Fish-nets and fashion, with Granösunds Fiskeläge in Replot, Finland
This workshop was planned as part of the ‘sustainable lifestyles’ STEA funded project with Cooperative3e.
While researching natural fibres in Finland, I discovered that fishing nets were traditionally made from linen and hemp. Intrigued by this, I reached out to Daniel Beijar at the Granösunds Fiskeläg Museum on the island of Replot. The museum showcases life in the Replot archipelago during a time when most residents relied on traditional industries like fishing, seal hunting, agriculture, and handicrafts for survival. Fishing remains an important part of island life today, with locals fishing year-round in the Kvarken archipelago—even in winter, when ice-fishing is popular! During the warmer months, pike can be caught from the shores or by boat, hiding in the reeds.
Given the rich fishing heritage on the island and in the Vaasa/Mustasaari region, Daniel and I explored the idea of reviving traditional fishnet-making skills using natural fibres. This presented an exciting opportunity to not only teach a valuable craft, but also spark conversations around fishing sustainability and the circular economy. By learning how to craft a fishnet by hand, participants would develop a deeper connection to the net as a resource, valuing it more as something they’ve made themselves. Additionally, using natural fibres ties into the broader narrative of sustainable practices, aligning with the principles of circularity and reinforcing the importance of preserving traditional hand-work skills within the community.
With this in mind, we planned a workshop to be held at Granösunds fishing museum and were fortunate to collaborate with Leif Kaarto, our expert from Österbottens Fiskarförbund.
The workshop day
On the day of the workshop, we were blessed with sunshine at the picturesque Granösunds outdoor museum. The event attracted over 10 active participants, along with 16 spectators who were keen to watch and learn. The session kicked off with a demonstration by Leif, showing the essential skills of fish-net making. Participants then had the chance to practise knot-tying themselves using natural cotton string, with one-on-one tuition provided as needed. Participants helped each other master the techniques too.
At Granösunds, participants were able to delve into the history of fish-net making and the industry in Replot. We showed a sample of natural linen that may have been used in traditional net-making and an example of repurposed nylon tights to create a pond-dipping net, an idea taken from the Woodland Trust.
To complement the fishing theme, I incorporated an eco-design fashion workshop inspired by nautical elements, from fish-net stockings to fisherman smocks. Although the fashion workshop didn’t attract as much interest as the fishing session, a few attendees took the time to explore the eco-design tips and inspirational mood boards on display that we had prepared. Children, in particular, enjoyed decorating fashion templates using natural items they gathered, adding a fun, creative element to the day.
Community connections and reflections
The event also served as a platform for community engagement. Leif Kaarto reflected on the day: "It was a wonderful event at Granösund! I was pleased to see so many people interested in traditional fishing. It’s heartening to know this craft still resonates with people today."
Helena Lindeman, the Managing Director of the nearby Lindemans net factory also attended and kindly gifted us net-making tools for the event. She expressed her interest in meeting people with fishing knowledge from other countries as a cultural knowledge exchange. In a follow-up meeting, Helena kindly offered to donate waste materials from Lindemans for upcycling initiatives within our grassroots circular economy community. This generosity could potentially fuel future projects, aligning with Cooperative3e’s shared vision for sustainability and creative resource use.
Final thoughts
This workshop successfully bridged traditional craft and modern sustainability conversations. From learning how to make fish nets with natural fibres to repurposing materials in creative ways, participants hopefully left with a deeper appreciation for the craft and the importance of preserving our natural resources. It was a pleasure to explore these important connections between tradition, sustainability, and community.