Together with Jöklalopi, Alafosslopi Plötulopi and Einband, Lettlopi forms the family of Lopi yarns made from pure Icelandic wool.
In the more than 1000 years that they have lived in Iceland, Icelandic sheep (Ovis aries borealis) have adapted to the climatic peculiarities of the far north and therefore have wool with unique properties. Lopi is the name for the combination of the sheep's soft and warm undercoat and the long and water-repellent hairs of the outer coat. Combining these properties in one thread makes it possible to knit sweaters and jackets that are comfortable to wear and also protect us from the cold and damp.
With their beautiful colors and patterns, clothes made from Icelandic wool delight all the senses. The fine Eindband wool can be used to knit delicate scarves and clothes for spring and summer, Plötulopi and Lettlopi sweaters for indoors and outdoors, and the thick Alafosslopi and Jöklalopi super warm sweaters and jackets that insulate against the cold even in winter. Or how about a blanket that warms us on cool evenings on the balcony or terrace?
Icelandic sweaters are timeless items of clothing for young and old and are also becoming increasingly popular with fashion-conscious young people, thanks to the combination of sustainability with trendy colors, shapes and patterns. Icelandic wool is a natural product that is affordable for everyone and, at a reasonable price, allows everyone to make beautiful and practical clothing and accessories themselves.
There are around 400,000 to 500,000 sheep in Iceland. The sheep farms are run by families who own between 200 and 300 sheep and are organized in a cooperative. As a result, many shepherds still know their animals by name. In the mild summer, the sheep roam freely through the wilderness of Iceland, while in the arctic winter they find shelter with the shepherds.
Firstly, due to the cold climate in Iceland, there are hardly any vermin that need to be destroyed with pesticides. Secondly, the standards for animal welfare in Iceland, especially for sheep, are very high and the controls on these are extremely strict. Therefore, sheep are very rarely given antibiotics, hormones or similar chemical agents and treatments. The use of pesticides and herbicides in sheep farming is very limited, so that Icelandic wool is a very pure, ecologically high-quality product. Sheep are not dehorned and are free from mulesing. After shearing, the sheep remain in the protection of a shelter until they start wearing their first warm wool again. For more information on animal welfare in Iceland, please visit MAST, the website of the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority. Because the Icelandic air contains significantly less pollutants, Icelandic wool is also much cleaner than many other European wools.
