Five years ago, in 2020, the company made an important decision to rename itself: the name Northwestfur was replaced with Northwestek. This change applied specifically to the company name rather than to a product brand and reflected internal processes that had already taken shape by that time. Historically, Northwestfur was a brand of jackets and outerwear, while Northwestek became the corporate name of a company bringing together several production areas and not limiting itself to a single product category.
Northwestek Today: a Company, Not a Single Brand
Today, Northwestek is a manufacturing company with a broad scope of activity. We work not only with clothing but also with technical textile products, building our processes around real customer needs and actual conditions of use. At present, two independent brands are developed within Northwestek: Rivernord apparel and Fender Cover fender covers. Looking ahead, the company plans to launch new brands for different product types and use cases, while maintaining a unified engineering and manufacturing approach.
Rivernord and the Continuity of Northwestfur
For everyone familiar with Northwestfur parkas and jackets, it is important to emphasize that this is not a change in the essence of the product. The jackets and parkas previously produced under the Northwestfur brand are now offered under the Rivernord brand. This is the same range, the same design solutions, and the same philosophy, implemented by the same production team within Northwestek. The brand name has changed, but the approach to the product has not.
The philosophy behind our clothing has remained unchanged since the creation of the first parkas and jackets. We see outerwear not as a fashion item or a seasonal trend, but as an engineered construction. At its core are utility, functionality, and practicality. Rivernord apparel sits at the intersection of reliable workwear and everyday casual wear: comfortable jackets with a classic, timeless design, built for long-term use in real-world conditions.
The Origins of the Company and the Formation of Its Approach
The history of Northwestek began seventeen years ago. In February 2008, the North-West Fur Company was established in Saint Petersburg, specializing in wholesale supplies of natural fur. Just one year later, the company moved from trading to its own manufacturing and began producing fur garments, including coats, vests, and jackets. We personally selected raw materials and fully controlled the production process. It was during this period that the Northwestfur brand was created.
The next important stage was the conscious decision to move away from natural fur in favor of fabrics and to focus on functional warm clothing. This step defined the company’s future development. Production of men’s and women’s parkas and jackets began, featuring simple, restrained designs and a high level of comfort. This approach proved to be in demand: clean lines, thoughtful construction, and consistent quality became the defining characteristics of the products.
Extreme Conditions and an Engineering Mindset
Over time, the product range expanded beyond everyday urban clothing. The company began developing jackets and parkas for people working and spending time in challenging climatic conditions, including athletes, expedition members, and travelers. A key principle became mandatory field testing. New parkas and jackets were given to people who used them in harsh environments, after which the designs were refined based on the feedback received. Only then were the products launched into mass production.
In 2014, the Extreme Winter parka was developed as the first model designed for extremely low temperatures. These garments were tested in some of the coldest regions of Russia, including Yakutia and Oymyakon. Later, the next generation of winter parkas appeared, followed by models designed for different climate zones and usage scenarios.
Rivernord as a Standalone Brand and the Expansion of Directions
The Rivernord brand was founded in 2018 as a logical continuation of the experience accumulated in functional apparel manufacturing. Under this brand, the company focused on producing utilitarian outerwear as well as workwear and corporate clothing made to meet specific customer requirements. These are practical, reliable products designed for daily use and real workloads.
Northwestek as a Reflection of the Current Stage of Development
The renaming of Northwestfur to Northwestek in 2020 was a logical result of the company’s evolution. The new name reflects the current state of the business, its scale, and its goals. We value every stage of the path we have taken and do not abandon our history, while at the same time looking forward and developing new products, brands, and directions.
Today, Northwestek is a manufacturing company creating high-quality, technological products for work, active lifestyles, and everyday life. Across all areas, we are united by a single principle: to make things that truly work, last a long time, and remain comfortable in real-world use.