K.A. Almgren silk factory & museum
Working life museum of the year 2024
K.A. Almgren sidenväveri & museum has been awarded "Working life museum of the year 2024" by the Swedish National association for working life museums. The announcement came as an un-expected, yet massively joyful surprise for museum director Anna Hedtjärn Wester and the staff.
- We are all very happy and honoured. The award is especially meaningful to us as the Almgren silk mill embarked on a long-term project aimed at developing the museum a few years ago. We wanted to shed light on women's stories within the textile industry, produce innovating educational activities for schools, and preserve the knowledge in weaving on the Jacquard looms for the future.
What's on
The start of our apprenticeship in jacquard weaving
In the fall of 2023, we started "Almgren silk mill 3.0", in collaboration with the Academy of Crafts in Stockholm. For two years, three apprentices are given the opportunity to learn the entire production process from sketch to finished silk within the framework of Almgren's silk mill's business. Visitors are welcome to follow the work, both on site and via the website and social media.
Exhibitions
The Factory - our exhibition on the 3rd floor
The exhibition shows silk shawls, jacquard looms and female workers in the textile and clothing industry from the beginning of the 19th century to today.
In the Museum Store
Recycled ties by Slipsfabriken
Slipsfabriken, is a project with recycled ties by Studio Brieditis & Evans.
We have their tie knots, vintage ties and accessories in the museum store.
Handwoven silk shawl from Almgren Silk Weaving Mill
A collection of seven unique silk shawls was handwoven at the Silk Weaving Mill in the spring of 2023. The design is made by Åsa Pärson, master weaver and artist and the weaver, Ellen Christensson, is an apprentice of Åsa. The warp consists of hand-dyed Japanese silk ribbons and the weft of silk yarn in either red, blue, green or navy.
The shawls, 150 cm long and 19.8 cm wide, are for sale in the museum shop.
Almgren's washing soap
Almgren's washing soap is the silk factory's own product, specially developed for efficient and gentle washing of silk. It is also good for washing other natural materials such as wool, linen and cotton as well as leather and suede.
At the Silk Factory in 1943
Film in Swedish about Almgren's silk factory produced by the Swedish Film Industry.
The film is recorded in the silk factory and shows the production of silk fabrics and ribbons from threads to finished fabric. You will meet some of the women who worked at the factory and Holmberg who was a foreman until 1948. Photografer: Albert Rudling.