It is believed that sheep were brought to Iceland between 870 and 930 A.D. with the Vikings, who brought their possessions, slaves and pets on their ships to settle there. This period is called the time of settlement – landnámsöld. From the beginning, the settlers had to cope with extremely difficult living conditions, which were alleviated by the sheep as the main source of meat, milk, excellent wool, and the great adaptability of the sheep.
Our products are made from the wool of Icelandic sheep (Lat. ovis aries borealis). These sheep are a different breed from the stuttrófu kyn, a variety of short-haired sheep that used to be common in northern Europe. Today, the breed is found only in a few places on the continent, including the Faroe Islands, the Orkney Islands, Sweden and Russia.
Icelandic wool
Over time, the population of these animals grew steadily, and their breeding in isolation from the rest of the world, under challenging climatic conditions, among active volcanoes, glaciers and boundless plateaus, led to the development of a specific breed with a unique fleece.
Icelandic wool has two layers of fibres: an inner coat called þel and an outer coat called tog. The inner coat consists of short, soft and fine fibres with excellent insulating properties, which is the main reason for using it in clothing. The outer coat, on the other hand, consists of long, coarse, strong and waterproof fibres, used as raw material for carpets and ropes. This coat is fireproof because it does not burn – it only melts at very high temperatures.
With these properties, fleece has a unique position among raw materials of this kind all over the world. Icelandic wool does not need to be washed frequently, as it does not absorb odors and does not get dirty easily, and the elasticity of the fibres ensures that products made from it do not crease. Thanks to its high ’self-cleaning’ ability, wool does not need to be washed frequently, but ot should be aired nevertheless.
If necessary, wool garments should be handwashed in lukewarm water at 30 degrees. For rinsing, use only detergents intended for wool or their natural substitutes, e.g. lanolin. Wet clothes should not be twisted or wrung out, but they can be gently pressed to remove excess water or placed in a spin dryer for half a minute and then dried. During drying and storing, clothes should not be hung up but laid flat to prevent stretching.
Made in Iceland
Like the previous knitting factories in Vík í Mýrdal, our task is to create products from the domestic raw material. We produce blankets, caps and gloves from Icelandic wool yarns. Our design is based on local culture, as well as natural objects characteristic of this part of the world. The uniqueness of Icelandic wool, resulting from over a thousand years of adaptation to the difficult conditions on the island, provides the best quality of our products. We believe that thanks to our experience and respect for tradition, we are able to offer you something more than just a product. We want them to attend you for years, providing protection during windy and rainy autumn and a large dose of warmth during long winter evenings.
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