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{{Short description|Swedish sportswear brand}}
{{Multiple issues|{{advert|date=May 2014}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2025}}}}

'''Craft Sportswear''' (previously known as Craft of Scandinavia) is a Swedish producer of functional sports apparel. The company is based in [[Borås]], an old and traditional textile industry town in the South of Sweden. The initial concept of its founder Anders Bengtsson was to develop underwear that propels moisture away from the skin during physical activity. Craft started with technical [[Baselayers|base layers]] and soon developed the three-layer principle with a second layer of insulation and moisture transportation as well as an outer shell for protection. Today, the company offers gear for many sports, it specializes in layer three for running, triathlon, bike and cross-country skiing.

== History ==

In 1973, Swede Anders Bengtsson started developing a base layer material that transports moisture (sweat) away from the skin. Bengtsson tested his designs by weighing his gear after exercise sessions. He used polyester fibers, which only absorb a minimum amount of moisture, and worked them into a weaving construction. The resulting [[capillary action]] further promotes moisture expulsion transporting sweat from the skin to the outer surface of the garment where it quickly evaporates. The brand Craft of Sweden was officially founded in 1977. In addition to technical baselayers, the company soon started producing second layer garments (focused on fleece material) and outerwear. 

== Company takeovers ==

New Wave Group acquired the brand in 1996.

==Sponsorships==
Craft is the official supplier and sponsor of numerous [[association football]] teams, players and associations, including:

===Associations===
* [[2016 ConIFA World Football Cup]]

===Basket===

====National teams====
*{{flagicon|FIN}} [[Finland national basketball team|Finland]]  (since August 2023)

====Club teams====
*{{flagicon|France}} [[Alliance Sport Alsace]]
*{{flagicon|France}} [[Limoges CSP]] (2020-)
*{{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Södertälje BBK|Södertälie BBK]]
*{{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Uppsala Basket]]
*{{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Uppsala Basket|Luleå BBK]] (women)
*{{flagicon|Sweden}} [[BC Luleå]] (men)
*{{flagicon|Sweden}} Östersund Basket (women)
*{{flagicon|Sweden}} Mark Basket (women)
*{{flagicon|Sweden}} Sjuhärads Basket (women)
*{{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Borås Basket]] (men)

===Curling===
====National teams====
*{{flagicon|NOR}} Norway
*{{flagicon|SWI}}  [[Swiss curling national team|Switzerland]]
*{{flagicon|LIT}}  Lithuania

===Football===
====Club teams====
=====Europe=====
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagicon|Andorra}} [[FC Ordino|Ordino]]
*{{flagicon|Belgium}} [[K.A.A. Gent|Gent]]
*{{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Aarhus Gymnastikforening|AGF Aarhus]] 
*{{flagicon|Denmark}} [[FC Helsingør|Helsingør]] 
*{{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Boldklubben Frem|Frem]] 
* {{Flagicon|Faroe Islands}} [[KÍ Klaksvík]]
* {{Flagicon|Finland}} [[AC Oulu]]
*{{flagicon|Finland}} [[Palloseura Kemi Kings|PS Kemi]]
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[SV Darmstadt 98|Darmstadt 98]]
*{{flagicon|Guadeloupe}} [[CS Moulien|Moulier]]
*{{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Almere City FC|Almere]]
*{{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[VVV-Venlo]] 
*{{flagicon|Norway}} [[Fredrikstad FK]]
*{{flagicon|Norway}} [[Åsane Fotball]]
*{{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Hammarby Fotboll|Hammarby]]
*{{flagicon|Sweden}} [[IFK Göteborg]] 
*{{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Trelleborgs FF]] 
*{{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Varbergs BoIS]]
*{{flagicon|Switzerland}} [[FC Aarau|Aarau]] 
{{div col end}}

===Gymnastics===
====National teams====
*{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Sweden national gymnastics team|Sweden]]  (since september 2020)

===Handball===
====National teams====
*{{hb|SWE}}  (since July 2019)
====Club teams====
*Men
**{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Bordeaux Bruges Lormont Handball]] (since 2022 - 2023 season)
**{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Dunkerque Handball Grand Littoral]]
**{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Fenix Toulouse Handball]]
**{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Limoges Hand 87]]
**{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Massy Essonne Handball]]
**{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Saint-Raphaël Var Handball]]
**{{flagicon|FRA}} [[:fr:Strasbourg Eurométropole Handball|Strasbourg Eurométropole Handball]]	
**{{flagicon|GER}} [[SC DHfK Leipzig Handball]] (since September 2020)
**{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Amo Handboll|AMO HK]] 
**{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Amo Handboll|Hammarby IF HF]] 

*Women
**{{flagicon|DEN}} [[Odense Håndbold]] (since July 2019)
**{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Brest Bretagne Handball]] (since 2020)
**{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Mérignac Handball]]
**{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Neptunes de Nantes|Atlantique Nantes]] (since  2020 – 2021 season) 
===Ski===
*{{flagicon|SWE}}  [[Swedish national ski men team|Sweden]]  (since January 2019)
*{{flagicon|NOR}}  [[Norway national ski men team|Norway]]  (since 2022-2023 season)
*{{flagicon|FRA}}  [[Swedish national ski men team|France]]  (since 2022-2023 season)
===Biathlon===
*{{flagicon|NOR}}  [[Norway national ski men team|Norway]]  (since 2022-2023 season)
*{{flagicon|FRA}}  [[Swedish national ski men team|France]]  (since 2022-2023 season)
*{{flagicon|CAN}}  Canada 

===Swimming===
====National teams====
*{{flagicon|FAR}}  [[Faroe Islands national swimming team|Faroe Islands]]  (since January 2020)
*{{flagicon|SWE}}  [[Swedish national swimming team|Sweden]]  (since September 2021)
*{{flagicon|DEN}}  [[Swedish national swimming team|Denmark]]  

===Volleyball===
====National teams====
*{{hb|SWE}} 
*{{hb|DEN}} 
====Club teams====
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[:fr:ASPTT Mulhouse|Volley Mulhouse Alsace (Asptt Mulhouse)]] (Women) (since August 2021 until 2025)
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[:fr:Municipal_olympique_Mougins_Volley-ball|M.O.Mougins Volleyball]] (Women) (since August 2021)
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[DSC Volleyball Damen]] (Women) (since July 2019)
*{{flagicon|Sweden}} [https://www.engelholmsvolley.se/ EVS] (Women)
*{{flagicon|Sweden}} [https://www.lundsvk.se/ Lunds VK]
*{{flagicon|Sweden}} [[:sv:Sollentuna_VK|Sollentuna VK]]
*{{flagicon|SWI}}   [https://www.vfm.ch/ BIWI VFM]   (Woman)
*{{flagicon|SWI}}   [[Lausanne UC]] 
*{{flagicon|SWI}}   [https://volleyballjona.ch/ TSV Jona Volleyball]
===Floorball===
====National teams====
*{{hb|FIN}} 
====Club teams====
*{{flagicon|Sweden}} FBC Kalmarsund 
*{{flagicon|Sweden}} Karlstad Innebandy
*{{flagicon|Switzerland}}   [https://www.zugunited.ch/ Zug United]

==Track and field==
===National teams===
* {{flagicon|DEN}} [[Denmark]]
* {{flagicon|FIN}} [[Finland]]
* {{flagicon|FRO}} [[Faroe Islands]]
* {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Sweden]]
* {{flagicon|LUX}} [[Sweden|Luxembourg]]

===Other sports===

The Craft athlete team includes several national teams, among them the Swedish National XC-Team, as well as individual athletes such as [[Marit Björgen]], [[Charlotte Kalla]], [[Rene Poulsen]], and [[Kaisa Mäkäräinen]]

Craft also supplies specific apparel to the [[Orica-BikeExchange]] professional cycling team.

Sponsored Events: Vasaloppet, [[Tour de Ski]] (Presenting Sponsor), Bike Trans Germany (Title Sponsor), Vätternrundan, Tjejmilen, and Stockholm Halvmarathon.
=== Notable individual sponsorships ===
In addition to team sponsorships, Craft endorses a number of individual athletes, ensuring a presence in key sports disciplines.

==== Track and field ====
*Noel Mulkey {{flag|USA}} – Triathlete
*Robert B Killian Jr. {{flag|USA}} – Triathlete

==== Elite Run Team ====
Sources:<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sims |first1=Tyler |title=Craft Sportswear Welcomes New Trail Athletes to Its Elite Run Team |url=https://outdoorindustry.org/press-release/craft-sportswear-welcomes-new-trail-athletes-to-its-elite-run-team/ |website=Outdoor Industry Association |publisher=JAM Collective |access-date=24 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Craft Sportswear trail running team |url=https://fantasy.freetrail.com/teams/craft-sportswear |website=FreeTrail Fantasy |publisher=FreeTrail |access-date=24 March 2025}}</ref>
*[[Tim Tollefson]] {{flag|USA}}
*David Sinclair {{flag|USA}}
*Tommy Rivs {{flag|USA}}
*Jacob Puzey {{flag|USA}}
*Tessa Chesser {{flag|USA}}
*[[Grant Barnette]] {{flag|USA}}
*Emkay Sullivan {{flag|USA}}
*Manuela Vilaseca {{flag|BRA}}
*David Laney {{flag|USA}}
*Alexander Holmblad {{flag|SWE}}
*Jupiter Carera {{flag|MEX}}
*Arlen Glick {{flag|USA}}
*Tommy Sullivan {{flag|USA}}
*Mary Denholm {{flag|USA}}
*Linus Hultegård {{flag|SWE}}
*Johan Lantz {{flag|SWE}}
*Joacim Lantz {{flag|SWE}}
*Elov Olsson {{flag|SWE}}

==== Skiing ====
*[[Marina Charlotte Kalla]] {{flag|SWE}} 

=== Partners ===
Craft also partners with events and brands for performance apparel for race and event merchandise programs, including the following brands:<ref>{{cite web |title=Partners |url=https://www.craftsports.us/pages/partners |website=Craft |publisher=Craft Sportswear NA |access-date=24 March 2025}}</ref>
*[[Lifetime Fitness|Lifetime Run]] – Official apparel partner
*[[Ragnar Relay Series]] – Official apparel provider
*[[Spartan Race|Spartan]] – Official performance apparel and footwear partner
*[[Miami Marathon]] – Official apparel provider
*RunCharlotte – Official apparel partner
*Running USA – Official apparel partner
*M3S Sports – Official athleticwear partner
*Big Blue Adventure – Official apparel partner
*Texas Bigstar Half Marathon – Official apparel partner
===Critics===

Craft is sometimes criticized for having its clothes produced in low-wage countries. This is where the production of fabrics and clothing takes place.

== References ==

{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.craftsportswear.com  Official website]
*[http://www.craft.se Alternative website]

[[Category:Clothing companies of Sweden]]
[[Category:Sporting goods brands]]
[[Category:Sporting goods manufacturers of Sweden]]
[[Category:Sportswear brands]]
[[Category:Swedish brands]]
[[Category:Companies based in Västra Götaland County]]
[[Category:1977 establishments in Sweden]]
[[Category:20th-century establishments in Älvsborg County]]