Knut August Almgren (1806-1884)

The factory is named after Knut August Almgren, who started the business. As a 16-year-old, he came to Stockholm and started working at the Mazer & Co silk factory, where an older brother was a partner.

After a trip to the French city of Lyon, he became aware of a new and state-of-the-art weaving method; the jacquard technique. The French did not want to spread the knowledge of the new technology to foreign competitors, but Knut August convinced them that he was French and was therefore given the opportunity to study and document the new technology. When he was finished, he went home. In his luggage he had a number of disassembled jacquard mechanics that he smuggled with him.

Silk manufacturer 

In 1833, he started his own company and began manufacturing silk fabrics with jacquard technology in small premises at Mosebacke torg on Södermalm in Stockholm. The business started at a time when the silk industry was in decline. There were indeed 21 other silk factories in Stockholm at this time, but that was a halving compared to the 18th century.

Despite that, things went well for K. A. Almgren's silk weaving mill, which as early as 1844 was appointed Royal Court supplier. In the 1870's, the company reached its peak with production in four different properties. Of the more than 280 employees, the vast majority were women who worked as weavers, warpers, winders, washers and fringers. The biggest product was silk scarves, which were in demand by women throughout the country. From 1904, the K. A. Almgren silk weaving mill was the only remaining silk weaving mill in Stockholm.

New businesses

Decreased demand for silk fabrics led to Almgrens broadening its business and starting with wholesale and clothing manufacturing. In 1895 they started sewing ties and during the 20th century Almgrens Kappfabrik, Almgrens Kravattfabrik, Almgrens Konfektion, Almgrens Manufaktur and Almgrens Agentur were formed.

Changed conditions and a new start

In connection with the so-called TEKO crisis (textile and ready-made clothing crisis), the various companies were closed down. Many Swedish textile companies were forced to shut down or move their production abroad during the 1950s-70s when the competition from cheaper imported goods became too great. In 1974, K. A Almgren silk mill was closed. But only temporarily. The weaving was started again in 1991 by Oscar Almgren.

In 2002, the business was transformed into an independent foundation with support from the City of Stockholm and Region Stockholm. 

Pictures from the past

Pictures from Stockholm City Museum's digital archive
show the work at the silk factory.