The HiKoo yarn label comes from the family-owned Skacel brand that was founded in 1987 by German born Hans and Ingrid Skacel and now run by their daughter Karen. The couple met in London and set out for America while working for Volkswagen. A few years after moving to Portland, Oregon they established the Skacel yarn company to distribute fine European yarns that weren’t easily found in America and their yarn lines currently include HiKoo and Schoppel.