Hope

Woven with hope

At Elvang, we are best known for our textiles produced under responsible conditions in Peru, but we have now chosen to expand our production with a small, compact collection of throws made by women in war-torn Ukraine. It has been named HOPE – because hope must be kept alive in a country where war, unemployment and poverty make women and children particularly vulnerable.

As a Fair Trade-certified company, we want to reach out where there is a particular need. That is why we have entered into a partnership with a weaving mill in Ukraine, where unemployment has been rising in large parts of the country since Russia's invasion in 2022, and general poverty has increased significantly. In rural areas, textile production provides work mainly for women, who, together with their children, are often the most vulnerable in war. It has therefore been a natural extension of our responsible practices to set up production in Ukraine so that Elvang can contribute to job creation and income for Ukrainian families who are in desperate need of it.

The result is a brand new collection called HOPE. It consists of throws woven from 100% New Zealand wool. The motif is classic herringbone patterns reminiscent of sprouting plants – a beautiful and symbolic tribute to Ukraine's agricultural traditions and the country's magnificent nature. HOPE is available in six carefully selected colours.

”For us it is all about responsibility”

Responsibility is at the heart of Elvang, where founders Tina and Lasse Elvang have been creating growth and jobs in Peru since 2002, where their core material, alpaca wool, comes from. As something new, the couple has now moved a small part of their production to weaving mills in Ukraine, where the HOPE blanket has been created, giving a group of Ukrainian women new opportunities in life.

Why did you choose to collaborate with producers in Ukraine specifically?
Tina Elvang: For us, it's about responsibility. Ukraine is a country at war, and we have the opportunity to contribute jobs and income to a community that needs it – not as a political statement, but as a natural extension of our DNA as a Fair Trade-certified company. The majority of our products in the new collection, which has been named Hope, are woven in the country's second largest city, Kharkiv, which has been severely affected by the war and where unemployment is high.

What does it mean to you that the production primarily employs women?
Lasse Elvang: Textile production in Ukraine means jobs, especially for women, and in war zones, women and their children are often among the most vulnerable. It means a lot to us to be able to help create stability, income and hope for this particular group. It is a way of giving something back, which is also a natural extension of our general focus on responsibility and dignity.

Can you tell us a little more about the Hope collection itself?
Tina Elvang: Hope is woven from 100% New Zealand sheep's wool, which is a fantastic natural material. The pattern is classic herringbone stripes, reminiscent of sprouting plants. It is a symbolism that we find beautiful and meaningful because it points to both growth and hope. The collection is being launched in six carefully selected colours and is already in stock because it was important for us to get started right away.

How does the collaboration in Ukraine fit into Elvang's overall approach to responsibility?
Lasse Elvang: It is a natural step. We have been working with alpaca wool in Peru for many years and have built close relationships with weavers and shepherds there. Our approach is always that any collaboration must create value for both us and our partners. In Ukraine, we are building on the same idea – that quality, responsibility and job creation must go hand in hand.

Has it been a challenge to establish the collaboration in a war-torn area?
Tina Elvang: Of course, there are challenges associated with working in an area close to the front line. Kharkiv is only 40 kilometres from the Russian border. But despite the obvious challenges, we have experienced enormous commitment and a great and infectious willingness on the part of our partner to create something positive in the midst of difficult conditions. This has been very inspiring and has given us strong motivation to succeed with the project.

What do you hope customers will get when they buy a Hope blanket?
Lasse Elvang: We hope that they not only see a beautiful design and a functional product, but also feel the story behind it. That they get a blanket that is both warm in wool and warm in its message. Each HOPE blanket is a small contribution to creating better conditions in a community that needs our support.

How do you imagine the collaboration developing in the future?
Tina Elvang: We see it as the beginning of a partnership that can grow. Our ambition is always to create collections that combine design, quality and responsibility. If we can continue to create permanent jobs in Ukraine while offering our customers products they can be proud to own, then we will have come a long way. And we are already well into the work on next year's new products – also from Ukraine.