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FRESH THINKING: VILEBREQUIN & LINEN

24 August 2020 - Collections

Linen is among the world’s most ancient, noble, and durable natural textiles. But it’s rapidly gaining ground as a hero fabric due to its remarkable properties and positive environmental impact. Not to mention its elegance that only increases with a few extra creases…
Perhaps linen isn’t as stiff as you thought!

In an IGTV exclusive, Vilebrequin Collection Director Martine Moutet
takes Victoire Satto from France’s N° eco-conscious magazine The Good Goods
inside our (extensive!) linen closet. Don’t miss out.

MADE BY TIME.

How much time goes into a Vilebrequin linen garment? Perhaps a better question would be: how much sunshine? Whether it’s your favorite Bermuda short or that oversized shirt you’ve been “borrowing" for the last few years (not sorry!), Vilebrequin linens start life in sustainably managed flax fields spread locally across Normandy, Belgium and the Netherlands. They need a coastal climate to flourish, unsurprisingly!

It takes 100 days for flax to reach maturity. From field to yarn, a further 5 steps are required before linen can begin to pass through the fingers of master spinners. Throughout the entire process, all it takes to produce 140000+ tons of European flax annually are rainwater, sunshine, and morning dew. Zero irrigation. Zero waste. Zero GMOs.

If the words “retting”, “scutching” or “hackling” mean nothing to you, head on over to ilovelinen.uk or follow @wearelinen on Instagram to take a deep dive into the storied
know-how surrounding linen, a fabric so poetic it requires its own language.

“The slightest gesture seems so simple. But it demands enormous amounts of work.
Our job at Vilebrequin is to respect that work.” - Martine Moutet,
Vilebrequin Collection Director

WATCH THE INTERVIEW NOW

DURABLE BY NATURE.

The time it takes to manufacture linen is nothing compared to the time it lasts.
Hands up if you’ve been caught wearing a Vilebrequin jersey linen polo shirt on rotation around the office or all weekend? We have. That’s the beauty of linen: durability. Lightweight and breathable it may be. But in terms of resistance its stress load is only second to steel.

As we keep looking for ways to innovate, implementing more sustainable fabrics and practices at Vilebrequin, there’s one thing we aim to stay true to: making clothes you can hold on to and have a real affinity with (your kids, too!). Ultimately, sustainability isn’t just about quality; it’s about personality. About how a fabric, color, or shape makes you feel.

“In many ways, Vilebrequin has been sustainable for years.
The more you wear a garment, the more you love it. And vice versa.” -
Martine Moutet, Vilebrequin Collection Director

ALL THE LATEST LINENS

FOR SUMMER. AND THE REST OF THE YEAR.

Linen has long been considered the ultimate warm-weather fabric — and you won’t hear any arguments from us on that front! Naturally thermo-regulating and moisture-wicking, linen is known to promote relaxation and sleep. So perfect for anyone who loves a poolside siesta, really.

But as much as Vilebrequin embodies vacation and summer, when it comes to linen we take a less biased view. Because comfort and elegance are relevant all year through. We’ve become experts at elevating everyday basics, taking them in unexpected directions. Even the gym.

“We no longer distinguish between smart and cool, or have the same traditional notion of women and men’s wardrobes. Forget the rules: what people really want is to feel comfortable.”
Martine Moutet, Vilebrequin Collection Director

SHOP YEAR-ROUND ESSENTIALS

SWIMMING IN LINEN.

At Vilebrequin, linen has been on the scene since the beginning. House archives contain examples of swimwear cut from linen cloth dating back almost 50 years! Since the early 70s, we’ve been in a love affair with this symbol of summer on the French Riviera. Glamorous! But always playful. Linen loves color almost as much as we do. The bolder, the better!

Attitudes to linen have changed a lot since then (a few wrinkles never hurt anybody!), as have the possibilities for widening its appeal. By playing with innovative knitting techniques, Vilebrequin Studios have been able to create ultra-cool, fluid dresses, polos and tees using jersey linen: a fabric that’s stretchier, less prone to creasing, and drapes beautifully on the skin.

It’s the closest you’ll come to wearing nothing without getting arrested.

SHOP LINEN JERSEY

CARING FOR YOUR LINEN.
INSIDER TIPS.

Like any natural garment, Vilebrequin linens are never 100% perfect. And who would want them to be? Their flecks, flaws and wrinkles are what gives them a sense of character.

In order to care for your linen properly — and get even more mileage from it! — we recommend hand washing or a cool machine cycle, wringing and stretching out your garment properly (ask yourself “What would grandma do?”) and, most importantly: ironing.

“Ironing linen after each wash straightens back out the fibers, meaning your linen will
last you even longer. Conscious dressing doesn’t stop with the purchase.
It’s what you do with it afterwards.”
Martine Moutet, Vilebrequin Collection Director

You heard us. Go fetch your boards.

CATCH THE INTERVIEW IN FULL
ON VILEBREQUIN IGTV