Lopapeysa

Icelandic wool has earned an international reputation for its warmth, lightness, and insulation abilities so that even when wet, it keeps the wearer warm.

[1] 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.

Knitting probably came to Iceland in the sixteenth century, but the lopapeysa originated in the early or mid-20th century, at a time when imports had displaced older and more traditional Icelandic clothing, industrial production was replacing hand-knitting, and people began to search for new ways to utilize the plentiful native wool and knitting skills.

[1] In the wake of Icelandic full independence from Denmark in 1944, the lopapeysa increasingly became an invented tradition and a symbol of national identity.

The lopapeysa has seen two main peaks in fashion: in the two or three decades following Icelandic independence from Denmark in 1944 and then again in the early 21st century as globalisation challenged the national identity.