Working in the harsh weather conditions of the North was very hard. As a means of protection against strong wind, moisture, and low temperatures aboard and on the coast, the Pomors wore special overalls known as the rokon.

The name “rokon-buksa” originated in the 16th or 17th century. This was how the fishermen of the Russian North referred to a set of rokon jacket and buksy overalls. The Russians, particularly the Pomors, adopted the best production techniques from neighboring peoples. They borrowed most hunting and fishing clothes from the indigenous people they interacted with.

Russians borrowed the “malitsa”, “sovik”, “kukol”, “koybenka” and “tobyr” from the Nenets, Sami, and Karelians. They also adopted a Norwegian outfit of a rokan jacket, buksy pants, and a sou’wester hat with wide brims. They also bought Norwegian leather jackets, pilot jackets, hats, and belts. Only in summer, they wore old casual clothes. Over time, the word “rokan” transformed into “rokon”.

The Pomors borrowed a lot of words from the Norwegians because they had an active trade with this country for several centuries. In the 18th century, when the Pomors started trading intensively with villages in northern Norway, the Russenorsk slang began to take shape. It developed over time and almost all transactions between Russians and Norwegians were conducted using this mixed language.

Russenorsk has been around for centuries, and it was particularly popular until the 20th century when there was active sea-born trade in grain and fish between Norway and Russia. The language has been preserved in Svalbard. There are about 400 known words in Russenorsk.

The museum buksy are overalls made of polyolefin fabric, coated with special oils. It was made in Norway in the late 19th or early 20th century. It came to the museum from the Vorzogory village in the Onega Uyezd, Arkhangelsk Governorate. In the 20th century, fishing crews wore outfits made of rubber-coated fabric. Later, PVC-coated fabric became the main material for these clothes.