We have produced this model as a very high quality reproduction of the popular Olles brorsa. It is made of 100% extra fine merino wool (of course mulesing-free) and knitted in Sweden and then finally sewn in Poland.
Olle's brorsa, which was used by the Swedish defense, has undergone minor variations in shade and knitting pattern during its 40 years in production. Through careful collection of several originals of Olle's brother from different time periods and through several different test knittings and adjustments in stitches, knitting technique and materials, we have created an optimal new production of this iconic cap (which was phased out by the defense in the early 90s).

We have placed great importance on recreating Olle's brother in its original form, where knitting technique and material selection play an important role. Olle's brother is unique as most people who have used it know, it should be light and airy enough to be packed into the pouch when not in use but at the same time not compromise on the functional properties. By using extra fine merino wool, we think we have perfected these unique properties and you also avoid the hat from itching as the original, which was sometimes called the "anthill", could do.

Manufacturing and Design

The knitting was a close-knit process and the knowledge of Swedish knitting was truly put to the test, Olle's brother has several very special knittings and joins with sewing thread, the use of which the beanie manufacturers have otherwise stopped using in favor of more rational processes. But with this Olle's brother you have the original's special knitting at the top, the knitting joint along the long side and the classic finish at the bottom. We have taken the color of the sewing thread from one of the originals we had which we think partly suited the hat best and partly represented the sum of all the original threads we looked at.

Properties of Olles Brorsa

The extra fine 100% merino wool effectively transports moisture away from the head and warms even if it gets wet.
Olle's brother is made with sufficiently thin thread and fine knitting to be stored in the pouch.
Roll or unfold it to fit the task or desired look. Rolled up perhaps more walkable in a relaxed way, rolled down for a quick nap or one of all the golden intermediate positions that we Swedes are so fond of.
Color-wise, it blends in perfectly with our Swedish nature and only gets better the more you use den.

The background to the name "Olles Brorsa"

When Olles brorsa was introduced to the defense in the winter of 1954, many soldiers and officers already had long experience with Tröja M/1885, a thick woolen sweater with long sleeves that gymnastics captain Gustaf Adolf Ohlson introduced to the armed forces at the end of the 19th century as a warming functional garment and the shirt quickly found favor and its use spread. In 1903, it is documented that the name "Olle" became an accepted term for the shirt both by the purse inspectors and within the rest of the military. Olle was a thick woolen sweater that was pulled over the head and buttoned at the top, not buttoned all the way down.
At the turn of the century 1800/1900, Olle had been born. Now we move to the winter of 1954 when Trikåmössa m/1954 was going out on a troop during the cold January nights. A reinforcement garment made of wool in the same shade as the sweater and with a distinctive knitting that kept both the cold and the cold war at a comfortable distance, what could not be more natural than that the new hat was nicknamed Olle's brother after the popular wool sweater that provided the same warmth ate the soldiers for more than half a century? Just as naturally as Olle had his brother, it also happened that Gustaf Adolf Ohlson, now a major and deceased, somewhat sentimentally received the nickname, or perhaps the honorary title, Ollarna's father.

Olle's brother - Trikåmössa m/1954

The the ribbed knitted cap was an immediate success and the liking has not stopped among the soldiers who used it and not entirely unexpectedly, the majority of copies also seem to have found their way beyond the watchful storage personnel of the regiments. For many, it was the perfect outdoor hat with excellent function and also thin enough to be easily tucked into a pouch when the heat again won over the cold. Olle's brother's distinctive appearance and popularity among soldiers have made it a symbol of Sweden's military during the Cold War.
Olle's brother was used partly as a cap and partly as a helmet base, both warmth and some cushioning were not at all wrong when the heavy steel helmets is conked around on. Originally, Olle's brother was grayish in color, although it varied quite a lot in shade. In 1985, it was also established in a green variant and then received the M-number M7346-711000-6. The gray shade remained at M-number M7346-711000.

Why the cap disappeared from the defense

The years passed and Olle's brother also became old like his father the major and brother. The 90s meant the end of the Cold War, disarmament and rational change. Olle's brother was replaced by Hjälmunderlag 90, admittedly also made with wool and certainly very rational but an icon is not something that is replaced so easily. And helmet underlay 90 could not compete in terms of style with the small tricot cap that nurtured soldiers during the glory days of the modern Swedish army.
For many, it became a void, civilian as well as military, when Olles Brorsa was rationalized away during the 90s.

Olles Brorsa – The best outdoor hat?

Olles Brorsa is in a class of its own as the best outdoor hat, at least if you ask us. With its thin and light construction, made from 100% extra fine merino wool, it is both warming and comfortable during all types of outdoor activities. The moisture-wicking wool ensures that you stay dry and warm, even if the hat gets wet. The hat's versatility allows it to be rolled up or folded down, making it perfectly adaptable for everything from hiking and camping to quick rest breaks or why not during the hunt. Thanks to its compact design, it is easy to pack into the pouch, and the merino wool is non-itchy, making it a better choice than many other traditional woolen garments. Olle's brother has long been a favorite among soldiers and outdoor enthusiasts, and its authentic, functional design continues to impress. Time will not bite Olle's brother, in 50 years it will be just as walkable in forest and land.

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