New Opportunities for Norwegian Wool: An Investigation of Product and Market Pissibilities

This paper aims to provide knowledge on how Norwegian wool can contribute to a more environmental sustainable textile consumption and increase value creation in Norwegian wool production, textile industry, retailing and design. In the context of this project, the present paper reviews existing research on Norwegian wool and the physical properties of the material in order to investigate if there are other possibilities to utilize Norwegian wool. Existing research seems to focus on wool in the setting of clothes, even though the Norwegian wool is not suited for next-toskin clothing. As the market for traditional knitted products is limited, it is necessary to differentiate Norwegian wool from the softer qualities like merino, and find areas of use that truly benefit from the properties of the Norwegian wool. The paper also addresses how some of the barriers and misperceptions facing the wool industry can be changed through marketing and product design, which is exemplified by the development of a woolen space divider, emphasizing wools acoustical properties and ability to regulate indoor air humidity.