THE HAAPSALU SHAWL - THE STORY BEHIND AN ICON

LUXE HAPSAL® PRESENTS

THE HAAPSALU SHAWL
The Story Behind An Icon 

ENTER A TIME CAPSULE INTO A BYGONE WORLD THAT HAS LEFT BEHIND A RICH HERITAGE
The Haapsalu Shawl is an extremely fine knitted shawl made entirely by hand, with an ingenuity, vigilance and respect no machine on earth can replicate  – which is why the Haapsalu Shawl stands unmatched in its field. 
It has been the symbol of the Nordic riviera resort town Haapsalu, formerly known as Hapsal, since the 19th century.

SAVOIR-FAIRE
THE HUMAN TOUCH: THE IRREPLACEABLE SKILL OF HANDMADE
The jewel in the crown of a Haapsalu Shawl is the fact that, from the beginning to the very end, it has been crafted and finished by hand by a dedicated, trained specialist, with skills passed down through generations. 
It takes a master one month to knit one large lace shawl making it a truly exceptional haute couture item.  

CONNOISSEURS OF QUALITY
From the Romanov family to present day royalty, the Haapsalu Shawl is a special heirloom piece that has a sense of history with its era woven into it. 
It lives at the very heart of Nordic luxury.  

SHAWL OF THE ROYALTY
Some of the owners of a hand made one-off Haapsalu Shawl:
Kersti Kaljulaid, President of Estonia
Queen Silvia, Queen of Sweden
Maria Alexandrovna, Empress of Russia
Queen Sofia, Queen of Spain
Michiko, Empress of Japan
Princess Astrid, Princess of Norway
Greta Garbo, Film Star
Bonnie Tyler, Singer
Katie Melua, Singer
Christine Lagarde, The President of the European Central Bank

THE LEGEND OF THE RUSSIAN EMPRESS
There is a legend about a party held in 1859 at De la Gardie’s Castle, in Hapsal, on the name day of the Russian Empress. Two thousand guests had been invited and music was played by an orchestra from Riga. 

The Empress was presented with a cobwebby Haapsalu Shawl packed in a coconut shell. When the shawl was spread out, it veiled the lady from head to toe. Such delicate shawls which complimented fine dresses became desirable for many noble ladies.

DISCOVER OUR COLLECTION
A limited edition of shawls is available in our e-boutique as well as ready for pre-order. 

Discover