The price of our patterned linens has increased by £1.50 per metre with the arrival of our Steading collection. Eventually this increase will be in effect across our full linen range and we wanted to take a minute to talk about what these price increases mean for you, for our linen and for the industry.
THE CROP
Flax is a European crop, until recently only grown in France, Belgium, Luxembourg or The Netherlands. It is harvested and processed naturally here; the power of the sun, the rain and the fertile soil nurtures a quality fibre. The unique climate in this area means the flax can be ‘retted’ slowly and organically: the crops are spread over the fields and left for several weeks. The dew and rain work their magic breaking down the crop and separating the useable fibres that can eventually be spun into yarn. Our linen is made using the long, unbroken fibres that become the long, soft yarns that make up our signature fabrics.
THE COMMUNITY
Carolyn first visited The Flax Belt in 2013. In these areas small mills dedicated to weaving linen have become small towns dedicated to weaving linen. It’s a community. From our core 185 Linen range - launched in 2013 - to today’s Steading collection, 100% of our linen fabric has come from mills, from communities, who have been weaving linen for 100 years or more. We have built strong relationships with teams and individuals that have allowed us a unique freedom with our design process. Our linen collections are a collaboration of their historic skill and machinery and our design expertise.
THE COST
As these teams face additional costs, so do we. We have absorbed additional costs until now, but it’s become necessary for us to share this price adjustment with you. We would rather raise our prices than compromise our values or these relationships.
The key factors affecting the price of our linen are:
- Increased global demand on a limited number of farms in Europe
- Compliance costs for meeting current EU sustainability and traceability standards
- Rising energy costs at the mill
- EU minimum wage increases
When you buy our linen you support European flax farmers, traditional mills and linen’s heritage in Europe.
IT'S TRACEABLE: From The Flax Belt, to us and to you.
IT'S COMPLIANT: Meeting EU environmental standards to ensure natural and sustainable flax farming for years to come.
IT'S REGULATED: You’re providing a living wage for normal people, like you, who can get sick or take a family holiday when they want to.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL: Not just because of the design and the quality but because of the history spun into each yarn.
Of course we want to keep designing and selling our linen. But it’s also important to us that you know where your money goes when you invest in a quality cloth like this. We hope that the story of your Merchant & Mills linen makes every wear, every compliment, every new project just that little bit better. Thank you so much to all of you for your support over the years.
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