Is flax a sustainable choice for trims?
Known for its extensive use in home textiles (known as “linens”), over 70% of Linen is used in fashion. With France as a leader in the production of flax, plants often travel to China for textile processing. It is no wonder flax is the choice for household textiles. It features remarkable advantages being a very durable fibre, much more resistant to wear and sunlight, it absorbs dye much quicker and can dry faster than cotton.
Flax is a natural fiber that comes from the stem of a plant, and Linen is made out of flax. Thanks to being a fiber with less harmful environmental impact, it is also considered one of the best choices for a sustainable agenda, and for a good reason. Flax seeds are being harvested without using fungicides, insecticides or petroleum-based fertilizers. And for that reason, workers avoid exposure to harmful chemicals.
Like wool, flax has been known for its properties within thermoregulation for centuries, supporting heat in cooler weather and cooling in a warmer climate. Thanks to its anti-bacterial and hypo-allergenic properties, flax is the best choice for people with sensitive skin and allergies. And these properties have been known and used since the Middle Ages, although older traces of flax fibers have been found through archaeological discoveries.
"Did you know the US paper currency contains 25% linen and 75% cotton?
A fiber that is worth more than a dime
Interesting fact – the American dollar bill or the entire US paper currency contains 25% linen and 75% cotton. How cool is that?
Several brands have chosen Linen in their conscious choices, Eileen Fisher, Beaumont Organic, Two Days Off, just to name a few. These labels have a solid conscious agenda with zero-waste or carbon-neutral objectives at their core.
If you want to know more about alternative choices for your trims, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Sources: Flax (Linen) | Materials Index | CFDA, Organic Linen | EILEEN FISHER, Our Sustainable Story – Beaumont Organic, A Conscious Consumer's Guide To Fibers: Part 2 – Two Days Off, Currency Facts | U.S. Currency Education Program (uscurrency.gov)