A Shipwreck, but Make It Fashion: Researchers Transformed Wooden Fragments From a 17th-Century Shipwreck Into a Pair of Stylish Maxi Dresses
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Researchers at Aalto University have transformed wooden fragments from a 17th-century shipwreck into two stylish maxi dresses. The project utilized an eco-friendly process to convert the wood into textile fibers, resulting in yarn that retains the shipwreck's original color. The dresses are set to be displayed in Finland, highlighting the potential for reusing materials that might otherwise be discarded.
- ▪The Hahtiperä wreck was discovered in 2019 during hotel renovations in Oulu, Finland.
- ▪Researchers used a special eco-friendly process called the 'Ioncell' method to create textile fibers from the shipwreck wood.
- ▪The dresses feature designs inspired by wood grain and digital noise, and one is currently on display at the Oulu Art Museum.
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A Shipwreck, but Make It Fashion: Researchers Transformed Wooden Fragments From a 17th-Century Shipwreck Into a Pair of Stylish Maxi Dresses Scientists at Aalto University in Finland saved pieces of the Hahtiperä wreck and turned them into textile fibers Sarah Kuta | Daily Correspondent May 26, 2026 5:20 p.m. ShareCopy linkEmailSMSFacebookXRedditLinkedInBlueskyPrintAdd as preferred source Researchers decided not to dye or bleach the yarn so that the shipwreck’s original color could shine. Esa Kapila / Aalto University In 2019, crews renovating a hotel in Oulu, Finland, made a surprising discovery: the remains of a 17th-century cargo ship beneath the hotel’s parking lot. The long-hidden vessel was named the “Hahtiperä wreck” after Oulu’s first harbor.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Smithsonian Magazine.
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