The gift of an odd looking Icelandic wool jumper (lopapeysa) to Rahm Emanuel, the Mayor of Chicago, by the Icelandic Minister of Industry and Commerce, has caused significant outrage and criticism in Iceland. News sites and social media have been ablaze with criticism of the sweater. The focus of criticism has been the odd design of the sweater, especially it’s strangely wide neckline.
A poll by the local news site visir.is shows that 86% of readers believe Rahm Emanuel should forget the gift, rather than hold onto it.
Read more: Update: Woollen jumper gifted to the mayor of Chicago causes public outcry
This afternoon the local news site visir.is identified the jumper: It is called “Grímsey” and is manufactured by Icelandic outdoor clothing manufacturer 66°North. A spokesman for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce has confirmed the identity of the sweater, although he did not have any explanation for the strange neckline: “It clearly is the same sweater, but I can’t say why the neckline looks like that. It indeed looks odd.”
The spokesman said the Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir, the Minister of Industry and Commerce has always tried to give gifts of Icelandic design when abroad. He also stressed he did not have all the details on the sweater, since he was not sure the sweater had even been purchased by the ministry. “I’m looking into this, and I will have all the details after the Minister comes back from her trip.”
According to visir.is the sweater was actually a gift by Icelandair, rather than the Ministry. Traditionally official gifts by government Ministers on official visits abroad are purchased by the Ministry in question.
The gift of an odd looking Icelandic wool jumper (lopapeysa) to Rahm Emanuel, the Mayor of Chicago, by the Icelandic Minister of Industry and Commerce, has caused significant outrage and criticism in Iceland. News sites and social media have been ablaze with criticism of the sweater. The focus of criticism has been the odd design of the sweater, especially it’s strangely wide neckline.
A poll by the local news site visir.is shows that 86% of readers believe Rahm Emanuel should forget the gift, rather than hold onto it.
Read more: Update: Woollen jumper gifted to the mayor of Chicago causes public outcry
This afternoon the local news site visir.is identified the jumper: It is called “Grímsey” and is manufactured by Icelandic outdoor clothing manufacturer 66°North. A spokesman for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce has confirmed the identity of the sweater, although he did not have any explanation for the strange neckline: “It clearly is the same sweater, but I can’t say why the neckline looks like that. It indeed looks odd.”
The spokesman said the Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir, the Minister of Industry and Commerce has always tried to give gifts of Icelandic design when abroad. He also stressed he did not have all the details on the sweater, since he was not sure the sweater had even been purchased by the ministry. “I’m looking into this, and I will have all the details after the Minister comes back from her trip.”
According to visir.is the sweater was actually a gift by Icelandair, rather than the Ministry. Traditionally official gifts by government Ministers on official visits abroad are purchased by the Ministry in question.
