A wool fairytale on Broadway

In a way, it was perhaps not so strange that the media giant in the USA contacted Gudbrandsdalens Uldvarefabrik. Ever since 1887, the factory has made woolen fabrics, meant to last for generations. When you have made gold from wool for over 130 years, you know what you are doing.

During a year, the factory uses wool from approximately 120,000 sheep. Here, the entire process is under the same roof, from wool reception to the finished product. Here it is designed, carded, spun, dyed and woven, there is quality in every aspect. Here, every meter is scrutinized many times during production before it is sent out of the house. The long lifespan, and the fact that wool is a natural, renewable and biodegradable fiber, also make the textiles a very sustainable choice.

Real Disney Magic

There is talk of Disney magic, and it was a magical moment when Gudbrandsalen's Wool Factory received the inquiry from costume designer David Kaley. "Frozen", the critically acclaimed animated film from 2013, was to be staged as a musical on Broadway - the world's leading theater district in New York.

When Kaley started making the sketches, he knew he wanted costumes that looked as authentic as possible. He was looking for materials with the right colours, the right weight and texture, he looked at how the fabrics lay and how they would be for the actors to move in. He was looking for textiles that were completely out of the ordinary, the kind that had never before been seen on Broadway.

"We wanted to make it as authentic as possible and find something that has never been seen on Broadway before. That's how we came across Gudbrandsdalens Uldvarefabrik."

David Kaley

Googled his way to Lillehammer

He Googled his way to the factory in Lillehammer, and when he received the fabric samples from Gudbrandsdalens Uldvarefabrik, he understood that he had found gold. An important criterion for David Kaley was for the costumes to be made of durable material. He also fulfilled this wish to the highest degree.

Several hundred meters with the most beautiful fabrics, a combination of both bunad fabric and furniture fabric, were sent from Lillehammer to New York. The secrecy surrounding the costumes was great. But in some of the order emails, the factory could still find small hints. "Anna bodice" it could say, or "Oaken trousers" or "Weselton collar".

In a way, it was perhaps not so strange that the media giant in the USA contacted Gudbrandsdalens Uldvarefabrik. Ever since 1887, the factory has been making woolen fabrics, meant to last for generations. When you have made gold from wool for over 130 years, you know what you are doing.

Annualy, the factory uses wool from about 120.000 sheep. Here, the whole process is under one roof from initial design concept, and  raw wool to finished product. The wool is carded, spun, dyed and woven, and there is quality in all processes. Every meter is examined many times during production before it is sent out of the house. Gudbrandsdalens Uldvarefabrik fabrics are long-lasting. Moreover, the fact that wool is a natural, renewable and. It is real magic that this small mill in Lillehammer found its way all the way to the million city of New York. There are still regular orders from Disney Theatrical Group.