Overview
Researchers at Finland's Aalto University engaged in a material transformation project involving timber salvaged from a 17th-century shipwreck. Wood from the Hahtiperä shipwreck, dated to the 1600s, was processed into yarn. This yarn subsequently served as the material for a knitted, zero-waste dress.
Research Context
The materials utilized in this project originated from the Hahtiperä shipwreck. This particular wreck was located in Oulu, central Finland. Its discovery under a parking lot occurred in 2019. The salvaged timber, characterized by its age as 300 years old, provided the foundational material for the subsequent processing into textile components.
Approach
The operative approach involved several distinct stages. Initially, the timber extracted from the Hahtiperä shipwreck underwent a conversion process to transform it into yarn. Following the successful creation of the yarn, this material was then employed in a knitting process. The objective of the knitting step was to construct a dress. This dress was designed with a zero-waste principle in mind, integrating the transformed shipwreck material.
Findings
The primary outcome of the research was the successful transformation of 300-year-old timber from the Hahtiperä shipwreck into a wearable, knitted garment. The process demonstrated the capability to convert historical wood material into yarn. This yarn was then effectively used in knitting to produce a dress, which adhered to a zero-waste design principle.
Why This Matters
This project demonstrates a method for repurposing historical materials, specifically timber from a 17th-century shipwreck, into new forms. It illustrates a pathway for utilizing salvaged archaeological artifacts in contemporary design, focusing on creating a zero-waste product from aged wood.