About Linen

By choosing French linen, Garro Éditions supports a group of passionate French manufacturers with a common goal, to reinvigorate the historic savoir-faire of French textiles. The pictures presented have all been taken during visits with those actors.

Flax is a sustainable fibre that produces linen fabric. It is the oldest utilitarian plant and linen is the oldest textile in the world.

Flax first dates back to being used in a linen headpiece in Israel 8500 years ago, roughly 5000 years ago, both the Swiss and ancient Egyptians used flax to produce linen fabric. Linen was also used to wrap mummies in ancient Egypt tombs.

Flax is grown quickly and easily. It protects the soil and water resources: requires few chemicals, and does not require irrigation during its cultivation. It is an annual plant (March-April), with seeds that take 100 days to grow and reach 1 meter when it flowers.

Flax is the strongest natural bast fibre and it is extracted from flax or linseed plants. It is a durable, stiff, crispy fibre with a natural luster and is slightly silky, its colour usually ranges from ivory to light grey.

68% of the world’s flax is produced in Europe with France alone producing 50%. French flax fibre is considered one of the best quality in the world.