The LUTEKOFTA – A Sweater with a Story
This unique pattern tells a story. Lutekofta is made with love for the northern Norwegian nature and Norwegian food culture. Lofoten in Northern Norway is the home of stockfish. Here cod has been caught, hung on stocks and turned into stockfish for generations. Stockfish has been exported from Norway ever since the Viking Age. Stockfish are suitable for storage in coastal areas. Therefore, there are long traditions for lutefisk in Norway.
Over the course of 200 years, nearly one million Norwegians emigrated to USA, bringing their culture — and lutefisk — with them. Today, in the U.S., lutefisk and lusekofte are symbols of Norwegian heritage.
That’s why we created LUTEKOFTA — a one-of-a-kind garment inspired by tradition. Its pattern reflects the rich history of Norwegian fishing traditions, while the yarn, spun from Norwegian and Australian sheep, connects us to nature’s oldest fibers
Proudly made at Osterøy in Norway, LUTEKOFTA is pure, natural, and comfortable — made for you.
Lutefisk and the Coastal Heritage
LUTEKOFTA is our playful fusion of two Norwegian words steeped in tradition: Lutefisk and Lusekofte.
Lusekofte refers to a wool cardigan or pullover with a split neck, characterized by its distinctive luse pattern—individual stitches in a contrasting color to the base. According to Store Norske Leksikon, the lusekofte was originally “…a knitted garment to pull over the head, used as men's attire in Setesdal since the mid-1800s. It is also known as setesdalkofte or setesdalsgenser and now exists in countless variations, both with a split neck and a full opening in the front. Although the term was initially used for the kofter from Setesdal, it is now also applied to other garments featuring the luse pattern.”
Lutefisk is made from dried skrei (cod). The word "cod" originates from the Old Norse word turskr/turfiskr, meaning dried fish. The fish is hung to dry on racks made of birch poles. This is why it's called stockfish in English and stoccafisso in Italian.
LUTEKOFTA is our tribute to Norwegian nature, Northern Norwegian coastal culture, and culinary and cultural traditions. The pattern tells the story of the cod in the sea, caught in nets, hung on poles, and transformed into dried fish—a beloved ingredient especially in Italy, Spain, and some African countries. Moreover, dried fish is the key ingredient in lutefisk, one of Norway’s most traditional dishes.
From Past to Present
LUTEKOFTA is more than a sweater. It is a bridge between nature, culture, and people.
- From the mountains to the coast
- From Norway to the world
- From one generation to the next
By wearing LUTEKOFTA, you carry a living piece of Norwegian history — one that is timeless, sustainable, and meant to last.
