Oleana is moving!

Arne Fabrikker  ca. 1880

Oleana's production has outgrown the space it has occupied since starting in 1992.  News of the move has been posted on Oleana's website.  Oleana is moving a few kilometers away from their present location to Ytre Arna, a town that was built around the oldest textile factory in the Bergen area -- Arne Fabrikker, dating from 1845. The building lies right on the Sørfjord.  Ships used to bring cotton from Egypt and the Americas directly to Arne Fabrikker -- the first mechanised cotton spinning and weaving factory in Norway. You can see an old film from the cotton mill where bedding was made.  It is not subtitled, but is still interesting. 1000 people used to work in this factory!  Oleana with its 60 factory workers will have space to grow in comfort!  Oleana will celebrate their 20th Anniversary next year in their new home!

May 17th

We acknowledged Norway's National Day today with an extra-special newsletter, and a window boasting our newly arrived Oleana Peony cardigan and checkered blanket.  A teeny Norwegian flag is pinned onto the belt on the mannequin, and was seen by a Norwegian passer-by who did not know about Urbanity and the Scandinavian selection we carry.  For those of you who don't get my email newsletter, here is one of the goodies it contained today.  You might remember this beautiful voice from the Winter Olympics at Lillehammer.

A taste of Oleana spring has arrived!

Yesterday was a wonderful day!  The sun was shining and a delivery of long-awaited Oleana sweaters and blankets arrived.  We quickly unpacked, priced, and made phone calls and sent emails.  Many people have been waiting for their chosen sweater, but we did get a few extra.  The pictured cardigan is covered in Peonies - no two flowers the same, and two butterflies too!

Knitting Values into Fashion

More than two months have past since Signe and Torbjorg came to visit, and tantalized everybody with the beautiful new Oleana spring collection!  (You can see Torbjorg here wearing the very popular long cardigan in a new spring colour.)  Partial shipment will hopefully be sent this week, so please make sure your name is on the list of first recipients.  You can see the collection on http://www.oleana.no/
If you missed the lecturegiven by Signe at Kwantlen on February 21st, you can now see it on YouTube.  It has been posted in several parts under the title "Knitting Values into Fashion"

More arrivals

As the Easter Weekend arrived so did new stock!  Nygaardsanna linen dresses and blouses arrived from Sweden, and after they have been steamed they will be hung on the racks - that will happen today.  We also received summer socks, and leggings from b.ella, more leggings are on their way from Sneaky fox. URBANITY is closed Easter Friday and Monday.  Open as normal Saturday and Sunday. For info please email me at julia@urbanity.ca

New Arrivals

We have received a small selection of Fog Linen - simple linen dresses, pants, shirts, socks, and sun-hats!  These quality garments are designed in Japan and made in Lithuania from beautiful Lithuanian linen.  The clothes are one size and mostly for those with a smaller frame.  Fog linen also makes linen items for the table and kitchen, which you can find in other Vancouver stores! 

A wonderful selection of leggings from Sneaky Fox are about to arrive.  Linen socks from Fog Linen are made in Japan from Lithuanian yarn. 

Spring thoughts

As spring tries really hard to become a reality, we have to look for ways to remind ourselves that cold WILL eventually turn to warm. 
We have had a bit of a discussion on Facebook about the pleasures of shaving pills off sweaters, as a way of passing time as we wait for warmer weather.  Pills are hard to avoid --unless the natural characteristics of the wool fibre have been changed.  The use of a purse other than smooth leather can create a cluster of pills.  Washing your sweater can help to almalgamate the fibres reducing the tenancy to pill, but when all goes to pill, just shave 'em off!  There are all kinds of pill shavers available at a variety of prices. 

Bright colourful cotton scarves have arrived from Anokhi.  I picked up some wool/silk scarves in light colours from Asia Eye last weekend when in Bellevue.  Some amazing Danish shawls in pink & red (wow!) are very slowly making their way from the customs office in Ontario, to Vancouver.

Fabulous birds and girl and boy rabbits have come from far away to celebrate the 'easter' season with us.  They come from where it is warm, so they are snuggling under woolen sweaters waiting for the sun to really shine!  They are so beautifully made and organic too--safe for little kids.