brands, and it’s one of the higher-end names to get a mention in this article. Malene Birger founded the namesake brand in 2003, and it has since made a huge impact on Denmark’s fashion scene.
You can buy various clothing items from Malene Birger, including fashionable bags and trousers. On top of that, you’ll also find swimwear, t-shirts, and numerous accessories — such as sandals and hats.
Malene Birger has multiple stores throughout Copenhagen, and you’ll also find one in Aarhus. The brand ships to various international locations, too, including Germany.
Selected Homme
Selected Homme has become one of the most famous Danish clothing companies by positioning itself toward the international market. But at the same time, it also has significant popularity domestically — and it’s one of Denmark’s greatest success stories.
Selected Homme is part of Bestseller, which Anders Hoch Polvesen — one of Denmark’s richest individuals — is the CEO for.
The company sells a huge range of menswear items, ranging from business-style suits to jeans and other forms of casual wear like sneakers. You’ll also find various womenswear items, along with multiple accessories.
You’ll find Selected Homme stores in several countries, and the country also ships to multiple locations. In Denmark, Selected has stores in Copenhagen and Aarhus — in addition to Aalborg and other Danish cities.
Jack & Jones
Another Danish clothing brand that you’ll probably have heard of, even if you aren’t from Denmark, is Jack & Jones.
The company is another member of Bestseller Group, and it was founded in 1990 and has since grown into a huge international brand — with over 300 employees in its main office and more than 800 stores globally.
Jack & Jones offers affordable clothing of a good quality for men and women alike, including shorts, shirts, jackets, and more. The company has multiple stores in Copenhagen, and it’s also present in various other parts of Denmark — so you won’t have any issues finding a place to shop.
Further afield, Jack & Jones has stores in multiple countries — including the UK, Iceland, Norway, and the Netherlands.
Knowledge Cotton Apparel
If you’re looking for sustainable fashion, Knowledge Cotton Apparel is one of the best Danish clothing brands you can opt for. The company specializes in organic cotton clothing, and it operates throughout many of the Nordic countries — in addition to Germany and other parts of Europe.
Knowledge Cotton Apparel creates clothing for men, women, and children. You’ll find a wide range of t-shirts for those gloriously long Scandinavian summer days, along with swimwear if you fancy hopping into one of Copenhagen’s harbor baths.
For the summer evenings when it gets a bit colder, along with the early spring and autumn, you’ll also find a wide range of sweaters that are stylish and good for the environment in equal measure.
Several outlets sell Knowledge Cotton Apparel clothing in Copenhagen, including Magasin Du Nord. You’ll also find stores in various parts of Southern Sweden, including Malmö and Lund.
Danish clothing designers
Now that you’re aware of the best Danish clothing brands, you might want to familiarize yourself with some of the main Danish clothing designers too. Below is a selection that you should keep in mind.
Stine Grethe Jensen
Stine Grethe Jensen is one of Denmark’s most famous female designers, and she founded the company Stine Goya in 2006. Her brand was featured at Copenhagen Fashion Week the following year, and it has been a hit in the domestic market ever since.
Jensen has won several awards, including one at the 2011 Danish Fashion Awards and Brand of the Year for Elle’s Style Awards in 2017.
Astrid Andersen
Astrid Andersen launched her brand in 2010, and her background was undoubtedly inspired by her time studying at London’s Royal College of Art. Her brand focuses on clothing for men and women, and the clothing you’ll see is edgy and vibrant in equal measure.
The main Astrid Andersen store is located on Jagtvej, which runs between hip Nørrebro and upscale Østerbro in Copenhagen.
Henrik Vibskov
Henrik Vibskov is one of the most famous people in Denmark. In addition to his design career, he’s also a musician and dabbles in various other creative pursuits. He hails from Kjellerup in Jutland.
Vibskov has his own store, and he’s also designed clothing for performances in multiple cities across the globe. He’s won multiple awards, including Elle’s Brand of the Year in 2020.
Ivan Grundahl
Nordic Noir has become a hugely popular TV and book genre in recent years, and you can see some of those moody undertones in Danish fashion as well. Ivan Grundahl was a pioneer in this respect, and the namesake clothing brand focuses on edgy aesthetics and neutral colors.
Grundahl was in Danish fashion for four decades until his death in 2016.
Danish fashion is world-renowned for plenty of good reasons
Denmark has become a global design powerhouse, both in terms of interior design and the way people dress. The Danes are some of Europe’s most fashionable people, and the best thing about it is that it looks effortless.
If you’ve been thinking about adding some Danish clothing brands to your wardrobe, we hope that this article will have helped you out.
Between the rain-covered bike lanes and colorful houses lining them, Denmark’s numerous designers are doing wonders with clothing that looks good and keeps you warm during the long, dark winters. We’ve mentioned several in this list, but the reality is that we’ve only scratched the surface.
Speaking of Danish interior design, we’ve put together an article outlining everything you need to know about it. So, before you hop on that plane to Copenhagen to begin your Scandinavian adventure, why not check it out?
Scandification: Discovering Scandinavia.
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