“When I’m using onsen, it feels like I’m being hugged by the water.”
Rooted in a shared appreciation for bathing cultures, Tekla and Auralee introduce a limited collection inspired by the experience of returning from an onsen on a cold evening.
In conversation with Tekla, Auralee’s founder and designer Ryota Iwai discusses his love for onsen and translating that into the collection.
About onsen
In its purest form, onsen is a naturally occurring hot spring drawn from the Earth, which is rich in minerals and provides health benefits. Onsen doesn’t specifically mean outdoor or indoor, or being in nature or the city, but they’re often synonymous with taking a break or trip. They’re found all over Japan.
The onsen captured for the Tekla / Auralee campaign is about a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Tokyo. The area is very quiet, and known for hiking and climbing. To reach the onsen, you pass through nature to where the hot springs naturally occur.
This onsen is different as there are no surrounding walls, just simple blinds for separation – it’s a free space. Because it’s in the wild, there isn’t a reception area, just a tip box. You use the onsen, and then you can leave a tip. The water is milky white, very soft on the skin and soothing.
Onsen etiquette
One of the most important rules is to bathe yourself before entering the onsen. It’s necessary to clean your body first, out of respect. The water isn’t meant for cleaning; it’s there to heat and heal your body. There’s also a bathing area where people sit on small stools to clean themselves, unlike standing showers. It’s polite to keep the water to yourself as much as possible and then enter the onsen once you’re fully clean.
It’s also considered impolite to dip your hair or towel into the water. That’s why you’ll often see people placing their towels on their heads. It’s a very specific part of the Japanese onsen experience, maintaining the purity of the water.
This is where this onsen-size towel gets used. I don’t really know why they are that size, but it’s such an ingrained image in my mind. When you go to any onsen in Japan, you’ll always find these towels. In the past, especially around New Year, it was common for small businesses to give out towels with their logos as gifts. So, that size has become forever associated with onsen.
For the Tekla / Auralee onsen towel, we wanted to stay true to that. It’s the perfect size – not too big or too small. It’s easy to use, doesn’t take up too much space, and can dry quickly.
An act of self-care
Onsen is linked to my childhood, which is probably why I love it so much. My family enjoyed onsen, so from an early age, holiday meant onsen. Whether it was summer or winter, it always involved going somewhere with an onsen.
What I love most about onsen is not just bathing, but that part of the day. It’s what I look forward to most. And when you’re able to enjoy that moment in a natural setting, it’s even better. There’s mental healing in addition to the physical benefits.
With the work I do, where I’m constantly thinking about clothing and surrounded by it all day, going to an onsen is a complete, physical separation from that. You’re not wearing clothes, you don’t have access to your phone – it’s the best way to disconnect and relax. Even in public baths, where others are around, nobody’s wearing clothes.
It’s about taking a moment to relax. It’s a moment I can take for myself.
Designing the collection
When designing pieces for the collection, we imagined the process of going to the onsen and back. Often, you have a main lodging and you’ll tour the different onsen in the area. Typically, you’ll wear a yukata between these bathing spots. We wanted to create a modern version of that.
When I’m using onsen, it feels like I’m being hugged by the water. When considering the collection, we wanted to capture that feeling – the idea of being hugged and taking the onsen’s warmth with you.
The collection starts with towels to dry you, a base layer of sleepwear, and then outerwear. To top it off, we included cashmere socks and a hat to maintain warmth.
The longer, dual-logo canvas label on the onsen towel was added as a personal touch. It’s a nod to the collaboration but also has practical uses. In Japan, many public baths – onsen or sento – have saunas too. People often wear sauna hats to protect their hair. I wanted to create a towel that could be used instead. It’s multifunctional – you can use it as a hood or a scarf. And it’s easy to take between the onsen and the sauna.
