How Danish Menswear Label Forét Defines “Soft Outdoor” Style

“Some of my strongest childhood memories were living in a villa just around the forest, spending hours in the woods building caves with friends and my big brother, [and] small forest trips with picnics and strolls on the weekends with my parents,” Finderup tells me.

Meier adds, “My dad was a scout and we fished, collected mushrooms, and visited the forests very often. This had a big impact on me in my future life.”

Now raising families of their own, they’re designing classic, casual wardrobe essentials that move easily from the office on weekdays to the coast or woods on weekends. Their approach to “soft outdoor” means that instead of developing serious technical gear, they apply their design sensibilities to casual wear built for indoors and outdoors. Rather than fast-and-light alpine missions, think cabin weekends, car camping, and afternoon hikes with the kids.

Akin to William Ellery of New York City, Forét leans heavily into nostalgia for camping’s past, pulling inspiration from old-school workwear, vintage scouting and military uniforms, and the muted, sun-faded colors you’d find in decades-old camp photos to create clothing suited for today. Its silhouettes also feel familiar—canvas overshirts, quilted jackets, corduroy trousers—yet updated just enough for the modern man, and flexible, weather-resistant, durable, and lived-in from day one.

From Forét's early days, the brand has sold enamel mugs and other relevant hardgoods alongside clothing to signal its DNA in the outdoors. Today, you’ll find Japanese titanium utensils, aluminum kettles, steel lanterns, Opinel knives, and Stanley mugs and lunch boxes on the brand's site.

In recent years, they’ve also begun building their outerwear from the kind of performance materials typically reserved for performance outdoor brands: ripstop for the Oat Puffer Jacket, Polartec for the Mountain Fleece Jacket, and 3M Thinsulate for the Grain Reversible Puffer Jacket.

“All the styles blur the line between outdoor functionality and everyday style with different kinds of aspects,” Finderup says.

But while many more typical outdoor brands regularly seek ways to make gear that's faster and lighter, Forét leans heavily into slowing down, not just as a lifestyle but also in design. Every piece feels handmade and features a special touch, whether it’s a handpainted stamp or an embroidered emblem. Inside the Berry Overshirt, there's a collectible label.

Most of Forét’s garments are made in Portugal, with shirts produced in North Macedonia and Turkey, and its more technical pieces are manufactured in China. The brand has also ventured into footwear through collaborations with three European makers—France’s Kleman, Helsinki’s Tarvas, and Slovakia’s Novestra. And in 2026, Forét will team up with two established outdoor heavyweights—Finderup and Meier can’t say who just yet—in a move that will further cement its place in the category.

Until the reveal, here are five pieces that embody Forét’s “soft outdoor” ethos.

Courtesy Forét

Forét x Tarvas Easy Hiker

Launched in September, this was Forét’s first collaboration with Tarvas, the Helsinki-based footwear maker. The shoes have an Italian suede leather upper, Vibram outsole, and signature mudguard for weather protection. Finderup says it was a “nice edition of a boot that was on point both in city and nature.”

Courtesy Forét

Clay Twill Pants

Though they’re too heavy for an alpine hike, these soft twill trousers with a relaxed fit and tactile texture were designed to be “comfortable for long walks in the woods or long days in the city,” Finderup says. An elastic waistband and roomy legs add flexibility and freedom of movement.

Courtesy Forét

Aspen Padded Oilskin Jacket

Made from water-repellant Halley Stevenson waxed cotton, this jacket will keep you dry and warm in style. The Maida Thermo insulation, made of thousands of polyethylene microfibers pressed on a square millimeter, is said to equal the warmth of a wool sweater. The corduroy collar and oversized pockets pay homage to French workwear.

Courtesy Forét

Alpine Knit

Made from a blend of alpaca wool and polyester, the Alpine Knit brings together the best of both natural and synthetic fibers. Alpaca adds warmth and softness without bulk, while polyester lends durability and shape retention for repeated wear, making it a go-to for travel days, light hikes, and everyday life.

Courtesy Forét

Pluto Checked Shirt

Cotton gets a bad rap in the outdoors, but for quick transitions between the office and the woods, it’s an ideal textile. Polished yet casual, textured yet crisp, this shirt is a layering staple in Forét’s lineup—equally at home under a blazer, over a tee, or worn on its own when plans blur the line between workday and weekend.