Did you know that in the tiny village of Gällstad – Sweden’s historic knitwear capital – one family has been handcrafting wool garments in the very same community since 1946? As part of inspiring European consumers to buy local for a sustainable Europe, brands like Ivanhoe prove that timeless quality and continental craftsmanship are still very much alive.

Ivanhoe of Sweden traces its roots to Gällstad, Västra Götaland, where the company was founded in 1946 as Gällstads Ylle. Today, three generations later, every piece is still knitted and finished in their own factory in the village, with additional finishing by trusted European partners. This small-scale, family-run production ensures complete control over quality, working conditions, and environmental impact – a rare commitment in today’s globalised industry.
(https://www.ivanhoe.se/en-de)

The story begins in a humble attic where Martin Göthager installed knitting machines to produce women’s clothing for his wife Ragnhild to sew. What started as a postwar dream grew into a family legacy. In the 1970s Martin loaded surplus stock into his car and drove to coastal tourist towns, turning customers towards Gällstad instead of away from it. That spark created the legendary “Kärringarallyt” bus tours that still bring visitors to the village today. Passed down first to sons Lars-Erik, Ulf, and Göran, and now to the third generation – Karin, Anders, and Anna – Ivanhoe remains fiercely independent and proudly local. In an era of disappearing European textile mills, the family continues to safeguard jobs, skills, and heritage that would otherwise vanish.

What They Make

Ivanhoe specialises in boiled wool and pure wool garments that are built to be worn, loved, and handed down for decades.

• Classic boiled wool jackets (e.g. Beata Full Zip, Billie Half Zip) – 100 % wool, naturally water-repellent, windproof, and temperature-regulating. Made entirely in Gällstad, these jackets develop a beautiful patina over years of use and easily outlast fast-fashion equivalents tenfold.
  (https://www.ivanhoe.se/en-de/collections/jackets)
• Boiled wool vests (e.g. Beata Vest) – perfect mid-layers or standalone pieces, unisex styling, timeless colours.
  (https://www.ivanhoe.se/en-de/collections/vests)
• Women’s boiled wool jackets (e.g. Bella Full Zip, Brodal Female Classic) – tailored fits in rich colours, blending elegance with extreme durability.
  (https://www.ivanhoe.se/en-de/collections/women)
• Knitted wool sweaters and cardigans – softer non-boiled options for everyday layering, still produced under the same roof with the same uncompromising quality.

Because production remains in Sweden and with European partners, you get superior working conditions, drastically lower transport emissions, full material traceability, and the satisfaction of supporting one of Europe’s last authentic textile communities.

Why Buy This?

Every Ivanhoe garment is an investment in pieces that transcend trends and seasons. By choosing heirloom-quality wool made on European soil, you actively reduce clothing waste, cut carbon-heavy global shipping, and help preserve skilled jobs in rural Sweden. You also wear living history – a direct link to three generations of craft that refuses to be offshored.

Ready to own something that will outlast you? Shop directly at https://www.ivanhoe.se/en-de

Categories: Outdoor, Clothing Heirloom, Clothing Heritage, Clothing knitwear, Clothing Outerwear, Clothing Men’s, Clothing Women’s, Outdoor Zweden