Anorak becomes daily symbol of Greenlandic identity

Everyday anoraks are appearing more often on Greenlandic social media, reports Danish broadcaster DR.

Fashion designer Mia Chemnitz, co-owner of the Nuuk boutique Qiviut, recalls last winter when Greenland drew global attention amid geopolitical discussions. She decided to wear an anorak daily as a quiet act of defiance.

“I put on an anorak every day. It gave me strength. It felt like saying ‘fuck you’ to the American president,” she said, referring to Donald Trump’s remarks about Greenland. “It was overwhelming, a feeling of having no influence over our own future.”

The trend has spread under the hashtags #anorakfriday and #annoraaqfriday, with Greenlanders posting photos of themselves wearing anoraks in daily life. Aviaq Reimar Olsen, head of the municipal sewing workshop and knowledge center for Greenlandic national costume Kittat, notes the shift.

“It’s becoming more normal to wear anoraks in everyday life. It’s a way to symbolize that you’re part of this cultural community,” she said.

Vivi Sørensen, director of Greenland’s National Theatre, fills her wardrobe with anoraks in various colors and patterns. For her, wearing one is a way to reclaim cultural identity.

“It gives me a cultural groundedness. It’s a way to show I value our culture and am part of it,” she said. “Growing up, I felt something was missing in our culture—that we had been stripped of something. I’ve spent my adult life filling that void, and the anorak has played a role.”

Traditionally, anoraks are white for men and red for women, often worn as part of the national costume for special occasions. Made from natural materials like polar bear or seal, they were designed to withstand the Arctic climate. Today, they can also be made from cotton.

Chemnitz, who now sells anoraks in non-traditional colors, prefers her customers to be Greenlandic. “I’d try to talk a Dane out of buying one. It’s not for you,” she said.