The roots of NILS Inc. can be traced to Sweden in 1953: the year Nils Andersson, founder and owner was born.
At age four, Nils began participating in the Swedish National pastime of cross-country skiing. At age ten, he was introduced to alpine skiing while on vacation with his family in Norway. He fell in love with the sport and while in high school and college, started traveling to his favorite ski destinations in Austria, Switzerland and France.
After high school, Nils enrolled at the German Textile Academy in Munich where he discovered his passion for designing and pattern making. It was during a vacation to the United States that his passion for skiing and designing would merge. While visiting Newport Beach, California, Nils met his soon to be wife and future merchandiser, Nancy, who was working at a local ski shop. Nils soon left Sweden and took up residence in Newport Beach where he began designing men’s shells for a ski shop in the area. Three years later, in the growing need for a high quality, fashion-driven women’s skiwear line, NILS Skiwear was born.
Due to immediate positive response to the product, the collection was expanded and introduced at the Ski Industries of America Trade Show.
