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Here at Almgrenīs silk weaving mill and museum you will experience a genuine old-fashioned interior. Look at the looms from 1830. Listen to the story about the first jaquard loom. Have a look at the wonderful silk curtains and the well known furnishing fabrics. Donīt miss the wedding dress, made out of 15 meters of Almgrenīs silk fabric. Designed by Annakatrin Matthies-Lindo, with the inspiration of the 18th century. We also have different types of classic silk shawls as well as the original handpainted pattern drawings. Everything accomodated in its original setting. The factory building was built for this purpose and it is a historical monument by itself. |
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In the year 1833 Knut August Almgren was granted permission from Chamber of Commerce to manufacture matress fabric, silk and ribbons. From Almgrenīs first annual report we can read that he produced "428 of meter fabric and 120 silk shawls with 17 workers on nine looms". Eleven years later the silk weaving mill received a very prestigious order of ribbons and became surveyor to H.M the King of Sweden. For 77 years Almgrens had only two owners, the father Knut August and his son Oscar senior. And for 115 years only two foremen, father and son Holmgren. This, of course, meant a lot for the quality and continuity. Weavers and other employees also stayed. In 1910 there were more than 25 persons in the weaving mill who had worked there for 30 to 50 years. From 1910 the company was run for the family by managing director Viktor Brattberg. The organization changed in 1945, but with manager Brattberg and foreman Holmberg the production of ribbons continued until 1974.
When close down was a fact, the Almgren family decided to keep the weaving mill unchanged and let it fall into slumber for a while. One day, in the year 1991, when the fifth generation Almgren opened the doors once again to the K A ALMGREN SILK WEAVING MILL, Oscar Almgren junior wanted to revive the family tradition and bring the 150 years old looms back to work again. Oscar had no experience of weaving and warping. But with the help of voluntary contributions, he managed to get the weaving mill started again. Today he is running "The living-museum" in which silk fabric is woven for sale while visitors are being guided in this genuine factory environment. |
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