At Moo Knit, how and where our garments are made is just as important as what they look like. All our knitwear is produced at the Oleana factory by the fjord in Ytre Arna, Norway. It is a calm and bright place where modern knitting technology meets traditional craftsmanship. Every step happens under one roof: knitting, linking, steaming and finishing. Producing locally allows us full control, transparency and traceability, and it helps keep Norwegian textile expertise alive while supporting long-term skilled jobs.

The factory runs on renewable Norwegian hydropower. Digital knitting machines shape each piece directly to size, which means there is almost no leftover material. Every garment is checked by hand before it leaves the factory. We believe that the most sustainable garment is the one that lasts.

Producing in Norway is more expensive, but it gives us control and accountability. We know exactly who makes our garments, how they are made and under what conditions. It also lets us preserve local craftsmanship while investing in modern technology for the future of responsible fashion.

Nothing goes to waste. The production is based on zero-waste knitting, where each piece is made to shape. Small offcuts and test pieces are saved for repair work, sampling or creative reuse, keeping materials in use for as long as possible.

Material

We use both RWS-certified Merino wool and alpaca because each fiber brings something unique. Both are renewable, biodegradable and natural, chosen for comfort, performance and traceable production.

RWS Merino wool (Responsible Wool Standard) guarantees certified animal welfare, responsible land management and a transparent supply chain. It ensures that no mulesing is practiced and that all production steps follow verified environmental and ethical standards.

Alpaca adds softness, strength and warmth. It is naturally hypoallergenic and comes in many natural shades, which reduces the need for dyeing. Our alpaca yarn is sourced through partners who work directly with small herding communities in the Andes, ensuring fair pay and good animal care.

The natural white shade of our wool is slightly warm in tone. Industrial bright white requires bleaching, which weakens the fibers and adds unnecessary chemicals. We choose to keep the natural off-white color, preserving softness and quality.

Most alpaca fiber comes from the highlands of Peru and Bolivia, where families have raised alpacas for generations. We work with suppliers who buy directly from local cooperatives, focusing on fair compensation, community support and animal welfare.

Wool farming has an environmental footprint, but it is also part of a natural cycle. Wool is renewable and biodegradable, unlike synthetic fibers that depend on fossil fuels and shed microplastics. RWS farms promote good grazing practices and biodiversity to reduce their footprint and improve soil health.

Yarn suppliers

For our first production batch, we used yarn from Oleana’s trusted supplier Südwolle Group, a German company known for high-quality wool and responsible manufacturing. Using their stock-service yarns allowed us a flexible start without overproduction.

To achieve even more traceability, we are now working with Zegna Baruffa, an Italian spinning mill with long traditions and a strong focus on quality and transparency. Their Merino wool is sourced from certified farms in Australia and processed in Italy under strict standards. You can find their full sustainability report here.

What about Norwegian Wool?

Why are we not using Norwegian wool right now? Norwegian wool is strong, shiny and durable, making it ideal for outerwear, furniture textiles and blankets, but it is usually too coarse for the soft knitwear we design to be worn next to the skin, unless you mix it with other types of wool or add polyamide (plastic) to the blend.

Our pieces require fine yarns with softness and elasticity, which RWS Merino and alpaca provide naturally, without blending with synthetics.

There is a lack of Norwegian wool that is fine enough for lightweight garments. Most of the wool produced in Norway has thicker fibers, and there are currently limited systems for sorting and spinning it into softer yarns. The capacity for small-scale, fine spinning in Norway is also very limited, which makes it challenging to use Norwegian wool for our kind of production.

We are currently exploring the possibility of blending Norwegian wool with softer fibers like alpaca to see if we can create yarns that keep the strength and character of Norwegian wool, but with a softer touch.

Thank you for caring about how we do things and for being curious. Transparency is key :)