Pieces of timber and other materials from a centuries-old shipwreck

Finnish Designers Harness 300-Year-Old Shipwreck Timber for Sustainable Fashion at Aalto University

2026-06-03

When a Finnish hotel unearthed a 17th-century shipwreck beneath a parking lot in Oulu, it marked the beginning of a remarkable journey in sustainable fashion. Researchers at Aalto University saw potential in the remnants of this ancient vessel, known as the Hahtiperä wreck, and transformed its 300-year-old wooden remains into innovative wearable art.

In 2019, as conservators raised the seven-by-20-meter ship for preservation, Aalto’s Bioinnovation Center intervened to salvage its remaining fragments. The team soon made headlines by integrating these fragments into the realm of eco-conscious fashion design.

Close-up of a finely knitted gown with intricate patterns — a detail of a knitted gown

The creative team at Aalto shredded and dissolved the shipwreck’s wood into pulp and converted it into fibers using their pioneering Ioncell process, developed alongside Helsinki University. This technology effectively recycles materials like paper, straw, and textile waste into luxurious threads with the feel of silk.

Additionally, see how DEOS Architecture uses old-growth oak in crafting robust seating, merging history with modern design.

Lecturer Anna-Mari Leppisaari played a pivotal role, machine-knitting the resultant yarn into seamless, undyed dresses. These garments boast a marbled pattern reminiscent of wood grain and weigh less than a pound each. One of the dresses is currently showcased at the Oulu Art Museum, within an exhibition focusing on the future of fashion.

Conserved hull of the Hahtiperä shipwreck displayed in an exhibition room — According to UNESCO, wrecks can be raised and conserved for justified reasons. The Hahtiperä wreck was conserved because it is the oldest shipwreck discovered in Northern Finland. Photo by Minna Koivikko/Finnish Heritage Agency

“Of course, a shipwreck is an exceptional case, but it’s also a story that makes people pause and appreciate materials in a new way,” states lead designer Pirjo Kääriäinen. “If something this beautiful can be made from centuries-old wood, why do we keep throwing away materials that could still be circulated and reused?”

The second dress will be exhibited at the Designs for a Cooler Planet event in September at Aalto University. The initiative reflects a growing trend to rethink waste, transform neglected resources, and craft fashion narratives that blend history with innovative material science. (via The History Blog)

For a unique approach to sustainable design, explore how a NYC restaurant repurposed designer waste for its construction.