Freia Fine Handpaint Yarns
Freia is a woman-owned small business specializing in handcrafted, hand-dyed yarn made from merino and wool produced in the U.S. They have earned a devoted following in the fiber arts community, used by knitters, crocheters, and fiber enthusiasts around the world.
Founder Tina Whitmore began designing for the knitting market in 2001, identifying a gap she felt she could fill. She took up hand-dyeing in 2010, and what started as a creative pursuit in San Francisco grew into a globally recognized brand. Freia occupies a unique position in the industry — straddling the line between an indie dyer and a larger yarn company, producing truly unique hand-dyed yarn at a scale big enough to serve local yarn stores globally.
Their signature product is its ombré gradient yarn — long, lush gradients that cannot be replicated in mass production, with a depth of color only achievable through hand-dyeing.
Tina relocated Freia from California to North Adams in 2018, drawn by a combination of practical and personal factors.
While she felt her rent in San Francisco was reasonable, she was able to get a much larger space for less to grow her business. The overall cost of doing business in North Adams was less than staying in California. She ended up finding a 3,500 square foot space in the Norad Mill that serves all of her production needs, including space for a local shop.
To get her business established in North Adams, she made connections with locals in the arts she found online.
Beyond the attractive business climate of North Adams, she was also drawn here by its rural character and its change of seasons. “It was essentially a quality of life move,” she said. As an avid skier, she enjoys hitting the slopes just 25 minutes from home.
When she first moved her business across the country to a rural location, she was concerned about finding the right people to build her team. She said she was fortunate and found a dependable crew, who have remained with her since 2018.
If your business doesn't solely rely on foot traffic, you enjoy spending lots of time outdoors, want a sense of community and are interested in lowering your costs, Tina recommends checking out North Adams!
