People involved in flax in Japan-linen edition-

Speaking of linen, it is very popular because of its natural texture and high functionality. Because it is a natural material, it is also attractive that it can be used with confidence. Now that it is rich to live a "careful life" without having too many things, it can be said that items made of linen fit the concept exactly, and are featured in many magazines and websites. Introducing the history of linen in Japan and the companies involved in linen making in Japan.

Linen making in Japan

Linen is collected from an annual plant called flax. There are various items using linen such as clothing, bedding, towels, curtains, tablecloths and kitchen accessories, and it can be said that linen can cover all of our lifestyles. Introducing the history of linen in Japan, which has permeated people's lives in this way. By knowing its history, you will feel even more familiar with the linen you are attached to.

Japanese linen history

Flax, which is said to be one of the first plants cultivated by humankind, is a very special plant with a history of 10,000 years. Linen is made from the flax stalks. Linen from a special plant, flax, is called the oldest fiber of mankind, and high-quality, pure white linen was useful in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. It was used for important events such as Shinto rituals in these countries. Also, on June 24, 2010, the Harvard Library Community announced that a 30,000-year-old flax yarn dyed in black and blue-green was discovered in a Georgian cave. It is a big discovery that linen, which was thought to be 10,000 years old, goes back 20,000 years. As you can see, the history of linen is much longer than we think it is. Now, let's turn our attention to Japan.

Takeaki Enomoto, one of the central figures of the Meiji Restoration, introduced linen as a textile plant to Japan for the first time. In 1874, he sent flax seeds to Japan from Russia, where he was appointed as a minister. There is a record that the seeds were cultivated in Sapporo by Kiyotaka Kuroda, the Secretary of the Hokkaido Development Commission. Ten years later, Japan's first linen spinning company "Omi Asahi Spinning Company" (later Teikoku Textile) was established. Since then, linen as an industrial material has undergone rapid development.

At its peak, linen was made from flax cultivated on about 40,000 hectares of land throughout Hokkaido, mainly in the Tokachi region. With the birth of prestigious linen, it is used as tableware for official banquets in the palace, and later as a material for military equipment. The sight of a large amount of flax stalks piled up in the open at the time of harvest is also a feature of Hokkaido.

However, when the demand for linen disappeared due to the defeat, linen disappeared due to the rise of chemical fibers in the 1965s. What is the current situation of linen in Japan? Approximately 40 years after the linen disappeared, people who wanted to revive flax meet at the Hokkaido Doyukai Sapporo Branch Agricultural Management Subcommittee / Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Study Group. While receiving product management and marketing advice from outside, Flax Corporation and farms started the "Hokkaido Flax Renaissance Project". In 2007, flax production area expanded to 8 hectares. In this way, flax cultivation, which was once lost, and product making using linen are now being revived. Here, let's touch on the definition of domestic linen. The fabric woven in Japan is "domestic linen". The raw material does not have to be domestic, but if you use French or Belgian yarn and spin it in China and weave it domestically, it is domestic linen. Now, let me introduce the companies involved in linen making in Japan.

Reference: History of flax cultivation in Hokkaido

Introducing companies involved in linen making in Japan

Linen that is loved by many people of all ages. In recent years, the lifestyle of reviewing one's life has been attracting attention. You can live a comfortable life by stopping disposable items as much as possible and using your favorite items for a long time. Such actions not only lead to a lifestyle that is convincing to oneself, but also stop mass consumption and lead to one action that stops global warming. Linen is very life-friendly and earth-friendly. Here, I would like to introduce five companies involved in linen making.

LINNET

LINNET official website

LINNET is a store that mainly sells original linen fabrics, selected natural materials such as cotton and wool, and clothes patterns and miscellaneous goods. We also accept semi-orders for clothing, bed linen and curtains to your liking.

The shops in Kyoto are unified with a natural interior, and they go very well with linen products.

NHK "Asaichi" will cover how to wash linen clothes, and there is a possibility that you will come across one-of-a-kind items such as hand prints by dyeing artists, and seriously fun linen making is being done.

Linen house

Linen House Official Website

Linen house offers suggestions for making life comfortable for owners who like to collect comfortable materials.

With the motto of commercializing in Japan, we select reliable materials such as stable texture, texture and thread color, and fold the fabric at a safe Japanese factory. The careful work of our skilled staff can be quickly and reliably reflected in our products.

We also offer beautiful embroidery services with clothing such as pajamas and stoles, bed linen and curtains, and initials. Taking advantage of the characteristics of linen that is gentle on the skin, we also handle baby products.

Linen specialty store Caliente

Linen specialty store Caliente official website

Caliente has been designing and manufacturing linen products since 2002. Taking advantage of the essence of linen, which is simple, practical and high quality, it is manufactured at a partner factory in Europe, which is famous for producing high-quality linen.

We handle kitchen linen, bed linen, table linen, towels, aprons, etc. There are various types of linen such as Irish linen, French linen, Belgian linen, Scandinavian and Lithuanian.

Faux & Cachet Inc.

Faux & Cachet Inc. Official Website

Faux & Cachet Inc. is a Lithuanian linen shop. Lithuania is one of the three Baltic states facing the Baltic Sea and is located in the northeastern part of Europe. In Lithuania, where there are few large industries, flax cultivation and linen production are one of the major industries.

Some of Faux & Cachet Inc.'s products are woven using a traditional Lithuanian technique called hackback. Currently, it is temporarily closed, but the resumption of business will be announced on the official website (January 2020).

ATTENTION JAPAN PRODUCTS

ATTENTION JAPAN PRODUCTS official website

ATTENTION JAPAN PRODUCTS fashion brand "Vlas Blomme" pursues to make clothes that will be loved for a long time using only the highest quality linen, and provides a comfortable and stylish mode.

Kortrijk, a Belgian city on the French border, has a history of deciding the market price of linen raw materials and producing the highest quality linen fiber. This Kortrijk was the first step in the birth of Vlas Blomme. The products are packed with craftsmanship, and we are also considering the global market. Due to the development of winter linen, it has been widely featured in the Japanese media and has received high praise from around the world. Vlas Blomme's products, which pursue both material development and design, guarantee peace of mind and quality.

Reference: Features and characteristics of linen fabric

People involved in linen and creating stories

Each company has a story. The story varies depending on the environment you have lived in since you were born, your relationship with the linen production area, your desire to take good care of things, and the owners and companies. When those passions are poured into the linen, it creates an interesting gap that makes the linen natural and relieved when used. Please pick up the linen and make your own story.

Reference: World linen clothing brands