Our roots
A converted VW bus, packed to the brim with silk, linen, and handmade jewelry—and filled to the rafters with courage, vision, and a thirst for adventure. That was the beginning. No investors, no business plans. Just Alexander Frieborg, a dream—and the irrepressible desire to discover the world his own way.
It was a long time ago - a Himalayan market stall, in the mid-70s at the fish market in Hamburg.
As early as the 1970s, he was drawn to the Himalayan mountains in search of something special, India, Nepal, and Tibet. Where other tourists grabbed their cameras, he sought conversation – with weavers, artisans, and traders. And he found character, stories, and fabrics with soul.
He sold his first finds—hand-picked textiles and artistic jewelry—directly from his market stall in Hamburg. At weekly markets, flea markets—where you still look people in the eye. What he brought back wasn't a commodity. It was magic, made tangible.
Inspiration Himalaya - founder Alexander Frieborg, 70s in Nepal.
A single trip led to many. A bus became a growing business. Casual encounters led to long-term partnerships. And a street stall became a thriving wholesale business for natural textiles, which was on everyone's lips in the 1980s and 90s with the legendary HIMALAYA reversible jacket . A piece of clothing like a statement: casual, vibrant, and different.
Even though the reversible jacket is no longer an integral part of the collection, its spirit lives on in many details – sometimes as a patch, sometimes as a color combination, sometimes as a silent quote.
From our archive - The reversible jacket look, 1989.
HIMALAYAS today
What once began with the heart of an adventurer is now a fixture in the European fashion market for sustainable, fair fashion with character.
Himalaya exhibition stand in Berlin.
We've never completely abandoned the colorful hippie charm of our early years—but we've evolved it further. Each collection now exudes not only individuality, but also a sense of style, craftsmanship, and attention to detail. Colorful patterns, bold patchwork elements, and tangible quality make every HIMALAYA piece a living example of our philosophy.
From the sketch to the first knitting pattern - designer Verena Berwanger compares the fabric sections with her designs.
We don't rest on our laurels. We evolve – with every journey, every fabric, every new idea. Our designers create two collections each year, which are produced in professional production facilities in India and Nepal – under constant supervision by our own quality control department and in close contact with the local producers.
Incidentally, Alexander Frieborg still regularly travels to the region himself – not only as an entrepreneur, but also as a friend, as a mediator, as part of a community that has grown over decades.
Because at HIMALAYA, it's never just about clothes. It's about attitude. About heritage. And about the future of fashion that tells stories.