Amana Woolen Mill | #CDM2017 Vendor

Tell us about your business

Amana Woolen Mill, built in 1857, is the oldest business in the Colony and the only remaining Woolen Mill in the state of Iowa. Our textiles express the heritage, value and essence of the originating Amana community with timeless quality design and craftsmanship. We weave beautiful wool, cotton and recycled yarn products on our Sulzer looms in an array of widths ranging from crib-sized baby blankets to king-sized bed blankets. The weaving mill produces cloth for Amana Woolen Mill’s accessory department, where our talented seamstresses develop and hand-sew elegant home goods including table runners, placemats, napkins and pillows. Our line of personal items, consisting of large and small totes, cosmetic bags, wine totes and aprons, have received rave reviews for their beauty and quality craftsmanship.

What inspired you to get involved as a vendor at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2017?

Christkindlmarket Des Moines would be a perfect fit for Amana Woolen Mill’s textiles. German culture and heritage is woven into everything we do. Our community was founded in 1855 by a small group of German immigrants seeking religious freedom. Its members lived simply, without vanity, and dedicated themselves to living sustainably. Through dedication to hard work, progress, and innovation, our businesses have operated continuously for more than 160 years. It may be a struggle to adapt our historic buildings in order to work efficiently, but we believe it’s the right thing to do. We’re constantly working to preserve the methods, talents and ideals passed down by our German forefathers and continue to produce a wide variety of heritage inspired, hand-crafted goods. We are thankful for the opportunity and excited to share these products with you.

What products will you be selling at Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2017 and why did you choose them?

The Amana Woolen Mill will be bringing a variety of wool and cotton blankets a long with an array of accessories perfect for holiday gift giving.

Our Wool Tartans, Houndstooth, Civil War Stripe and Alpine Blanket collections are classic patterns that fit and flow with the atmosphere of Christkindlmarket Des Moines. The Herringbone and Lily cotton throws are some of our most sought-after weaves. We plan on bringing our top selling colors to share.

From the Accessories Department, the ever popular Doliver tote, made from recycled cotton and yarn with stunning leather handles and superb durability. Our small cosmetic/utility bags are always a hit. With a zipper closure to store smaller items and beautiful assortment of colors and weaves, these cute little bags won’t last long.

We’ll be bringing a variety of 4-pack coaster sets (they make perfect stocking stuffers) and wine totes that pair perfectly with a couple bottles of vino and make a thoughtful gift for the host and hostess at holiday gatherings.

Our cotton chef aprons are large enough to shield your holiday apparel from harm, yet stylish enough that you may not want to take it off before the festivities begin! With a generous front pocket and sturdy hand-sewn construction, these aprons make the perfect gift for anyone who loves to cook.

Amana scarves are a practical and thoughtful gift for both men and women. Our line features a stunning assortment of colors and patterns sure to please even your most particular loved one. The scarves are weaved on our looms in both Merino wool and cotton yarns, then hand finished by our talented seamstresses.

We have hand-selected beautiful wood cutting boards in a variety of species and shapes, classic rolling pins, and our ever-popular noodle cutters from The Amana Furniture Shop to round out our Christkindlemarket Des Moines collection. These products are well known for their superior quality and finish. Amana Furniture Craftsmen are both designers and builders, and put experience, passion and know-how into every piece they create.

Des Moines European Heritage Association connects Iowans with European traditions, language education and cultural experiences; and it provides resources and tools to other cultural heritage organizations.