On Tuesday, May 6 at 6 PM, an evening dedicated to the role of wool in European fashion will be organized.

The event is a collaboration between the Italian Cultural Institute in Stockholm, the Swedish Institute, the Association of Swedish Fashion Brands (ASFB), and the Department of Fashion Studies at Stockholm University.

Italians and Swedes from the fashion sector will discuss the cultural rediscovery of wool—one of the world’s oldest materials for clothing production—and its potential as a sustainable material in an industry increasingly moving toward environmental consciousness.

Participants include Nigel Thompson from Biella The Wool Company, Lisa Bergstrand, fashion designer and consultant, and Ulla-Karin Warberg, curator at the Nordic Museum responsible for the textile department, in dialogue with Louise Wallenberg, professor of fashion studies at Stockholm University.

The discussion will be moderated by John-Jamal Gille, director of ASFB.

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During the evening, the work from a workshop on the symbolism, cultural significance, and potential of wool will also be presented. The workshop was held with students and researchers from the Fashion Studies Program at Stockholm University. It was organized by Carla Carìa and Salvatore Vignola, winners of the second edition of Premio Stoccolma, an initiative supported by the Italian Cultural Institute, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Culture, aiming to promote sustainable fashion by offering two young fashion designers a six-month residency at Swedish fashion brands each year.

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About the participants:

• Nigel Thompson is originally from Bradford, England, and has over 40 years of experience in raw wool processing and sales, both in the UK and Italy.
  In 2008, he founded Biella The Wool Company, a consortium aiming to revive the European wool industry by creating a sustainable and traceable supply chain from sheep farmers to consumers. The consortium specializes in the various stages of wool processing, including washing, carding, and production, and works directly with farmers to turn their wool into high-quality products, ensuring full traceability and environmental sustainability throughout the process. Their Wool Collection and Enhancement Center serves as a hub for Italian sheep farmers and wool enthusiasts across Europe, promoting the cultural and economic value of wool in the region.

• Lisa Bergstrand is a Swedish fashion designer and consultant known for her dedication to sustainable fashion and Swedish wool. In 2017, Lisa co-founded A NEW SWEDEN, a brand creating timeless garments made entirely in Sweden using locally produced materials. Through Bergstrand Consultancy, she also advises fashion companies on transitioning to more sustainable practices. Additionally, Lisa founded The Good Wool Collective, an initiative aimed at highlighting shortcomings in the fashion sector’s environmental efforts and advocating for natural fibers like wool.

• Ulla-Karin Warberg holds a master’s degree in art history. She is a curator at the Nordic Museum, responsible for the textile department and the content of the cultural-historical section of the museum’s upcoming exhibition Nordic Wool, which will open in January 2027. In a historical context, wool is not just wool—it is a raw material with strong economic, political, social, and symbolic value. By looking back at history, we can gain knowledge about past lives that offers perspective today and strength for the future.

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