Viking Vogue: Norse fashion and retro gear for York Fashion Week

With their combed hair, flowing beards and exquisite jewellery always on display, the Vikings were the fashion models of early medieval Northern Europe.

During York Fashion Week 2024, fashionistas will be able to get up close with Viking clothing for a special tour, talks and demonstrations of Norse style on Saturday 4 May.

Viking Vogue: What Did The Vikings Wear? is a brand new event from the team at JORVIK Viking Centre, designed to throw a spotlight onto the Vikings’ love of textiles and style, from head to toe – panel hat to knitted sock – based on archaeological finds from Coppergate.  The evening includes an extended guided tour of the set of 10^th century York, talks about Viking combs, jewellery and the Herefordshire Hoard and even live demonstrations of nalebinding – a form of Viking knitting.

“This promises to be a fascinating evening, exploring how wardrobe and even the colour of fabrics you wore gave an insight into your social status.  What were the equivalent of designer labels to display wealth and good taste in the 10^th century?  Join us to find out,” comments event manager, Abigail Judge.  “The evening runs from 7.30pm to 10.00pm, with limited numbers to make this an stimulating yet intimate soirée for anyone with an interest in textiles, fashion or Norse history.”

Tickets for Viking Vogue: What Did The Vikings Wear? are available for £35 per person from jorikvikingcentre.co.uk.  The event runs from 7.30pm to 10.00pm on Saturday 4 May 2024.

To coincide with York Fashion Week and its 40^th anniversary, JORVIK Viking Centre is also launching a range of t-shirts with retro styling on its online shop, jorvikshop.com.  Five designs will be available, including one featuring the original JORVIK Viking Centre logo from its launch in 1984 – a stylised version of Erik Bloodaxe’s head, which can still be seen on AA road signs.  Other designs include an illustration of Erik’s head that featured for many years as part of the JORVIK Viking Festival logo, and a Viking cityscape. 

One of the designs even features Bogar, seen by over 20 million visitors over the years as he sits on the toilet in Coppergate, with the fun caption: JORVIK – seen it, smelt it. 

“Our gift shop is a very small space, so we’re initially launching these as online exclusives so that we can test demand for these T-shirts, but we are confident that they will be popular with past and future visitors alike,” comments Mark Jackson, deputy head of operations for JORVIK.  “All the designs will also be available as mugs, which feature our anniversary logo marking 40 years of ‘wows’ here, too.”

The new online retail range launches on 2 May 2024 at jorvikshop.com