We had the good fortune of connecting with Nate Axvig and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nate, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
We were sitting in an Oslo coffee house (where we lived for 13 months) watching all of these Norwegians come and go in their fantastic outdoor wear and we thought, “This is like Colorado, just different brands.” As we purchased and got to know the Scandinavian companies we discovered that they were 1. much better than many brands popular in American 2. built for the active lifestyle many Coloradans lead. That started a discussion which led to the founding of our website, aktivstyle.com two years ago and eventually our first brick and mortar shop at Stanley Marketplace.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We are so excited to open our business at Stanley Marketplace. Many of the brands we sell aren’t available anywhere else in North America and the dominant material in several items is wool. Wool has amazing benefits but many Americans think it is either too itchy or too stuffy to be worn with great frequency. In Scandinavia, wool (especially merino wool) is the centerpiece of most wardrobes. We think the store will give Coloradans a great opportunity to get to know wool along with our fabulous brands,

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This answer is contemplated by looking through a lens after the virus has been dealt with on a large scale. First you have to eat..and the restaurant game in Denver has gone through the roof. You are in cattle country so steak should be one of your meals. We boast two of the best steakhouses in the world in Elways and Shanahans. If you prefer less footbally steak- Guard and Grace is also amazing. Denver’s Taco selection is also top notch. Whether it is one of the more upscale taquerias like Machete or Comida or a hole in the wall like Tacos Y Salsas on Colfax, the Front Range has fantastic Mexican food. Nothing goes better with tacos than a beer and Colorado just so happens to be the craft beer capital of the world, Some of our favorite breweries are Cheluna, Station 26 and Fiction Brewery. Just remember to drink water when you have any alcohol…the altitude is no joke. Live music is one of our favorite events and Denver is home to some amazing venues. While Red Rocks gets all of the pub (and justifiably so) The Ogden Theatre is my favorite place to see a show. Small, great sound and brutally strong drinks….win, win, win.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people that have helped us along the way, but Liz and Fernando Lara have always gave us such enthusiastic support and feedback. The Laras are small business owners as well and throughout the “Getting-off-the-Ground” process they were so positive and always nudging us to go for it.

Website: aktivstyle.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aktivstyleusa/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Aktiv5280

Image Credits
https://www.instagram.com/lauraorozcophotography/

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