KRUS

Norwegian wool has a good crimp (krus in Norwegian), and thus elasticity and strength. The Krus project wants to bring out the qualities of Norwegian wool through quality enhancement in the value chain and increased knowledge and improved marketing. Krus is interdisciplinary and covers the value chain from farm to good clothes. The value chain for wool in Norway will be compared with similar value chains in some selected North Atlantic countries and with the development that has taken place in food production.

Norwegian wool has an exceptionally good crimp (krus in Norwegian), and thus elasticity and strength. The Krus project wants to bring out the qualities of Norwegian wool through quality enhancement in the value chain and increased knowledge and improved marketing. Krus is interdisciplinary and covers the value chain from farm to good clothes. The value chain for wool in Norway will be compared with similar value chains in some selected North Atlantic countries and with the development that has taken place in food production.

Consumption and production of textiles face major challenges and changes. Today, the industry is characterized by low regulation and little knowledge, while the growth in quantity, environmental impact and impact on animals and humans is high. Mugs will contribute to the debate about sustainable clothing by focusing on a local value chain and locally based clothing.

Norwegian wool and the specific qualities of the different breeds play a significant role in Norwegian textile tradition and clothing culture. The work towards durable and beautiful clothes and textiles can go through an increased understanding of where the clothes “come from” and the importance of the raw materials for the finished textiles. An important challenge for Norwegian wool is that it is not marketed by origin. A special challenge exists for the older breeds. This wool is central to Norwegian handicraft traditions, but the quality of some of the wool varieties is declining and some wool is not taken care of but constitutes a waste problem.

Through experiments with breeding, collaboration, branding schemes, product development and new business models, Krus seeks to address these challenges.

Krus is funded by the Research Council of Norway within the BIONÆR program (Sustainable value creation in food and bio-based industries).

The project resulted in a network of actors that is very active and that keeps in touch through this group on Facebook (facebook.com).

Main goal

Increase value creation from Norwegian wool and redefine “sustainable fashion” by re-establishing an understanding of where clothes come from.

Intermediate golas

  1. Ensure consumer access to Norwegian wool in yarn and other products
  2. Increase the quality and quantity of wool that is processed and spun for the local market
  3. Increase the knowledge of sustainable business ideas
  4. Redefine «sustainable fashion»
  5. Increase the knowledge of the potential for Norwegian wool within the value chain and among consumers

Project participants

  • Gunnar Vittersø
  • Ingun Grimstad Klepp
  • Kirsi Laitala

Project partners

  • Animalia
  • Bioforsk Økologisk
  • Copenhagen business school (CBS)
  • Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk
  • International wool textile organisation (IWTO)
  • Lyngheisenteret – Museumssenteret i Hordaland (MuHo)
  • Nice Fashion – Nordic Fashion Association
  • Norges Husflidslag
  • Norges miljø- og biovitenskapelige universitet (NMBU) – Handelshøyskolen
  • Norilia AS
  • Norsk Sau og geit (NSG)
  • Selbu spinneri
  • University of the arts London – London college of fashion
  • ZeroWaste Scotland