Libeco

Libeco, founded as Libeert & Compagnie in 1958, was originally based in the town of Kortrijk, the centre of the flax industry in Belgium. Weaving was then a flax farmers’ speciality, offering a way to earn extra money during the severe winter months when it was too cold to work the land. Traders from all over the world came to buy the much sought-after Flemish flax, the temperate climate ensuring the ideal combination of sun and rain for a large and strong plant. The longer and stronger the fibre, the better the quality of the linen. The best linen craftsmen are still found in Western Europe today: be it farmer, spinner or weaver. The expertise that was perfected during previous centuries spans generations and is still being passed on.

Still run by the fifth generation of the Libeert family, Libeco weaves all of its high-quality linen in Belgium, having moved to its current home in Meulebeke around 150 years ago. Generations of expertise go into every fibre, whilst the fabric is inspected yard by yard and mended by hand where necessary. These products are made with great care, for the product, but also for the environment, with corporate sustainability for a viable future central to the organisation’s vision.

In terms of ecology, linen is a real champion. The plant does not require irrigation and hardly any plant-protection products. The fibre is harvested through natural processes and all other parts of the plant are used for the production of, for instance, food, paper, or insulation material. Spinning and weaving do not have a large impact on the environment and again, all residuals are processed, resulting in zero waste. Libeco’s mill is fully powered by green energy and they only select partners who make high demands in terms of ecology for the finishing of the fabric.