From Norway to Romania: The European Journey of Our Merino
Did you know that the journey of our merino blends - Merino 200, 160, and 260 and our AirWool® range - takes place right here in Europe?
By: Tom Clive
23.10.2025
From sourcing the yarn to sewing and final assembly, every step is carefully managed under our direct control. This unique process is made possible through our close collaboration with our sister company Janus, that brings over 130 years of wool-knitting expertise in Norway.
Where It All Begins: Espeland, Norway
Once each product has been designed and engineered by our Odlo team in Switzerland, the journey begins in Espeland, just 20 kilometers outside of Bergen in Western Norway.
Yarn first arrives in Espeland from our supplier, Südwolle, free of mulesing and ‘scoured’ (cleaned with residues removed.) We only choose quality wool for our merino products with a micron count of 17-19, which is fine and soft.
Our sister brand, Janus, opened this remarkable knitting facility back in 1895. Over generations, knowledge and craftsmanship have been passed down, preserving traditional techniques while embracing modern innovation.
In the early days, the Espeland Waterfall provided the energy needed to industrialize wool manufacturing. Today, that same spirit of sustainability continues -- the factory operates on 100% renewable hydropower.
The merino fabric undergoes a series of precise processes using a combination of automated and human expertise that has been built over decades:
Knitting
Dyeing
Hydro extraction
Calendaring
Once finished, the merino fabric is carefully flattened into rolls, ready for the next step in its journey.
Crafting with Care in Roman, Romania
The fabric then travels to our state-of-the-art sewing facility in Roman, Romania, which has been a cornerstone of Odlo’s production since 2003.
Having direct control of your own operations means you can ensure that you do things the right way. In Romania, we ensure the following:
All employees are paid more than the minimum wage.
We’re using renewable energy: 25% of our energy in 2024 was produced on-site through solar panels.
100% of wool fabric waste becomes recycled content.
We also follow the principles of the Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) -- ensuring pay, open communication, and safe, respectful working conditions aligned with international standards.
Sewing alone makes up around 80% of our total operations in Romania, powered by 375 machines and a highly skilled team. Other key processes such as spreading and cutting, bundling and barcoding, final touches, and distribution also take place here -- ensuring complete control over every detail.
Once the product is ready for the customer, it’s then sent to our distribution facility in Brüggen, Germany, ready for distribution to our European customer base.
Why Control Matters
When done the right way, we believe that managing our own operations can be a form of competitive advantage. By sourcing our own materials, using renewable energy, drawing on the 130 year of knitting expertise of Janus, and empowering our people, we’ve built a supply chain that’s both responsible and resilient.
From Norway to Romania, every merino base layer reflects craftsmanship, heritage, and a commitment to doing things the right way.