Meet Dorte, your new Christmas tradition.
Dorte is an advent calendar, a new tradition for all ages.
Dorte is named after my aunt, who designed it in Denmark in the 1970s.
Inspired by a calendar sewn by her grandmother, she created a unique design, hand drawn and hand stitched. For years she lovingly filled the ‘julekalender’ with a selection of treats for the younger members of the family, saying “it was so koselig (cosy) to do that each winter”.
Forty years later, when my own boys were young, we took out the calendar again. It is still the highlight of their Christmas.
Handmade, for you to fill
Made from natural, undyed organic cotton, it has a long silhouette with a sturdy hanging loop at the top and 24 numbered pockets for you to fill with mini surprises and treats for the countdown to the big day.
Nordic design
Designed for use year after year, the calendar is a beautiful, sustainable alternative to single-use, throwaway Christmas decorations.
The original Nordic illustrations designed by Dorte in the 1970s have been reinterpreted by Japanese illustrator Mio Matsumoto into new ones based on organic leaf forms.
Responsible
production
The calendars are produced in handloom organic cotton, woven by a small collective of women weavers in south India. The unit is a member of Fair-Trade Forum India and sources GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standards) certified yarns direct from certified organic spinning units.
They weave the fabric to order in small batches, dye and hand roll the yarn for the ties, screen print and sew the calendar. Nothing goes to waste. Screen printing and dyeing is done with azo free dyes.
The embroidered calendars are produced at a leading atelier in north India, which is SEDEX certified, ensuring fair and ethical working conditions and trade.
We use minimal packaging in our distribution; everything is recyclable.
Small gifts
Part of the slow joy of the Dorte advent calendar is in choosing its contents – and its recipients. Will you fill it with keepsakes to treasure, festive sparkles, absorbing puzzles or delicious sweets?
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