Berghaus, the British outdoor brand celebrating its 59th year, recently announced its North America retail debut through partners REI, Canada’s Altitude Sports, JD Sports, and Hatchet Outdoor Supply Co.

Shane Wallace, Pentland Brands’ North American VP of Portfolio Brands, talked with SGB Executive about Berghaus’ roots and North America launch strategy, including a focus on select partnerships and limited distribution.

“Berghaus is an inclusive brand, yet our product isn’t for everyone,” said Wallace. “We lead with distinctive products — unlike anything else on the market. Rooted in original ’80s and ’90s designs, Berghaus is far from your average puffer jacket. Our focus is on authentic archival design, bold innovation and thoughtfully curated collections. Bold and British.”

Founded in 1966 in Newcastle, England, by two avid climbers and mountaineers, Peter Lockey and Gordon Davison, Berghaus (German for mountain house) began as an importer and distributor of outdoor gear for their store, LD Mountain Centre.

By 1970, the founders had entered the gear market, producing and releasing their first backpack range, with external frames and single storage compartments. Two years later, Berghaus introduced the Cyclops rucksack, one of the first to feature an internal frame.

In 1977, Berghaus’ commitment to innovation expanded as it became the first European brand to release a product, the Bergbuckle rucksack hip belts range, featuring Gore-Tex fabric. Berghaus’ first foray into insulation occurred in 1979 when it became the first British manufacturer to use 3M Thinsulate insulation in ski and outdoor clothing.

Beyond innovation, Berghaus began developing a reputation for durability, and its mission to make the outdoors more inclusive and accessible aligned with the brand’s founding philosophy of “best of life is lived outdoors.”

“Shaped by expeditions together, from local adventures in the Pennines (a mountain range in England) to grander forays abroad, Gordon and Peter found solace in the mountains,” said Wallace. “Their fundamental understanding of the powers of the outdoors led to one of Berghaus’ most important values: The outdoors must be for everyone. And to make good on this promise, the right gear is essential.”

Berghaus in the ’80s gained recognition as a leading outerwear brand with the introduction of the Gemini jacket, which featured zip-in fleece for warmth and is still in production today. Additionally, the company made a significant push into down-insulated and other expedition jackets, such as the Trango and Aqtash. During this decade, renowned climbers Sir Chris Bonington and Alan Hinkes wore the brand on separate expeditions to summit Mount Everest, solidifying Berghaus’ credibility in the mountain gear market.

In the ‘90s, Berghaus outerwear attracted a new audience after Liam Gallagher, lead singer and co-founder of the rock band Oasis, shown below, who wore one of the brand’s Meru jackets during a 1997 concert in Oslo. The brand took on new life as a streetwear status symbol among British ravers and those involved in the “Madchester” music scene.

Berghaus was acquired in 1993 by Pentland Group PLC, which also owns Kickers, Speedo, and Ellesse, and has continued to make advances in thermal insulation, including pioneering Hydrodown in 2011, Body Mapping in 2012 and Reflect Technology in 2016.

The brand also has a sustainability story, achieving B Corp certification in March 2023, and is recognized for its Repairhaus program, which pledges to repair any damaged Berghaus clothing, footwear, pack, or accessory product returned to the company’s headquarters in Northeast England. Wallace said, “Our Repairhaus crew knows your gear better than you do; ready to stitch every rip and replace every zip, for free. Good for you. Great for the planet.”

For the North American launch, Berghaus has established its U.S. base in Cypress, CA, and is starting with a focused selection of signature pieces from the brand’s Icons collection, released last year, spotlighting two of Berghaus’ “most celebrated jackets”: the Trango and the Meru.

The Trango, with its 3-layer Gore-Tex construction and color-blocked design, was first issued in 1986 and worn by the team who undertook the first British Expedition to K2. Wallace said the Trango later caught on as a style piece embraced by 1990s subcultures. The style has been updated with “new colorways that honor its roots while bringing it to a new generation,” he added.

First released in 1994, the Meru jacket is making a comeback in its original colorway with updated materials. The style is still strongly associated with Gallagher, and the singer was brought back last year to front Berghaus’ Icons campaign as the band returned for a reunion tour after a 16-year hiatus. In September, Berghaus held a Times Square activation featuring an eight-story-high version of Gallagher dressed in a Meru jacket, as well as a pop-up event at a nearby JD Sports location to celebrate the Oasis World Tour as it arrived in the area.

Along with a limited range initially, Berghaus is arriving in North America with limited distribution, including REI, Canada’s Altitude Sports, JD Sports, and Hatchet Outdoor Supply Co., which operates out of a single store in Brooklyn.

“We believe less is best — slow, steady and intentional growth,” said Wallace. “We’re keeping our retail partnerships focused and intentional. By starting with a curated selection of products from our Icons collection, and working with a small group of trusted partners, we can make sure people discover our products in places that value quality, community and exploration.”

For 2026, Berghaus plans to build on its North American momentum by offering a broader range of products at retail and expanding its e-commerce presence in the U.S. and Canada, while maintaining its continued focus on a tight product range and limited distribution. Berghaus also has a sizeable activewear and outdoor footwear range.

Said Wallace, “The expansion will include new additions to the Icons collection as well as pieces from the high-performance Extreme line — gear engineered for rugged, demanding terrain. The goal is to stay true to our legacy of bold design and technical innovation while reaching a new generation of explorers.”

Berghaus is also pushing hard to get the word out about its arrival, marked in early June by its role as the presenting sponsor of the Outside Festival in Denver, CO, as well as its appearances at the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance in Reno, NV, and the Switchback Event in Nashville, TN.

Wallace said, “As we look to strengthen our global presence as a trusted outdoor brand, we know that the U.S. presents a large opportunity, not only because of the growing interest in outdoor participation but also the cultural relevance outdoor brands play in the lifestyle and active communities throughout the country.”

Images courtesy Berghaus