Swedish brand Craft of Scandinavia is a producer of functional sports apparel. The company is based in Borås, an old and traditional textile industry town in the South of Sweden. The initial concept of its founder Anders Bengtsson was to develop underwear that propels moisture away from the skin during physical activity. Craft started with technical base layers and soon developed the three-layer principle with a second layer of insulation and moisture transportation as well as an outer shell for protection. Today, the company offers gear for all kinds of sports focusing with layer three on running, triathlon, bike and cross-country skiing.
History
In 1973, Swede Anders Bengtsson started developing a base layer material that transports moisture (sweat) away from the skin. Bengtsson tested his designs by weighing his gear after exercise sessions. He used polyester fibers, which only absorb a minimum amount of moisture, and worked them into a weaving construction. The resulting capillary action further promotes moisture expulsion transporting sweat from the skin to the outer surface of the garment where it quickly evaporates. The brand Craft of Sweden was officially founded in 1977. In addition to technical baselayers, the company soon started producing second layer garments (focused on fleece material) and outerwear.
Company takeovers
New Wave Group acquired the brand in 1996.
Sponsorships
Craft is the official supplier and sponsor of numerous association football teams, players and associations, including:
Associations
Basket
National teams
Finland (since August 2023)
Club teams
Alliance Sport Alsace
Limoges CSP (2020-)
Södertälie BBK
Uppsala Basket
Luleå BBK (women)
BC Luleå (men)
Östersund Basket (women)
Mark Basket (women)
Sjuhärads Basket (women)
Borås Basket (men)
Curling
National teams
Norway
Switzerland
Football
Club teams
Europe
Ordino
Gent
AGF (From 2024/25)
Helsingør
Frem
AC Oulu
PS Kemi
Toulouse (Ends 2024)
Darmstadt 98
Moulier
Almere
VVV-Venlo
Fredrikstad FK
Åsane Fotball
Hammarby
IFK Göteborg
Trelleborgs FF
Varbergs BoIS
Aarau
Luzern
Gymnastics
National teams
Sweden (since september 2020)
Handball
National teams
Sweden (since July 2019)
Club teams
- Men
Bordeaux Bruges Lormont Handball (since 2022 - 2023 season)
Dunkerque Handball Grand Littoral
Fenix Toulouse Handball
Limoges Hand 87
Massy Essonne Handball
Saint-Raphaël Var Handball
Strasbourg Eurométropole Handball
SC DHfK Leipzig Handball (since September 2020)
AMO HK
Hammarby IF HF
- Women
Odense Håndbold (since July 2019)
Brest Bretagne Handball (since 2020)
Mérignac Handball
Atlantique Nantes (since 2020 – 2021 season)
Ski
Sweden (since January 2019)
Norway (since 2022-2023 season)
France (since 2022-2023 season)
Biathlon
Norway (since 2022-2023 season)
France (since 2022-2023 season)
Canada
Swimming
National teams
Faroe Islands (since January 2020)
Sweden (since September 2021)
Volleyball
National teams
Club teams
Volley Mulhouse Alsace (Asptt Mulhouse) (Women) (since August 2021 until 2025)
M.O.Mougins Volleyball (Women) (since August 2021)
DSC Volleyball Damen (Women) (since July 2019)
EVS (Women)
Lunds VK
Sollentuna VK
BIWI VFM (Woman)
Lausanne UC
TSV Jona Volleyball
Floorball
National teams
Club teams
FBC Kalmarsund
Karlstad Innebandy
Zug United
Track and field
National teams
Other sports
The Craft athlete team includes several national teams, among them the Swedish National XC-Team, as well as individual athletes such as Marit Björgen, Charlotte Kalla, Rene Poulsen, and Kaisa Mäkäräinen
Craft also supplies specific apparel to the Orica-BikeExchange professional cycling team.
Sponsored Events: Vasaloppet, Tour de Ski (Presenting Sponsor), Bike Trans Germany (Title Sponsor), Vätternrundan, Tjejmilen, and Stockholm Halvmarathon.
Critics
Craft is sometimes criticized for having its clothes produced in low-wage countries. This is where the production of fabrics and clothing takes place.