Hanna Andersson apparel first appeared in Portland, Oregon in 1983. The founder had just returned from a trip to her native Sweden, loaded with traditional Swedish children's clothing. After noticing that her friends reacted enthusiastically to these Swedish clothes, she decided to try her hand at opening her own mail order catalog business. Together with her husband, she started Hanna Andersson as a simple children's retailer, selling all-cotton dresses, tops, pants, socks, hats, and accessories. During Hanna Andersson's first several years in business, the husband and wife team actually did most of the catalog work from their own house. The response from parents across the nation was tremendous. People really enjoyed the quality materials, bright, non-fading colors, and stitching details. The clothing also stood the test of time. By employing only 100 percent cotton, Hanna Andersson ensured the comfort of customers. Hanna Andersson prints are very playful and enduring. They work wonderfully as hand-me-downs, and they provide bright, cheery colors to encourage children. The company is also dedicated to giving back to the community. After experiencing lots of success, the company founded the Hanna Andersson Children's Foundation. Although today's Hanna Andersson is very different from the home workshop catalog company started more than two decades ago, customers still feel like part of the family. The catalog is popular now not just in the United States and Canada, but also in Europe and Sweden. Since these clothes wear so well over time, they are popular resale items for online auctions. |
