While the beauty and benefits of linen fabric are known throughout the world, less of us may be familiar with the important position that linen occupies in Lithuania. Linen is made from the fibers of the flax plant, and because flax is grown almost everywhere in the world – from North America to Africa – it is easy to talk about linen without discussing its unique place within the specific societies and regions that produce it. Baltic Flax is one of the most celebrated producers of linen in Lithuania, and their company is part of the fabric’s rich history in Northern Europe.
Linen is celebrated for its versatility. Used not only to create lovely, breathable apparel for warm climates, it is also frequently featured in interior design and home décor as tablecloths, bedspreads, and curtains. It is durable yet lightweight, and is dyed and printed in a full spectrum of attractive hues and patterns.
Lithuania, located in Northern Europe, has a long and rich history of flax and linen production. Records indicate that flax was grown on this territory as early as 2000BC, when the Baltic tribes occupied the land. During the Medieval era, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was one of the largest countries in all of Europe, and
linen was the primary fabric used in the population’s apparel – worn by peasants, as well as warriors under their heavy armor.
Linen even found a place in local folk songs, an important element of Lithuanian heritage. Historically, special songs were sung to mark the harvesting of flax and the
weaving of linen, and the fabric is even frequently mentioned in lullabies and songs about marriage – a reference to the linens that typically filled a bride’s hope chest.
Hush my girl, hush my rue,
Sleep my (dear) dawn, sleep my (dear) flower.
I will spin a linen slightly,
I will weave a cloth for you,
I will weave the white clothes,
I will sew a shirt, I will sew a shirt.
Oh, my daughter will grow up, will grow up
As a beautiful lime-tree.
Oh, I will cover the dusty highroad
By a thin clothes for you, my treasure
Into an alien country(side).
Hush my (dear) girl, hush my (dear) dawn,
Sleep my (dear) sun, sleep my (dear) cherry tree.
-Liuliai Dukrelį, Lithuanian folk lullaby
Flax is such an important part of Lithuanian culture that there is even an annual festival held in its honor. The Festival of Flax features artisans and weavers from all over the country who come to the village of Budraiciai to display their wares and demonstrate their techniques.
Years ago, certain areas of the country developed special traditions associated with the harvesting of flax. For example, farmers in one village waited for a very specific set of conditions before seeding their flax for the season. They would wait for that perfect moment at the end of May when the junipers were dusty, fields were dappled in the light of a Gibbous moon, and the wind blew from the South. Today, the process of producing linen is perhaps a bit less romantic, but captivating nonetheless.
The process of flax production typically begins in March when the seeds are planted. The
plants grow for about 100 days, and are harvested in July. After the flax is harvested, it is seeded. The plant is then retted - a process that involves soaking the flax to break down the tough fibers. Retting occurs naturally as the flax stalks are spread on the cut fields and left to absorb moisture from the rain and dew for a number of weeks. The flax is then separated into long ‘line,’ and short ‘tow,’ and the line – the soft, long fibers – are spun into yarn, which is then woven into linen cloth.
Baltic Flax is a family-owned and operated fabric manufacturer that has been producing linen and flax products of incredible quality for over twenty years. Located in beautiful Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, they represent the latest generation of Lithuanians committed to continuing the tradition of flax production in the country.
They offer a beautiful array of products, including fine
linen fabrics, flax yarn, and even finished apparel and home goods, as well as custom design partnerships with clients. They create incredible pieces that combine the quality and tradition of Lithuanian linen production with the innovation of modern trends in fashion and graphic design.
