Wool

A visionary woman in 1960s socialist Yugoslavia rallies rural village housewives into a knitting collective that transforms their lives, challenging traditions, changing their destinies, and creating a surprise sensation in the global fashion world.

This series follows Anka, a city girl sent to the remote Yugoslav village of Sirogojno in the 1960s. Discovering local knitting talents, she transforms sceptical village women into an international fashion collective, exporting unique sweaters to Paris runways. As women earn income, village life turns upside down - husbands cook while wives knit, bringing prosperity. When a Parisian designer offers to buy their collection under his brand, Anka must choose between lucrative fame and the collective spirit that built their success. Set against a changing Yugoslavia (1960s-1980), the series shows how a fashion revolution began in village courtyards, with the season ending at Tito's death in 1980.

Producer's note

In today's digital world, a TV series about knitting's heritage connects traditional wisdom with modern women's empowerment, revealing how ancient crafts can become powerful tools for self-expression and community building. The story offers a new appreciation for tradition that acknowledges both our nostalgic roots and how far we have come in transforming these timeless practices into meaningful modern rituals.
As producer of "Wool," I am pleased to present our television series that organically bridges Serbia and Iceland through a natural co-production structure.
We are excited to present this project at the TV Beats Co-Financing Market with half of the financing secured, including main broadcasters from Serbia and Iceland.
The development phase is progressing steadily, supported by the Creative Europe MEDIA Programme's co-development grant in 2023. Having access to the Sirogojno Co. provides us with invaluable resources, including archival materials, original props, costumes, and filming locations, ensuring authentic representation of our story's cultural elements.
Our production schedule is set for spring 2026, with filming planned across both territories, starting with Serbia and moving to Iceland in the summer of 2026.
Our aim is toshowcase our project to international distributors and potential co-production partners to complete our financing structure.

Screenwiter's note

Growing up in Užice, Serbia, I spent my childhood summers and winters with my grandmother watching her create sweaters, gloves, scarves, and countless other items through knitting and crochet. I did not fully grasp the significance of these moments until much later in life, beginning to understand and connect with my traditions and culture, and to understand the complexities and hardships of women in Serbian society, particularly in rural communities.

The true story of the Sirogojno Sweaters, which are still around today, serves as a lens through which we can observe the lives of women who were relegated to the margins of their own narratives. Imagine a woman in 1960s rural Serbia - likely illiterate, married off as a teenager, mother to multiple children, with an absent husband. These women were not afforded the luxury of dreams, let alone the opportunity to pursue them. Cast as background characters, they were the true heroes of an unsung saga of resilience and creativity.
Though we pride ourselves on being a progressive society, the threads of patriarchal values remain tightly woven into our social lives. "Wool" stands as our tribute to the grandmothers and great-grandmothers whose stories have been overlooked, ignored, and taken for granted. While our cities boast statues of warriors and leaders, while our streets bear the names of architects, painters, and scientists, this series serves as our monument to these unsung heroines.

As a creator, I feel a profound responsibility to authentically portray this story of brand creation through carefully crafted dramatic characters. The challenge lies in making the narrative of tradition and handcraft resonate with younger generations, helping them connect with their roots and understand the sacrifices that paved the way for their current freedoms and choices.
This is simultaneously a universal story of women's empowerment and a deeply personal tale steeped in local tradition. My vision is to present a warm, positive narrative from Serbia to a global audience, celebrating these women whose hardest battle was often convincing themselves of their own worth. These women did not wear capes; they wore aprons and wielded knitting needles, but they were superheroes nonetheless.
Milena Dzambasovic

Subjects:

feel good, rural life, humour, based on a true story, friendship, women, design