Northland Woolens started as the result of a youngster’s 4-H project with Angora rabbits.
This January Vicki Johnston, owner of the 10-year-old rural Nelson company, traveled to Salt Lake City to show products to buyers from across the United States and Japan.
“The Japanese like American-made products,” Johnston said.
In the 1990s Vicki and her daughter Kelly discovered Angora rabbits. They also discovered their marvelous fibers. Angora is the lightest natural fiber. Its hollow core also makes Angora eight times warmer than wool. As a result Northland Woolens’ 80 percent wool/15 percent Angora/5 percent nylon socks are twice as warm as regular wool socks, according to Vicki.
“We still supply some of our own Angora but we buy a lot because we need so much,” she said.
The small factory that formerly was Vicki’s husband’s machine shed, but now employs up to 15 people, does makes lots of socks. But the company has changed dramatically since its first socks. Colorful boiled wool mittens, hand appliquéd by local Amish artisans, have long been popular. Northland also has an ever-changing line of wool winter caps. Perhaps the most striking products are the brightly colored Twice Baked line of caps, sweaters, mittens, vests, purses, clutches and whatever else enters Vicki’s head.
“We have to keep thinking of new things,” Vicki said. “When I have an idea I have my designer make a pattern.”
Twice Baked products are made from used wool sweaters which Vicki buys from across the country. Her staff puts the sweaters in a washing machine to shrink them. Then the sweaters are turned over to local work-at-home women who cut them to match a pattern. Later, they return them to be assembled into unique wool products.
Because Twice Baked products come from used sweaters, each one is different and never repeated.
“Now we are starting to work with recycled cotton,” Vicki said, showing off a vest made from sweatshirts that is headed for the Utah show.
Northland Woolens is making a national and international fashion statement. It is also making a local economic impact.
“I work with the schedules of each of my employees,” Vicki said of the women who run sewing machines, label and pack products, and wash sweaters.
Those interested in Northland’s products can shop online at www.northlandwoolens.com, visit the factory, or purchase products at Scheels All-sports stores throughout Minnesota.
