CELC sets up new linen club
24/02/2012
European textile companies who have opted for 100% European traceability and want to offer their clients (brands and consumers) a differentiation tool for a high value-added identity can join the club. Its aims are to promote the upmarket image of European linen, protect and enhance “Made in Europe”, co-finance members’ projects, leverage the flax and linen industry, stimulate interest among retailers and inform the consumer.
To ensure 100% European traceability of finished products, the spinners and weavers in the club must commit to a stringent set of rules and undergo an expert audit.
For spinners, one condition is that at least 98% of their scutched fibre is of EU origin and dew-retted, a process in which flax plant stalks are spread in fields so that the action of bacteria, sun, air, and dew produces fermentation, dissolving much of the stem material surrounding the fibre bundles. Spinners also have to guarantee that 100% of production is carried out within Europe or by a fully-owned subsidiary located in one of the nations specified in the rules of the pan-European cumulation system of free trade agreements, which includes Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and several other North African countries. Finally, no trading is permitted in yarn originating outside the EuroMed zone.
Eight European spinners have satisfied the membership requirements so far: Cariaggi, Iafil, Linificio E Canapificio Nazionale and Toscano from Italy; Spinnerij Lambrecht and Stanislas Cock from Belgium, Hungaro-Len from Hungary and Safilin from France.
For weavers and knitters the production unit must be located within Europe and at least 55% of the total annual quantity of linen yarn or fabrics they purchase must be European. Twenty-five European weaver members of CELC have signed up to become members and seven have had their membership approved already. They are: Deltracon, Libeco-Lagae and Nelen & Delbeke from Belgium; Cotonificio Albini and Fratelli Graziano from Italy; Lemaitre Demeestere from France and Lapuan Kankurit from Finland.
Club Masters of Linen is led by Marie Demaegdt, head of the textile department at CELC for 10 years. As an expert in textile innovation and development, Ms Demaegdt also participates in trend meetings at leading textile trade fairs.
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