sealskin

Blue and green dyed sealskin.

More than fashion

Sealskin. Classic Blue is always popular, “Blue goes really well in the seal,” says Great Greenland’s CEO Ditte Sorknæs, but the Neon Green … well … it’s 30% off. Notice how the skin is dyed so you can still see the spots. “We are quite proud of this,” says Ditte, “to keep the orginal pattern…

Larsen and Davidsen at work.

Discovering the Craftwork of Sealskin

Meet the North’s latest Arctic Deeply story brings you into the workshop of two of Greenland’s traditional sealskin crafters. Soriina Davidsen and Vera Larsen explain the highs and lows of a controversial craft with a longstanding place in the country’s history. Davidsen and her coworker, Vera Larsen, spend long days here cutting, stitching and talking. The pair…

A calendar pic hanging in the workshop

(Post 2 of 5) This guy came into the sealskin and wool workshop in Sisimiut, Greenland as part of a calendar, and he never left. Three young women work here creating clothing out of sealskin and muskox wool. “The one who is washing the dishes can look at him.”

Soriina Davidsen with one of her sealskin vests

(Post 3 of 5) Soriina Davidsen, designer She is proud of these vests; the fabric is 100% sealskin. “I work a lot. At home, I don’t do any sewing. My boyfriend had to wait two years to get a zipper on his jacket.”

Vera Larsen and her sealskin mittens

(Post 4 of 5) Vera Larsen, seamstress Vera learned this craft from Soriina. “We all have the feeling that the things can be more beautiful, but we are proud of what we make.”