About Us

The Turtle Fur Group

Where does anything begin but with an idea and a dream? Each of our uniquely individual brands here at The Turtle Fur Group has its own story, inspiration and voice, supported by an unwavering dedication to quality and innovation, support of family and community, and love and respect for our planet…all while having fun.

Turtle Fur

Turtle Fur was founded over 30 years ago at the base of Mount Mansfield in the heart of the Green Mountains of Vermont, USA, where our family of Turtles lovingly crafted softness and warmth to fend off the foes of winter.

Our Turtles are inspired to design unique, innovative, and constantly evolving hats, necks, socks, gloves, clavas and more by our love for the outdoors (and indoors), and our endless search for new and old materials, techniques and styles.

Nordic Gear

Nordic Gear began life in 1966 as Timely Products, the inventor and patent holder of the famous Lectra Battery Heated Sox®, and Lectra Battery Heated Glove®. In 1992 the brand name was changed to Nordic Gear to better reflect the evolving product offering of the patented Cinched Balaclava®, the Fog Free® Cold Weather Breathing System, Waterproof Breathable, Windproof and Thermal Fleece cold weather accessories.

Nordic Gear is also the originator of the fleece couch sack (think Snuggies®) featured on Oprah, as her top holiday gift of 1997.

FU-R Headwear

You remember as a kid how much fun you had when you made your own ice cream sundae and you kept adding toppings upon toppings, and then more ice cream, then more toppings, then you took one of your Mother’s huge kitchen spoons and dug in…that’s FU-R Headwear. Ok, in business speak, we love designing, making and wearing hats. We have few rules other than making styles we are proud of, that fit and feel wonderful, have interesting textures, fibers and shapes, and that are not your standard everyday boring, always replicated, hats. Oh, and yes, we still have to clean up when we are done.

Vermont Originals

Vermont Originals was founded in 1971 by a business professor from Cornell and one of his students as a case study on cottage industry for the Cornell Business School.
 The main products are 100% wool hats knit in the traditional handcrafted manner by knitters in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. These skills have been handed down from generation to generation by their mothers, aunts, cousins or sisters. In addition to having a beautiful collection of 100% handcrafted hats, Vermont Originals also specializes in knitting logos for teams, schools and resorts directly into the hats.

Today Vermont Originals, as part of the Turtle Fur Group, continues this fine tradition of Made in Vermont, USA.

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