The Salhus Knitwear Factory
The Salhus Knitwear Factory was established near Bergen in 1859 by a young entrepreneur from Slesvig. Knitted textiles were a product of the modern times, and Salhus was Norway’s first fully mechanised knitwear factory. Underwear, swimwear and socks bearing the Krone-Makko brand name were some of the products that were shipped out from the small fjord-side harbour. Salhus quickly grew to become a small commercial town, where the director’s residence had a prominent place. The owners exercised patriarchal authority over the small community, meting out equal measures of fear and care, and there were few labour conflicts. The factory withstood several crises, but by 1989 it had become unprofitable due to international competition. The Norwegian Knitting Industry Museum opened in 2001.
photo: Bård Løken
Maria Rodrigues
Maria Rodrigues
Maria Rodrigues is a textile artist who was educated at the Norwegian National Academy of Craft & Art Industry. She grew up in Madeira. She has written several unusual, rather racy books about recycling. She creates installations and garments made from recycled objects and textiles. Language forms an important aspect of her visual narrative style, along with flowers, lace, patterns and beautiful materials. Maria is a lucid storyteller and a powerful communicator.
At Salhus Maria has delved into the history of the facility by interviewing former workers and collecting clothes that have been manufactured at the factory. She has created several large installations that will be on permanent display at the Norwegian Knitting Industry Museum.
