At Stockholm Fashion Week, designer Stina Randestad, founder of the fashion label STINARAND, presented a bold new vision for Swedish wool, highlighting its quality, sustainability, and creative potential. Speaking about the project, Randestad described Swedish wool as a high-quality material that is rewarding to work with, from knitting and dyeing to draping and preserving. She emphasized the added value of using wool sourced from Swedish sheep, especially given that this valuable resource has long been discarded.
Randestad’s designs exist at the crossroads of fashion, craftsmanship, and innovation. Her sculptural aesthetic, which has gained international recognition through achievements such as designing a garment for Björk and being a semi-finalist in the LVMH Prize, was central to this new project. The garments debuted at Stockholm Fashion Week were crafted using yarn spun from pure Swedish wool supplied by Klippan Yllefabrik and fabric from the furniture company VERK. The materials incorporated wool from a variety of sheep breeds, including Swedish Finewool and Dorset crosses, while one design also featured elements from Rya sheep hides.
Development of the collection partially took place at Toolspace, a hardware design and innovation lab in Stockholm. There, Randestad used a digital knitting machine, the Kniterate, to experiment with different qualities of wool — even those typically overlooked in high fashion. This process enabled her to unlock the full creative potential of Swedish wool and its applications in experimental design.
The broader context for Randestad’s work is the Swedish Wool Initiative, a national effort to eliminate waste in Sweden’s wool industry. Despite importing more than 1,700 tons of wool annually, Sweden allows over half of its locally produced wool to go unused. The initiative, led by organizations such as Axfoundation, seeks to transform this previously discarded material into a valuable, circular resource across industries. By collaborating with farmers, designers, and manufacturers, the Swedish Wool Initiative promotes a more sustainable and efficient use of local wool.
Johan Sidenmark, Project Manager for Future Materials at Axfoundation, emphasized that Swedish wool has significant untapped potential. He underscored the importance of creating new material stories in fashion and explained how the initiative connects professionals across sectors to prevent wool from going to waste. Since its inception in 2020, the initiative has led to a wide range of products — from knitwear and tailored suits to upholstery and experimental garments.
Randestad echoed this sentiment, describing the process of transforming an overlooked material into something meaningful and lasting as deeply fulfilling. She expressed hope that her artistic pieces would inspire others to explore the potential of Swedish wool, which she sees as a “gold mine” waiting to be utilized more fully.
The new STINARAND collection will be exhibited at the Nationalmuseum from June 3 to 8, 2025, as part of “Space By,” an initiative by CVU that supports emerging designers and innovators during Stockholm Fashion Week. On June 5, Randestad will also participate in talks alongside Amsterdam-based fashion and lifestyle brand Daily Paper. After Stockholm Fashion Week, her garments will move to Torsåker Farm, Axfoundation’s development center for sustainable innovation, for further exhibition.
The creation of this collection was supported by the Swedish Handicraft Council, while the Swedish Wool Initiative itself is partially funded by Vinnova and Region Dalarna. Randestad’s work continues to reflect her research-driven approach to materials, blending artistry with wearability. Her signature use of rich textures and structural forms not only challenges fashion norms but also emphasizes sustainability.
Axfoundation, the organization backing the Swedish Wool Initiative, is an independent, non-profit foundation focused on developing practical solutions for a sustainable society. With a firm belief in the power of business to drive change, Axfoundation works across sectors to address global challenges in food systems and material use. Torsåker Farm, the organization’s test farm and research center, facilitates collaboration and experimentation in these areas.
Swedish wool presents many advantages for designers and consumers alike. It is breathable, naturally odor-resistant, and biodegradable. Choosing wool supports local craftspeople and encourages slow fashion, aligning with values of quality over quantity. Wool also boasts natural antibacterial, flame-resistant, and dirt-repellent properties, reducing the need for harmful chemical treatments.
For designers interested in working with Swedish wool, resources such as the Design Guide for Swedish Wool and the Swedish Wool Standard are available, providing insights into fiber characteristics, techniques, and sustainable design practices. These tools help creators understand how to source and apply Swedish wool effectively in various products. Spaces like Toolspace in Stockholm also support innovation by giving designers access to tools for prototyping and experimenting with sustainable materials.
Swedish wool’s versatility, sustainability, and potential for circularity make it an increasingly attractive material in modern design. Thanks to efforts from visionaries like Stina Randestad and supportive initiatives like Axfoundation’s, this local resource is poised to become a cornerstone of sustainable fashion in Sweden and beyond.
Related Topics
- Pacific Designers Dazzle Sydney Runway in Bold Global Fashion Debut
- Vietnam International Fashion Week 2025 to Spotlight Sustainability and Cultural Identity in Ho Chi Minh City
- Paris Fashion Week Men’s SS26 Set to Dazzle with Star Designers and Major Returns
