The Icelandic Lopapeysa symbolizes a heritage that Icelanders are very proud of. Today, it stands as a symbol of resilience against the challenges of a harsh climate – and also highlights how crucial knitting is to the livelihood of the local community.
Icelandic Lopapeysa is an Icelandic style of sweater originating in early or mid-20th century, at a time when imports had displaced older and more traditional Icelandic clothing and people began to search for new ways to utilise the plentiful native wool. The design has since become a national icon for Icelandic cultural identity.
Protected Geographical Indication
In order to be called lopapeysa, these conditions have to be fulfilled:
The wool used for a hand-knitted Icelandic lopapeysa must come from Icelandic sheep.
The wool used to knit the sweater must be new, not recycled.
The sweater has to be knit from lopi wool (the Icelandic wool used for knitting a lopapeysa).
The sweater has to have a circularly knitted yoke with a pattern from the shoulder line to the neckline.
The sweater has to be hand-knitted in Iceland. The sweater has to be seamless. The sweater can be whole or open (cardigan)
Icelandic Wool
As a breed, the Iceland sheep is unique - the purity of the strain has been protected by centuries of isolation and a total absence of contact with others. By the same token, the wool it produces has no counterpart anywhere. Evolving over 1,100 years of exposure to the sub-Arctic climate, Icelandic wool has a distinctive combination of inner and outer fibers. The outer fibers are long, glossy, tough and water resistant, while the inner ones are fine, soft and insulating, providing a high resistance to cold. A further striking characteristic of the Iceland sheep is its natural coloration: black, grey, and brown as well as the usual white. Together, these create the distinctive look of Icelandic knitwear, one of the best-known examples of which is the lopi.
