November 19, 2025
Westerlind Arrives in Litchfield
By Paula Cornell
Westerlind, the chic outdoor fashion and gear boutique, is coming to Connecticut for the first time, in the heart of Litchfield.
The new boutique will open in the historic Cobble Court––a gorgeous courtyard with brick storefronts dating back to 1889. Alongside other local favorites like Milton Market, the location matches Westerlind’s unique blend of classic style with modern functionality.
Named for its Swedish owner, Andrea Westerlind, the store has a legacy of entrepreneurial brilliance embedded in the name itself. Her family owned a fashion house from the 1940s, and “Westerlind” means “the linden tree in the west”––a fitting name for a store built around stylish adventure.
Westerlind moved to the U.S. in the early 2000s to launch the Swedish brand Fjallraven––which became the most successful launch of any non-domestic outdoor brand on the North American market.
After that, Westerlind created her own brand. In 2008, at age 25, she opened her first store on Mott Street in New York.
“I remember it like it was yesterday,” she says. “I couldn’t sleep or eat for a month before the opening. I never thought it could be the success it turned into.”
On opening day, the first customer was a man from Wall Street who was delighted to find out he was the first to shop there—and told all his friends to stop by.
“That kind of support and enthusiasm is a big part of the reason why I’ve stayed in the U.S.,” Westerlind says. “The positive spirit of the people in and around New York is undeniable.”
From that first store, Westerlind has grown to five locations across New York and Massachusetts, and this upcoming opening in Litchfield will be the sixth.
Westerlind features over 100 brands from around the world, gathered from Westerlind’s travels.
“My brain is a constant scanner for cool new items and ways to dress for a life on the go. I couldn’t turn that off even if I tried,” she says.
Beyond her travels, a large part of her inspiration comes from her own athleticism and personal love of the outdoors. She’s done a wide variety of activities, but her current favorites are trail running, bicycling, fly-fishing, and cold plunging. As a single mother, she also loves watching her two young children play outside.
When asked why she chose Litchfield for her next store, Westerlind says, “My friends and customers keep telling me I have to do it. So I decided to listen to them!”
Westerlind hopes her store will offer a new kind of value for the area, allowing the community to live and travel seamlessly between the hills and forests of Connecticut, the city streets, and beyond.
“I hope I can continue to spread joy through functional gear that lets people spend less time worrying about being comfortable, and more time enjoying the beautiful environment. It really means everything to me.”
