Oleana is a Norwegian knitwear company founded in 1992 that manufactures its entire collection at its own factory in Ytre Arna outside Bergen. Garments are knitted and linked on industrial machines and finished by hand in merino, silk and alpaca. Its signature patterned cardigans, designed for decades by Solveig Hisdal, draw on Norwegian folk-costume motifs and retail around €475–640.
Key facts
- Founded in 1992 by Signe Aarhus, Hildegunn Møster and Kolbjørn Valestrand to create textile jobs in Norway
- All production at the historic Arne Fabrikker mill site in Ytre Arna, Bergen
- Long-time house designer Solveig Hisdal was joined by Mathilda Nordberg in 2018
- Cardigans retail roughly €475–640
Fibres and construction
Oleana works principally in Merino wool, Silk & silk blends, Alpaca. Construction and techniques associated with the house include jacquard and hand-finished. It is based in Norway, whose luxury knitwear is defined by pattern: the two-colour lusekofte and Setesdal traditions, the Marius sweater, and mills such as Dale of Norway that have knitted wool sweaters for Olympic teams since 1956..
How to judge Oleana quality
- Merino quality depends on micron (extra-fine is under 18.5 µm) and on worsted spinning; fine-gauge pieces (21–30 gg) are a technical speciality worth paying for.
- Alpaca is graded by fineness: royal (under 19 µm) and baby (19–22.5 µm) are the luxury grades. Expect less elasticity than wool and check that blends are declared.
- This house knits fully-fashioned: check for fashioning marks along the armhole and flat, linked seams inside — the signatures of shaped, stitch-by-stitch construction.
Similar houses
Oleana: frequently asked questions
Where is Oleana knitwear made?
Oleana is based in Ytre Arna, Bergen, Norway. Founded in 1992 by Signe Aarhus, Hildegunn Møster and Kolbjørn Valestrand to create textile jobs in Norway.
What is Oleana known for?
Oleana is known for patterned Norwegian cardigans in merino, silk and alpaca, made in the brand's own factory near Bergen. Its principal fibres are Merino wool, Silk & silk blends and Alpaca.
Is Oleana a luxury brand?
Oleana sits in the luxury tier of this index (roughly $400–$1,000 for a sweater). Its construction methods include jacquard and hand-finished. It is listed here on the basis of fibre quality, construction and provenance rather than price alone.
How much does Oleana knitwear cost?
Oleana is roughly $400–$1,000 for a sweater at the time of writing. Cardigans retail roughly €475–640
Sources
Facts verified against the sources above on 16 September 2026. Prices are indicative and change; check the house's own site.