Sauna Threads: Textiles, Tradition, and the Sauna Experience
- Feb 16
- 1 min read
Updated: Feb 27
This session explores the deep and often overlooked connection between sauna culture and textiles, featuring key voices from two renowned textile companies: Lapuan Kankurit (Finland) and Saunamekko (North America). Led by a Finnish sauna devotee and textile crafter, teacher, and writer Lisa Steinmann, the talk traces how woven textiles—towels, mats, robes, hats, and sauna wear—have evolved alongside sauna’s ancient rituals to enhance comfort, beauty, and cultural meaning.
The session highlights the history of sauna textiles as handwork, Finland’s leadership in sustainable textile production, and the distinctive Finnish aesthetic that blends tradition, function, and design. Drawing from traditional practices taught at places like the Finnish American Folk School and from contemporary innovators, the conversation weaves together stories of natural fibers, plant dyes, mending, and the fibershed movement, while showcasing how companies such as Lapuan Kankurit and Saunamekko are advancing eco-conscious, low-waste textile solutions that enrich the sauna experience.
Speakers: Karen Rue (Saunamekko), Jaana Hjelt (Lapuan Kankurit)
Moderator: Lisa Steinmann