Collection: Sauna towels

Sauna pareo — a cover-up that stays put

The sauna pareo from Oh!Zuza is a cotton cover-up that you put on like a dress or wrap like a kilt. It stays in place thanks to a velcro fastening above the bust and an elastic band – no ties, no buttons, no adjustments needed on the way from the changing room to the cabin. The length reaches above the knee, it comes in one white color, and the oversized size chart includes S/M, L/XL, and 2XL/3XL.

This is a cover-up, not a sheet for lying on. In the sauna cabin, you sit on your own towel anyway, as required by most saunas’ rules – a women’s sauna pareo serves a different purpose. It covers your figure on the way between the changing room, shower, and cabins, provides a sense of privacy in mixed relaxation areas, and eliminates the question "what should I wear here?".

The biggest difference compared to classic waffle kilts: our sauna pareo doesn't tie. The velcro fastens the edges above the bust, the elastic band holds the top edge in place, and the fabric – ribbed terry knit brushed on the inside – drapes softly around the body instead of sticking out like stiff waffle fabric.

The collection was created as part of Oh!Zuza's line of sauna textiles – we design and sew it ourselves, with women in mind who treat sauna as a regular part of their week, not an occasional attraction. If you're preparing for a full visit to the sauna, the women's sauna outfit also includes a turban and a bathrobe – we write about both below.

Sauna towel dress: how to wear it

Our sauna towel dress can be worn in two ways. First – as a dress: the pareo is put on under the arms, the velcro fastens the edges above the bust, and the elastic band encloses the top edge and keeps the whole piece at the neckline level. Second – as a kilt: the same pareo is wrapped around the hips, the velcro closes it at the side or front at waist height, and the lower part of the knit falls to the knee.

In the dress version, the pareo covers the bust, stomach, and thighs to knee-length – it works well in the relaxation area, on a lounger, at the water bar, and on the way between cabins. In the kilt version, it exposes the upper body, so it makes sense where women go to the sauna topless or in a swimsuit, and want to cover their hips and thighs in transit.

The same garment serves two functions without any modification – there are no extra belts, extra fasteners, or a second set of straps. Only the height at which the velcro fastens changes. Models with straps provide additional support in the dress version, while strapless models are more versatile – they easily convert from a dress to a kilt and back.

A pocket sewn on the front right side holds small items: a hair tie, a headband, a locker key. This is a detail that is missing in most waffle kilts – and turns out to be surprisingly practical when moving between the sauna rooms.

Velcro and elastic instead of tying

The construction of the velcro sauna pareo relies on two elements: a velcro tape sewn along one of the upper edges and an elastic band running around the upper hem. The velcro connects the two edges of the fabric, while the elastic band tightens the upper edge to the body. Nothing comes undone, slips off, or requires adjustment after every bend.

How to tie our sauna towel – you don't tie it at all. This is the simplest difference compared to classic cotton sauna pareos, which usually have two long edges to be tied in a knot above the bust or on the hip. The knot loosens, needs adjusting every few minutes, and the fabric slips after a damp shower. Velcro doesn't have this problem – it grabs the edge once and holds until you unfasten it yourself.

A towel with elastic for the sauna is the second part of the same solution. The elastic sewn along the top edge (in models with straps - at the back, in the strapless model - all around) adapts to the chest and closes what the velcro doesn't cover. Thanks to this, the cover-up stays in place even when you sit, stand up, reach for a bottle of water, or adjust your turban.

Two cut lines: strapless – works well as a kilt and a dress for women who want free shoulders; with straps – thicker, flat straps provide additional support in the dress version and eliminate the risk of slipping when moving. In both cases, the velcro and elastic work the same way.

Ribbed terry, not waffle

Our women's sauna pareos are sewn from ribbed cotton terry knit brushed on the inside, in our own sewing workshop in Łódź. Not waffle, not flat terry towel, not linen. The ribbing runs vertically, the inner side is soft and plush due to brushing, the outer side is smoother and more structured. Composition: 80% cotton, 20% polyester.

Waffle – the most common weave in sauna kilts – has its advantages: it dries quickly and is lightweight. But it can be rough against the skin, and when worn as a dress, it stiffly sticks out from the body. Ribbed terry with a brushed interior drapes differently: it falls softly, clings, doesn't scratch the armpits and neckline. The polyester in the composition is responsible for the durability of the knit and for the fact that the cut does not stretch in washing – 100% cotton in the same cut would lengthen and lose its elasticity.

The absorbency is satisfactory for the role the pareo plays – it covers the body after a shower, absorbs residual moisture from the skin and hair, and dries on a hanger in the steam bath or home bathroom. However, it does not replace a large bath towel, which you sit on in the cabin. These are two different things used in parallel.

Color: white. One, no shade variations. White has the advantage that it can be washed at a higher temperature than colors and that it will forgive more than light beige or powdery pink – you often return from the sauna dewy, sweaty, and with remnants of essential oils on the fabric.

Sizes from S/M to 2XL/3XL

The Oh!Zuza sauna pareo is available in three double sizes: S/M, L/XL, and 2XL/3XL. This is an oversized solution – one size covers two numbers of classic sizing, and the loose fit of the pareo allows for a tolerance of a few centimeters in either direction without losing functionality.