No compromise.
The material we use is, of course, a central consideration in all our projects. Quality is key. There are many sayings we could quote: “good quality is expensive; poor quality even more so”, or “if you knit all day, you need quality” – well, yes, we made up that one, but you know what we mean.
The best jumpers are usually made of cashmere; major fashion houses use fine alpaca and merino has long been the standard choice in the premium outdoor sector. But guanaco and vicuña are also some of the best wools knitting enthusiasts the world over can buy. At addi, we know from experience that the quality requirements placed on knitting needles and crochet hooks are also constantly increasing. That suits us perfectly, as we have always set ourselves the highest of standards.
Find out more on the following pages. The information comes exclusively from our own customers. Where does the wool come from? What is the difference between cheap and exclusive wool? Read on to find out. It’s fascinating.
The best jumpers are usually made of cashmere; major fashion houses use fine alpaca and merino has long been the standard choice in the premium outdoor sector. But guanaco and vicuña are also some of the best wools knitting enthusiasts the world over can buy. At addi, we know from experience that the quality requirements placed on knitting needles and crochet hooks are also constantly increasing. That suits us perfectly, as we have always set ourselves the highest of standards.
Find out more on the following pages. The information comes exclusively from our own customers. Where does the wool come from? What is the difference between cheap and exclusive wool? Read on to find out. It’s fascinating.
More about quality.
Today, we are talking to Britta Kremke from Selected Yarns.
She had dreamed of selling wool one day since she was little. It was probably in her blood: her mother had a wool shop in Hamburg, where a young Britta knitted her first jumper at the age of seven. In other words, she was more or less born with needles and wool in her hands.
More about quality.
Today, we are talking to Britta Kremke from Selected Yarns.
She had dreamed of selling wool one day since she was little. It was probably in her blood: her mother had a wool shop in Hamburg, where a young Britta knitted her first jumper at the age of seven. In other words, she was more or less born with needles and wool in her hands.
Yarns from Selected Yarns are produced in spinning mills all over the world from Thailand to the UK. GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified yarns are produced in Turkey or Italy, for example. GOTS is a seal Britta Kremke trusts when it comes to sustainability. Certification involves an assessment of all stages and aspects of production, from animal welfare and environmental protection to fair payment and good conditions. Although this is not cheap, she explains, it is important and an integral aspect of business today.
Britta Kremke has found another aspect of certification is that you also question your own way of working. “Does a delivery really have to come by air? Can we combine consignments? How can we make the workstations in our warehouse more ergonomic? How can we create family-friendly working conditions? And so on… This does not add a lot to the price of our yarns, as the costs are spread over a lot of balls of wool. But of course, a good raw material and excellent workmanship always have a price.”
Yarns from Selected Yarns are produced in spinning mills all over the world from Thailand to the UK. GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified yarns are produced in Turkey or Italy, for example. GOTS is a seal Britta Kremke trusts when it comes to sustainability. Certification involves an assessment of all stages and aspects of production, from animal welfare and environmental protection to fair payment and good conditions. Although this is not cheap, she explains, it is important and an integral aspect of business today.
Britta Kremke has found another aspect of certification is that you also question your own way of working. “Does a delivery really have to come by air? Can we combine consignments? How can we make the workstations in our warehouse more ergonomic? How can we create family-friendly working conditions? And so on… This does not add a lot to the price of our yarns, as the costs are spread over a lot of balls of wool. But of course, a good raw material and excellent workmanship always have a price.”
We couldn’t agree more: quality has a price.
Interestingly, however, the sustainability aspect is not the main factor in significant price differences. The material itself plays a bigger role here, Britta Kremke explains. Wools made entirely from synthetic fibres are available for under € 1 from discount stores. Exclusive yarns, on the other hand, are made from rare raw materials such as yak, cashmere, baby alpaca or special breeds of sheep. Hand-dyed yarns can cost € 20 or more for 50 grams. These exclusive raw fibres, like cashmere, are made up of long hairs and are both fine and rare. “They have great wicking and insulation properties and are amazingly soft, and every minute that you work with the yarns is an absolute pleasure. It’s like yoga for your hands.”
Interestingly, however, the sustainability aspect is not the main factor in significant price differences. The material itself plays a bigger role here, Britta Kremke explains. Wools made entirely from synthetic fibres are available for under € 1 from discount stores. Exclusive yarns, on the other hand, are made from rare raw materials such as yak, cashmere, baby alpaca or special breeds of sheep. Hand-dyed yarns can cost € 20 or more for 50 grams. These exclusive raw fibres, like cashmere, are made up of long hairs and are both fine and rare. “They have great wicking and insulation properties and are amazingly soft, and every minute that you work with the yarns is an absolute pleasure. It’s like yoga for your hands.”
Does Britta Kremke have an addi recommendation? The addiNature olivewood circular knitting needles. She finds them warm, quiet and pleasantly woody – and just as sustainable and high-quality as the yarns you can buy from Selected Yarns.
Does Britta Kremke have an addi recommendation? The addiNature olivewood circular knitting needles. She finds them warm, quiet and pleasantly woody – and just as sustainable and high-quality as the yarns you can buy from Selected Yarns.
Want to find out more? Next time, we will be talking to Sebastian Hermann from Schulana, a yarn supplier from Munich, and Jakob Lang from Lang Yarns, a Swiss yarn supplier. Both are experts in the field.
Want to find out more? Next time, we will be talking to Sebastian Hermann from Schulana, a yarn supplier from Munich, and Jakob Lang from Lang Yarns, a Swiss yarn supplier. Both are experts in the field.
