ABOUT LINEN
“And the sun shone down on the flax, and the rain clouds watered it, and that was as good for it as it is for little children to be bathed and kissed by their mothers - it makes them look so much prettier, and so it did the flax.”
“The Flax” by H.C. Andersen
Photo: Jeff Hargrove
Photo: Jeff Hargrove
WASHED BY THE RAIN, KISSED BY THE SUN
As in the fairytale of H.C. Andersen, the textiles from Karin Carlander are woven of linen spun from naturally grown flax, washed by the rain and kissed by the sun.
The water requirements for growing the certified flax used in Textile No. are met entirely by natural rainfall. Growing cotton both conventionally and organically, requires about 7,100 liters of water per 1 kg harvested, very often done by irrigation.
A comparative analysis of the life cycle of a linen shirt and a cotton shirt shows that the environmental impact of a cotton shirt is up to seven times that of a linen shirt.
Source: Masters of Linen
MASTERS OF LINEN
Karin Carlander carries the Masters of Linen® certification, which is awarded to carefully chosen farmers, spinners, weavers and knitters who have committed to working with 100 % European produced linen, traceable in every step from the sown seed to the final fabric. The textiles from Karin Carlander are woven of linen spun from flax naturally grown and retted on the ground fields stretching from Caen in France, through Belgium to Amsterdam. In this area all water requirements are met naturally by rainfall. Flax from the area are fibres of the highest quality and the farming creates no waste, as everything from the crop is being used. The work in the entire process from growing, spinning, dyeing and weaving is done by highly skilled, educated and local craftsmen.
“Flax is the only vegetal fibre used in the textile industry that is native to Europe.”
Photo: Rigetta Klint
Photo: Rigetta Klint
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF TEXTILE NO. LINEN
100 % biodegradable.
Watered entirely by rainfall.
Linen yarn is only one of many products made from the flax crop. This leaves no waste left after harvesting.
When designing Textile No. textiles we use every bit of material in the design process.
Linen absorbs dye easily and therefore uses fewer resources in the dyeing process.
All the manufacturing processes for Textile No. linen are done within Europe. This means less transportation between the different processes.
If correctly cared for a Textile No. product can last for a long time. The linen only gets more beautiful with use.
ABILITIES AND USE
Linen is highly absorbent and dries quickly after use. It absorbs up to 20% of its own weight without feeling damp.
Linen is an intrinsically hypo-allergenic, anti-bacterial type of fabric. Linen was previously used for bandages and to reduce irritations.
A flatwoven textile takes up less space in a laundry machine, making room for more items per wash. This saves resources and time in the laundry process.
WASH AND CARE
Karin Carlander textiles are made of 100% natural linen certified by Masters of Linen®. When correctly cared for linen conserves all its qualities even after numerous washings.
WASH
For maximum absorbency soak the textile in cold water overnight before first wash.
Never use a soap or detergent with brightener.
Pre-treat any stains prior to washing. Do not use bleach.
Machine wash: Always use a gentle spin cycle, with a high water level. Textile No. linen can be washed at 60° if needed, but we recommend lower temperatures to save energy in the laundry process.
Please do not pour detergent or soap directly on the textiles. Add it into the soap-drawer of the laundry machine where the detergent and water will be correctly blended.
DRY
Please line-dry Textile No. linen. Stretch the selvedges a bit before hanging.
Do not tumble dry the textiles as this will break the linen fibers.
IRON
Ironed while damp using maximum temperature or a steam iron.
If needed, sprinkle water on the fabric to avoid stubborn wrinkles
To make the linen shine and extra crisp cold mangle the textiles while it is moist.