Libeco, a heritage mill in Belgium

Nothing beats pure Belgian linen. Sensuous and sophisticated, it’s made from flax grown in the rich linen belt between Caen and Amsterdam. And if you ask us, nobody does it better than Libeco. This premier linen company has over 160 years of expertise crafting luxury linen. Unsurprisingly, they’ve been the industry leader for decades.

Libeco is behind our Linen Collection. We’ve used their organic linen to bring you an elegant range of natural-dyed blouses designed for everyday wear. Shop the collection, and learn more about why we choose Libeco linen below:

 A Long Legacy

Much has changed. But at its heart, Libeco is still a labour of love by craftsmen who are deeply passionate about top-quality linen.

After 5 generations perfecting their craft, Libeco’s expertise is unrivalled.

Linen With a Sustainable DNA

Naturally, linen is highly environmentally friendly. The flax plant uses a fraction of the resources of other fibres — that’s water, pesticides, and fertiliser — and it even absorbs considerable carbon from the atmosphere.

But Libeco goes above and beyond for the future of our planet. They’re committed to using the most sustainable practices across every stage of production — and they practice what they preach.

Since 2014, Libeco has been officially carbon neutral. To offset any emissions, they actively support an accredited climate project in Uganda. Since then, they’ve continued to slash their emissions yearly. By 2017, for example, their carbon output was 40% less than in 2011.

The textile company also strives to be ‘no waste’. Every part of the flax plant has a purpose, from soap to cattle bedding, insulation, and paper. 

One of linen’s few drawbacks is its high energy use. To counteract that, Libeco’s own solar panels supply about 25% of their energy cost. The rest, since 2013, is made up of renewables like wind energy.

Fabrication Process

Weaving linen is labour intensive and takes great skill. Across generations and using state-of-the-art technology, Libeco has refined their expertise to a fine art.

This is how they do it:

1.   Planting the Flax

Flax is planted in March, after the last of the winter frosts. Libeco grows its flax in Belgium, the Netherlands, and the North of France. The rich soil and mild climate here make for ideal conditions, requiring less irrigation. 

Did You Know? The flax used to make our linen at Má + Lin is cultivated in Normandy, France.

2.   Harvesting the Flax

In July, Libeco’s machines pull the flax (rather than cut it) and lay it out horizontally. Then it goes through a retting process. Microorganisms loosen the fibers, which gives linen its beige colour. Around September, the flax is tied into large, 300kg bales.

3.   Processing the Flax

Next, large rollers break open the flax and separate the fibers from wood particles, or ‘shives’. These shives are used for chipboards or animal bedding.

The ‘hackling’ process starts, in which thousands of pins comb the flax so only the purest flax fiber is left behind.

4.   Spinning

Rollers spin the yarn again to lengthen it. Then, this is wound and spun around a spool, which brings together different flax fibers. These are combined into bigger bobbins.

Did You Know? The yarn used for Má + Lin’s clothing is spun in Szczytno, in the north east of Poland.

5.   Weaving the Linen

Loom machines weave the yarn day in and day out. Mechanics, technicians and weavers monitor the work and the humidity closely. The yarn then goes through quality control checks. Menders inspect and mend any flaws. After this, shearing blades remove any last impurities for a perfect finish.

Now, the fabric can be finished. It goes through processes like washing, dyeing, and bleaching. Lastly, it goes through a final quality control check, to make sure the colour is uniform.