Description

Addi’s popular knitting needles and crochet hooks have been manufactured in the small town of Altena in the Märkischer Kreis district of Sauerland, North Rhine-Westphalia since 1829.

The town emerged in the shadow of the 12th century Altena Castle, where Richard Schirmann set up the world’s first youth hostel in 1914.

Iron ore and an abundance of water and timber led to the development of a strong local wire production industry. Today, you will probably find Altena wire in every country in the world: the town exports several thousand tonnes of wire each month.

It was this wire that the company’s founder, Peter Heinrich Selter, used to launch production of the very first crochet hooks nearly 200 years ago

People in Altena have strong roots, and the atmosphere is friendly and welcoming. Just like at addi. They know each other, respect each other, and help each other.