New custom Scandinavian Clogs made for Ingebretsen’s by Sven Clogs!
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When brainstorming for ways to celebrate the 50th birthday of the Ingebretsen’s gift shop this year, two employees brought up a favorite, local Minnesotan company, Sven Clogs. They came up with a plan to approach Sven about making a custom pair of Scandinavian clogs exclusive to Ingebretsen’s and worked with Sven to make a gorgeous and unique pair.
Sven Clogs
Sven is a women owned and operated business since 1974. All of their clogs are made at their headquarters and Factory Outlet store in Chisago City, Minnesota using US leather hide and bases from Austria and Sweden. It is a third generation family business that takes pride in each pair of Scandinavian clogs.
Clog Process
Sven sources their wooden bases from Sweden and Austria, and the majority of their leather from the United States. All of the assembly is done at their headquarters. This gives Sven complete control over the wood. They use many different stain colors, and can manipulate and cut the leather! They even offer custom combinations to their customers. Everything from the width of the base to the color can be chosen for a one of a kind look.
Project leader Annelie said, “One of the reasons I wanted to work with Sven is that their products are very well made with a specific focus on craftsmanship. That speaks to Sven’s commitment to sustainability and tradition, all based in Scandinavian roots – just like us. The clogs are made locally and the business is women owned, much like our store. Their values are parallel to ours, which is why we wanted to partner with them as we both celebrate 50 years this year.”
Making the Clogs our Own
After selecting the base color and the red leather, imported from Sweden, she and project partner Aaron wanted to take the clogs a step further into customization by adding a hand painted strap.
Annelie said, “We wanted to make a special clog that held meaning to us, so it made sense to pull in someone we have a history of working with, Rosann Jorde. These clogs use both a Swedish base and Swedish leather, so we wanted to bring in a Norwegian element in order to mix Scandinavian cultures, which is why we chose a Rosemaling motif. After workshopping colors and the design we are happy that the final outcome brings out a contemporary take on a traditional design.”
Red straps were sent to Rosann Jorde, who also Rosemals our lefse sticks and our krumkake rollers! She added her hand painted touch to each pair. The painted straps were sent back to Sven to attach to the clogs.
We hope you take a pair of our clogs home with you to remind you of your own Scandinavian roots or love of Scandinavian culture. Congratulations to Sven Clogs for celebrating 50 years in business, and Happy 50th Birthday to the Ingebretsen’s Gift Shop!
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