NEW LINEN

This season we’re introducing three new linen lines, each woven in a distinct way. I thought it would be nice to break down the differences between them beyond just the colors. The way that a fabric is woven not only affects visual patterns, but can drastically alter the way it feels and drapes.

The first is the updated SIMONE, a very clean and simple linen program. SIMONE natural is the natural color of the flax, neither bleached nor dyed. In fact, the color of this line will vary depending on the weather; when there’s lot of rain it’s a darker hue. The rain level on the flax affects many of our linens, as we often use natural, with or without a color, because natural is beautifully uneven and gives a depth of color that can’t be achieved otherwise (see LOUIE natural and EDITH natural, for example.)

SIMONE white has the natural color of the flax bleached, so that it looks wonderfully clean. The SIMONE program will always look very relaxed and carefree in your bedroom, and choosing the white color can tie it in with a crisper look if so desired. SIMONE midnight is linen dyed a rich dark blue. SIMONE grey is a mix of the above; the warp is natural and the weft is dyed grey, for a cooler-toned version of SIMONE natural.

The weave for the SIMONE program is the most basic technique with 1x1 threads crossing over each other, making the fabric identical on both sides and constant throughout. This also makes SIMONE among our most durable programs. It is yarn-dyed, which means that the threads are dyed prior to weaving (true for all three of these programs.) This creates a deeper, longer lasting color. SIMONE is as natural and straight-forward as you can get while still having a relaxed, comfortable bed!

CAMILLE lilac is a new color introduced to our CAMILLE line. Most visible in this colorway is the chevron/herringbone pattern of this fabric; it’s woven so that the two colors of the thread (lavender and grey) create a small zigzag pattern. This way, the topside of the fabric appears more lavender, while the bottom side is greyer and each side is a reverse of the other. It’s not a traditional herringbone, but more of a slight wavy pattern that makes the tones intricate and subtle. This weaving pattern also makes the linen feel softer and smoother, much like a sateen weave does, because the threads alternate up to three at a time, making it less bumpy.

JULES is a linen jacquard, which uses three colors of thread to create the visible pattern. Like CAMILLE, it has inverse top and bottom sides. After I draw the pattern design, it is translated into punchcards that make the loom produce the pattern. The jacquard loom was actually an important precursor to the modern computer which used the same punchcard technologies about a century later! It is the most complex form of weaving and makes for a very visually interesting fabric. JULES is our version of a floral done in our simple, geometric way.

All three programs come washed for a softer, more relaxed feel. As always, our linen comes from Lithuania. The more you use these beautiful linens, the softer they will become. They are made to last in fabric, color, and style.