From seed to fabric
Linen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant.
Linen is laborious to manufacture, but the fiber is very absorbent and garments made of linen are valued for their exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather. Many products are made of linen : aprons, bags, towels (swimming, bath, beach, body and wash towels), napkins, bed linens, tablecloths, runners, chair covers, and men's and women's wear.
90% of European linen is destined for the textile market (60% for clothing, 15% for household linens, 15% for furniture and lifestyle) and already 10% is dedicated to technical opportunities : eco-construction, insulation, automobile parts, sports, equipment, boating, stationery, surgery and health items ...
Flax, with the binomial name Linum usitatissimum, is a member of the genus linum in the family Linaceae. It is a food and fiber crop that is grown in cooler regions of the world. The textiles made from flax are known in the West as linen, and traditionally used for bed sheets, underclothes and table linen. The oil is known as linseed oil. In addition fo referring to the plant itself, the word "flax" may refer to the unspun fibers of the flax plant.
Cultivated at close-proximity, flax is grown in a wide coastal band of Western Europe stretching from the South of Normandy in Northern France through Belgium and the Netherlands : from Caen to Amsterdam. The only plant textile fiber originating on the continent, European flax cultivation cannot be relocated, its excellence is thanks to a unique combination : a natural, damp ocean climate, flax's low thermal density, rich soil and the experience of flax growers.
Ecological & Sustainability
Eco-responsible – Natural - Ecologic
The flax break up crop is renewed in rotation only every 6 to 7 years. The plant lasts this long because it produces an optimal soil quality, thereby increasing returns of the following crop. Flax easily adapts to all types of soil and is appreciated by organic growers since it leaves an excellent quality, weed-free soil at the end of each season.
Flax protects the soil and water resources : it needs 0 irrigation (rain water is enough to grow it) .
The linen culture is certified without synthetic products (no fertilizers, no herbicides, no fungicides and no regulators are prohibited), which ensures a complete absence of residues of these products in the fiber and the soil after harvesting.
1 hectare of flax retains 3,7 tons of CO2
If Tomorrow, all French People bought a Linen shirt instead of a cotton one, the savings would be equivalent to the amount of water drank by the population of Paris in a year !
Packaging
Nelen & Delbeke is using since May 2019 biodegradable packaging to deliver all out goods.
FLAX
A BREATH OF AIR FOR THE PLANET
Every year, The growing of flax in Europe results in the capture of
250.000 tons of CO2.
Or
Equivalent to the CO2 Emissions generated by a Renault Clio car driving
around the World 62.000 Times.
Go Local
Local source
Flax is grown in a wide coastal band of Western Europe stretching from the South of Normandy in Northern France through Belgium and the Netherlands. The only plant textile fiber originating on the continent, European linen cultivation cannot be relocated, its excellence is thanks to a unique combination : a natural, damp ocean climate, flax’s low thermal density, a rich soil and the experience of flax growers.
In the 19th century the flax industry developed around the Leie and has put the region of South-West Flanders on the map. It changed the landscape dramatically and brought the region to an unprecedented prosperity. It is very clear how much the flax has contributed to the historical identity of South-West Flanders.
Today Nelen & Delbeke is proud that all the fabrics from our collection are woven in our weaving mill, based at Kruishoutem. We’re convinced that this contributes to the high quality and service we can offer.