Friends of Handicraft

The Friends of Handicraft is a Swedish association for the education, development, production and experimentation of advanced textiles and design. History The association was founded in 1874 by Sophie Adlersparre. From the outset, the association had the double aims of promoting the development of the quality of Swedish textile handicraft as well as to provide women with a source of independent income. The association also still has the pedagogical aim to provide education in textile creation and design. In the 1880s, the association designed reform dress for the Swedish Dress Reform Association. At the turn of the 19th – 20th century, Carin Wästberg, Maja Sjöström, and were responsible for the artistic production of the association. Somewhat later, Anna Boberg, Carl Larsson and Anders Zorn were tied to the Friends of Handicraft, making designs for tapestries woven by the association. Several of the works produced during this early era are today in the collections of the Swedish National Museum in Stockholm. During the first years of activity, members of the association also traveled around Sweden, documenting traditional textile handicraft. In 1915 the Friends of Handicraft furthermore received funding from the Swedish state in order to provide education and training in weaving and textile handicraft for the first time.