LINUM meets; Steamery.

What’s the story behind Steamery?

It all started when I met Petra Ringström Oxhamre and Martin Lingner when we were all living in Shanghai. I worked in textile production, Petra ran her own clothing line and Martin worked as a management consultant. We all came into contact with the practical steamer there in different ways and it discovered the potential. Then we came up with the idea to introduce the steamer to the Scandinavian market.

Textile care is nothing new. Just two generations ago, everyone knew how to take care of their clothes and mend them when they were torn. But since then, the tradition has been forgotten. We wanted to bring it back, but with a modern solution. So in 2014 we started Steamery. Our mission is to inspire and educate others to take better care of their textiles so they both look nice and last longer. We do this by creating innovative and minimalist textile care products that we believe will change the way we treat our garments and fabrics in the future.

Because it is the case that the lifespan of a garment or fabric today is unnecessarily short. The norm is that you buy a product, wash it far too often and throw it away far too soon. We want to change that. The way we treat our clothes today is simply not sustainable in the long run.

Tell us about your assortment?

Our focus has always been to create innovative and modern textile care products with a unique Scandinavian design that makes you want to have your products in front of you and not hide them in a cupboard. In this way, we hope that we can inspire more people to make textile care a pleasant daily routine.

Our range has grown over the years and it all started with standing steamers and then expanded to handheld steamers and pilling removers. We have since launched a lot of clothing care accessories such as clothes brushes and sewing kits as well as smart detergents and fabric sprays. A big step for us was when in 2021 we launched our new generation of clothing care products, our hybrid steamer Cirrus 3 Iron Steamer and Pilo 2 Fabric Shaver which have since been our best selling products. This spring we also released our book The Art of Clothing Care where we have gathered all our knowledge about clothing care from the last 10 years which we hope will inspire more people to take an interest in textile care. We continue to constantly develop our range to be at the forefront of the industry and in the next year we have more exciting product launches.

What are the benefits of a steamer?

There are many advantages to a steamer. It is a versatile, effective and gentle option to keep your clothes and home textiles in the best possible condition. Not only is it easy to use and removes wrinkles from your textiles, it can also refresh your used garments. The hot steam helps to eliminate unwanted odors and bacteria, making the garment fresh again without the need to wash and you can use it another day!

A steamer is also more gentle on the textiles than an iron. The hot steam softens and lifts the fibers in the fabric so that the garment regains its original shape instead of being flattened as with an iron. Therefore, a steamer is also suitable for use on more sensitive materials and fabrics such as silk, wool and synthetic materials. It can also be used on other textiles, such as curtains, furniture, tablecloths and bedding, giving a wide range of uses beyond clothing. Our hand steamers are also compact and portable, making them very easy to take on the go to keep your clothes wrinkle-free and fresh. Perfect when you don't have access to a washing machine!

What trends do you see going forward in sustainability?

In our book The Art of Clothing Care, which was released this spring, we talk about our view of clothing care in the future and address some trends that we believe can change the way we consume and care for our clothes. We all need to slow down the pace of our rapid consumption. Textile waste is one of the biggest problems when it comes to the fashion industry and in Europe today we use a garment 7-8 times on average before throwing it away. By taking care of and repairing our clothes instead of throwing them away, we can reduce the amount of textile waste.

In the textile industry, we are already seeing new innovative ways of producing textiles and new exciting materials such as plant-based leather. We hope to see more of these innovations as well as a development of the recycling of textiles and how we can use them in new smart ways.

What are your best tips for extending the life of your home textiles?

1. To wash less! If you need to wash, make sure to use gentle detergents specially adapted to the material you are washing. It is especially important to use a wool detergent for all wool materials and other delicate textiles, we recommend our Delicate Laundry Detergent.

2. Use a pilling remover! Many home textiles such as blankets, cushions and sofas can easily get pilling and look a little worn. By using a lint remover, you can easily remove lint from your home textiles and make them look like new again!

3. Steam on the spot! Steam your bedding directly on the bed when it is made to get a fresh and wrinkle-free result. You can also finish with a little fabric spray to get a little extra hotel feeling.