Sofie Kleppe
ULU of Norway
Leatherworker
Vågå, Norway
Tanning in harmony with nature
- Sofie specialises in traditional Arctic and reindeer skin tanning
- Her workshop extends into the wild Norwegian landscape where she lives
- She makes garments and accessories that are in tune with nature and today’s society
Sofie Kleppe turns reindeer hides and wild fur from foxes and marten into hand-sewn clothing and bags. Based in the mountainous region of Jotunheimen in southern Norway, her tanning workshop goes beyond four walls and a roof, spreading outside into the vast rugged surrounding nature. Inspired by Indigenous traditions worldwide, Sofie first learnt her craft at Fosen Folk high school in Oslo, and refined her specialisation over years spent in Sweden and Finland. “I wanted to learn how to make everything I needed to live in nature, and got hooked,” she explains. Sofie was selected to take part in Homo Faber Fellowship 2026-27, a programme which enables her to exchange ideas with her fellow and peers about designing and making garments from natural skin, fur and leather.
INTERVIEW
The reindeer herds living here and their skin is strongly linked to the Jotunheimen mountains. I only use natural ingredients like willow and brains for my tanning. But I am also inspired by the Greenlandic skin crafts and I also work with sealskins and intestines.
The beautiful wild nature that surrounds me is definitely my main source of inspiration. I am also very inspired by the Indigenous people, especially from the arctic, their traditional lifestyle, crafts and historical garments, as well as by my husband and five children.
It enables me to be outdoors in the open air, to live close to nature and to use materials and ingredients from where I live. From soft and flexible skins I can then design garments that are closely connected to nature.
Yes definitely. Traditional tanning needs to be transmitted and practised so that it will continue. This is why I applied for the Homo Faber Fellowship for deeper teaching. I already organise workshops where I teach how to use traditional hand tools and natural ingredients, along with skin-sewing techniques.
Sofie Kleppe
ULU of Norway
Leatherworker
Vågå, Norway
AVAILABILITY
By appointment only
PHONE
+47 90799759
LANGUAGES
Norwegian, English, Finnish
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