Woolpower Awarded SEB’s Prize for Best International Growth

With a business idea built on creating a long-term, stable and sustainable company producing high-quality garments, Woolpower has not only weathered a challenging pandemic — it has also managed to grow and expand. For this, the company was awarded SEB’s “Best International Growth” prize at one of the regional finals of EY Entrepreneur of the Year.

When the pandemic struck, many companies around the world were hit hard. Production slowed, and some businesses were forced to temporarily shut down. At Woolpower, the advantages of having the entire production chain under one roof quickly became clear, and a series of measures were implemented to avoid any shutdown.

Raw materials were secured, investment plans continued and new recruitments were made. Since autumn 2020, Woolpower has hired 40 new employees, and in 2021 the company launched its largest investment ever — the construction of a new factory in Östersund, twice the size of its current facility. With this expansion, the company aims to lead the way for Swedish clothing production, continuing to manufacture garments according to its philosophy: Responsibly Made in Sweden.

“We show that clothing does not have to be produced in low-wage countries. It is possible to run a successful clothing manufacturing company here in Sweden. We are the only Swedish brand of our size that knits and sews all our garments in Sweden, in Östersund. We have done so since 1969, and we are proud to continue keeping our production here,” says Linus Flodin, CEO of Woolpower.

Woolpower actively highlights issues related to Swedish textile production and fair working conditions for garment workers. When you purchase a Woolpower garment, you can see the name of the seamstress who made it, as each garment carries the individual name label of its maker. This has become one of Woolpower’s hallmarks. The company aims to lead by example, showing the industry that responsible production — with people and quality in focus — can also be profitable.

More than 60% of Woolpower’s products are exported, primarily through distributors and retailers. When lockdowns in several export markets led to cancelled orders, the company instead expanded its own international e-commerce.

The company is now rewarded with SEB’s “Best International Growth” prize at a regional final of EY Entrepreneur of the Year — not only for reaching more customers than ever with its high-quality functional garments, but above all for its courage to continue investing in responsibly made products, even during a pandemic.

Jury Statement

SEB’s Prize for Best International Growth – Adam and Daniel Brånby, Woolpower Östersund AB:

“With long-term commitment and high quality in a traditional industry, the winner of the ‘Best International Growth’ award has stitched together a northern Swedish export success. With local responsibility, fair and sustainably signed northern Swedish products, and outstanding functionality, neither waste nor ambition is thrown aside — not even during a pandemic. Instead, investments are initiated and sales channels developed to reach more customers than ever, with employees serving as the company’s foremost ambassadors.”