Island, von strickenden Männern und Pullovern (360° - GEO Reportage)

The stark land on the Arctic Circle, where people and animals defy the elements like wind and cold with complete indifference – that is Iceland. During the long, cold winters, the inhabitants retreat to their homes and indulge in an age-old passion: knitting – both women and men! A film by Vincent Froehly © 2019, licensed by MedienKontor / ARTE Subscribe to wocomoTRAVEL: https://goo.gl/tIk2Qc Follow us on Facebook:   / wocomo   Music manager Petur Oddbergur Heimisson is 35 years old and has been knitting since he was 12. He passionately crafts the traditional Icelandic sweater with its jacquard patterns, using wool that comes exclusively from Icelandic sheep. To learn more about the history of the Icelandic sweater, he embarks on a journey across the country to trace the origins of the wool, the unique patterns, and the wonderful colors. He discovers how much the legendary sweater has to do with the Vikings, the breathtaking landscape, and his ancestors. So it's no surprise that in the capital, Reykjavík, you'll find a charming scene in the cafes in the evenings: married men, fathers, and singles from all walks of life knitting while sipping beer, some accompanied by their wives. They are following in their ancestors' footsteps, because knitting was widespread not only among sailors but also among men in rural areas. The joy of creating something both creative and practical with one's own hands, engaging in a calming activity, and simultaneously chatting with friends, drinking beer, or watching television – that's what makes knitting so unique. The demand for the original is pushing the small country and its knitting hands to their limits – where to get all the sweaters, and how to prevent Asian copies from conquering the market here as well? The Icelanders had an idea…