About Raanu
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Raanu (rah - noo) is a traditional form of Scandinavian weaving used for wall hangings and rugs. It is also an anagram for "ruana" which is a garment style my mentor formerly called The Cloak.
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I chose this name to honor both my legacy and my ancestry.
A traditional style raanu rug
At Raanu Handwoven, we know that you want to elevate your style with artisan-made fashion designed for your luxurious comfort every day, everywhere.
Our Brand & Principles
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Raanu is the only Slow fashion brand on the West Coast, USA, that creates 100% handwoven and handmade apparel from natural fibers. The problem with most fashion is that it is mass-produced and cheaply made at the expense of human rights and ethics. And once you learn about its impact, you feel compelled to support the slow fashion movement.
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The sole artisan and owner of Raanu Handwoven, Bridgette, understands the importance of sustainable, ethically responsible practices. She also believes clothing should be beautiful, high-quality, versatile, and long-lasting. Bridgette uses these principles to create modern, machine washable heirlooms by adopting the model of closed-loop production. These timeless garments feature upcycled materials and whole cloth, which is handwoven to size to reduce waste.
Bridgette mindfully practices the foundational handweaving skills passed down by her mentor and master weaver, Blossom. She always starts with natural fibers and then plies, winds, and ties up to 3,200 threads as she prepares them to be handwoven on a mechanical Dobby loom. Lastly, she pre-shrinks the cloth and assembles your garment using durable seams, such as French or flat-felled, to ensure longevity.
Our Values
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At Raanu Handwoven we understand that integrity is paramount, and our commitment to it can be seen in every step of our process. We begin with mill-end yarn. Our supplier rescues these threads from large manufacturing houses where they were destined for the landfill.
Each garment is woven to size which significantly reduces the scrap on the cutting room floor. In the near future, what remains will be transformed into an additional product. We don't believe that "Zero Waste" is possible, but we do believe in closing the loop of production.