Vävaren i Båstad: Stylish Scandinavian design for conscious consumers

By Malin Norman | Photos: Vävaren i Båstad

With a love for genuine craftsmanship and sustainable design, Vävaren i Båstad makes high-quality, stylish linen products from OEKO-TEX certified yarn, for conscious consumers.

Vävaren i Båstad is one of Sweden’s oldest still-active weaving mills, founded in 1949. Anki and Per Dahlqvist acquired the business in 2008. “We were on holiday in Båstad, on the Bjäre Peninsula, and fell in love with the place,” says Anki. “We saw that the weaving mill was for sale and took the opportunity. At the time, we had no experience in weaving and sewing, but learned from the knowledgeable staff already in place.”

The Dahlqvists love genuine craftsmanship and sustainable design, and they saw great potential in the weaving mill, including its Dornier looms – the Rolls-Royce of weaving machines. Since they took over, they have continued to develop the business, including the addition of more weaving machines. The couple’s ambition to keep the business and craftsmanship alive also means that they never compromise on quality, sustainability or working conditions.

By selecting the best long-fibre linen yarn and making products with the same yarn thickness and thread density as always, they can guarantee a quality and feel that mass-produced textiles cannot match. “Our philosophy is the same as when the business was founded: buy fewer things, and choose high quality and timeless designs – so that you can use the products longer,” says Per.

Per and Anki Dahlqvist.

Stylish Scandinavian design

Vävaren i Båstad makes textiles in 100 per cent linen, including bed linen, bath towels, hand towels, tablecloths, napkins and other home furnishings. The range consists of four parts: timeless classic patterns, natural washed linen goods in solid colours, modern colourful designs, and a circular range of vintage goods and waste-smart products.

Vävaren i Båstad: Stylish Scandinavian design for conscious consumers

Linen has many properties that make it suitable for home textiles – and it ages beautifully, as explained by Anki. “Linen has high absorbency, dries quickly, does not pill and is naturally antibacterial. It also adapts to the temperature – it warms when it’s cold and cools when it’s hot,” she says.

One of the current collaborations is Lin i Kvadrat, a collection of towels, napkins, placemats, cushions and potholders designed by award-winning Swedish designer Eva Jemt. Combining form, function and colour, every square is made with the same care and craft.

Vävaren i Båstad: Stylish Scandinavian design for conscious consumers

Linen a sustainable crop

Linen derives from the flax plant, a sustainable crop. The cultivation benefits biodiversity and requires neither irrigation nor artificial fertilisation. Vävaren i Båstad only uses long-fibre Western European linen, traceable according to Masters of Linen and certified according to OEKO-TEX.

“Unfortunately, there’s no commercial cultivation of flax plants for linen in Sweden today, flax is only grown for linseed oil,” says Per. “Instead, the best flax plants for linen grow in France and Belgium, where the climate has been more favourable in recent decades.”

Linen lasts a long time, and Vävaren i Båstad offers customers free repairs as well as a 20 per cent recycling bonus when they return something that they no longer use. In addition to their weaving business, Anki and Per also participate in projects aimed at reintroducing flax cultivation for linen in Sweden.

Vävaren i Båstad: Stylish Scandinavian design for conscious consumers

Fine dining and boutique hotels

Loved by private consumers, the products from Vävaren i Båstad are also in demand from fine dining restaurants, such as Restaurant Ergo in Stockholm, as well as boutique hotels including Furuhem, a new initiative co-owned by famous chef Magnus Nilsson, previously at Fäviken.

For those who are visiting the Båstad area, there is plenty more to see. Next door to the weaving mill, you will find Norrviken Gardens, an oasis of floral beauty, as well as Ravinen with its diverse programme of art, design and music.

“We’re constantly amazed by the beauty of the Bjäre Peninsula: long sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs, picturesque harbours and lush forests,” smiles Anki. “It’s been 18 years since we moved here and took over the weaving mill, and we’ve never regretted our decision.”

Vävaren i Båstad: Stylish Scandinavian design for conscious consumers

Web: www.vavarenibastad.se
Facebook: Vävaren i Båstad
Instagram: @vavarenibastad

Guided tours

During summer, Vävaren i Båstad offers free guided tours twice per week. You will get to see the weaving mill and all steps in the production, from yarn to finished product. In the boutique, you can browse the range, including the vintage outlet.