Quality takes time

From our pure linen bedding, to our linen towels, kitchen cloths and aprons, linen is an important fibre on our range. Praised for its breathability and longevity, with a characteristic textural handle that softens over time, it’s no wonder that linen has become loved for the world over.

After searching for the world’s best linen yarn some years ago, we found our supplier Linficio Canapificio Nazionale – an Italian company with an approach to sustainability and commitment to quality that matched our own.

From first seeds to final threads, the production of flax yarn is a time-consuming, multi-step process – one that requires deft skill and knowledge. With 200-years of experience, this is something that Linificio knows all about…

Retting is an important step of this production line. It’s a process that uses moisture to rot away the woody stem that surrounds the fibre.

Traditionally the pulled flax is laid in a field and flipped frequently. It can take up to 2 months for the pectin to break down, depending on the weather.

In much of the world this production process has shifted to water retting which gives a more uniform end product in a quicker time. With water retting, the stems are immersed in slow moving streams. The nutrients from the decaying stalks damage the water and wildlife in the area. This method has now been banned in Europe.

We are glad to say that all our linen is processed the traditional way using natures own resources – air, dew, sun, fungi and plenty of time.

With the request heard for a darker linen colourway, we’ve just launched our lush and luxurious new Space Grey linen bedding.

Yarn-dyed for brilliant colour fastness and pre-washed for a relaxed look.

Once the perfect hue is selected by our design team, there are many steps before it’s ready to jump into bed with.

The yarn is ordered from our Master Spinners Linficio Canapificio.

It takes 100 days to grow the flax in the Flanders region of Europe.

Once pulled from the field it takes a further 100 days to process the raw fibre through retting, scutching and spinning.

It spends 40 days at sea.

It takes 3 days to warp.

2 days to fasten 3960 individual threads onto the loom at our mill in Plettenberg Bay.

30 days to weave 1000 metres (twice the time it takes to weave cotton).

It takes a day for an expert eye to inspect and mend any weaving faults.

5 days for a skilled cutter to measure and cut.

15 days for 4 seamstresses to sew into fitted sheets, flat sheets, duvet covers, and pillowcases.

5 days to wash and steam so it has that relaxed ‘crinkly’ look we know you all love so much.

After all this, there are just 53 sets.

In a world that’s obsessed with quantity rather than quality, we know where we stand.

Without compromise, it takes time.