Mill and shoes in beautiful Skråmträsk

Ted Logart

Mill and shoe. Shoe and mill. Erik and Asta Hellgren's two businesses are closely intertwined by a common thread of sustainability, environmental friendliness and not least high quality. Properties that have made Skråmträsk mill today one of Skellefteå's most appreciated excursion destinations. In 2006, Erik and Asta bought the old 1940s mill in Skråmträsk.

The idea was that people who visited the shoe factory where they make durable and environmentally friendly shoes of the highest quality by hand, would also have a nice place to drink a cup of coffee. After an extensive but careful renovation, Skråmträsk mill opened in the summer of 2009.

- We thought a little naively that this will be good for the children, Erik smiles. A slightly suitable summer job.
But that's not quite what happened.
- No, we were not prepared at all. We had 3,000 visits the first summer and more than 200 on the busiest days. And at that time we were also only open four hours a day.

QUALITY - THE RED THREAD

Today, Skråmträsk mill is an established destination and most recently, just over 13,000 guests found Erik and Asta's summer café.
- We want the mill to feel genuine and breathe quality in the same way as shoe manufacturing. Therefore, we have saved as much original interior as possible.
The café has also been KRAV-labeled for three years.
- We bake everything ourselves, on site and choose ingredients with care.
In 2016, Skråmträsk mill also received attention in the White guide, which lists Sweden's best restaurants and cafés. - It was of course great fun and an incentive to continue working on the same line.

THE SKRÅMTRÄSK SHOE

But like I said, it all started with shoe making. In 1989, the first Skråmträsk shoe left the small shoemaker across the road from the mill. The design what then as now simple but timeless. A little Scandinavian that way.
- We are not so trend-sensitive, says Erik. We do most of what we have always done. Works environmentally friendly and carefully with naturally tanned leather and a real craft.
Making shoes by hand has its advantages.
- Leather is an organic material and different pieces have different peculiarities. During the process with a handmade shoe, the material is constantly adapted based on the qualities of that particular piece of leather. Therefore, a handmade shoe becomes a better and more durable product in the end.

CULTURAL EVENTS

During the nine summer weeks that Skråmträsk mill is open, Erik and Asta also arrange a number of cultural events in the spacious building.
- It is usually a fairly extensive program with both storytelling theater, singing and art and photo exhibition, says Erik. You know, the mill is a great place, not least for storytelling performances.
Both the audience and the actors testify to the special atmosphere that is created during the performances.
- There is something about the mill that makes everything so intimate and close. It's for real, sort of.
Skråmträsk mill
For opening hours, current range and event calendar visit www.skramtrask.se >>