Saade, a wellness lifestyle brand, has launched a swimsuit as part of a collection specifically crafted for use in sauna rituals.

The brand says the swimsuit has been crafted to perform well in heat, cold plunges as well as during moments of rest. It is made in Portugal using an 88 per cent blend of lyocell and 12 per cent recycled elastane.

Saade founder Victoria Arnold has Estonian and German heritage and she says: “Sauna has always been part of my life. I grew up in a family where weekly sauna visits were sacred. Even my 86-year-old grandmother still goes. Saade was born from that culture but designed for the modern wellness world.” 

Arnold has a background in the fashion industry, within activewear, lingerie and swimwear sectors. After living in cities such as Paris, France, and London, UK, and witnessing the popularity of sauna culture for detoxification, she wanted to create a swimsuit not made out of plastic.

Arnold set out to create a swimsuit that has naturally antibacterial properties that remains breathable even at high temperatures. She wanted to solve what she sees as a common problem of discomfort and trapped moisture that can make synthetic fabrics feel unhygienic in heat.

The brand says the minimalist swimsuit is soft, breathable, quick-drying and gentle on heat-flushed skin.

The swimsuit is self-lined and has no padding. The lyocell, which is derived from renewable wood sources, provides minimal microplastic shedding, unlike synthetic swimwear, according to the brand.  

The swimsuit costs £140 (US$181, €165). It comes in black and is available in sizes XS-XL.

The swimsuit joins a capsule collection of clothing made from lyocell, cotton and elastane that includes sweatpants and sweaters to be worn after a sauna session. There is also a headscarf, which can be worn during the sauna too.

The sweater costs £80 (US$104, €95) and the sweatpants cost £85 (US$110, €100). Both are available in sizes XS-XL.

The 100 per cent lyocell headscarf is available in either dusty rose or olive green. It costs £35 (US$45, €41) and there is only one size.