Luxury is no more noisy. The age of huge logos and hyper-trendy, over-the-top styles has continued to be replaced by a more low-key but much more intentional attitude to style. Today, the people who believe in the finer things are turning inwards, to the feel of a fabric, the social and environmental history of the manufacturing process, and the work-story of the hands.

In no other part can this change be more evidently seen than in our resort and summer wardrobes. As the market continues to be filled with synthetic fibers and inexpensive cotton productions, those who are more of a fashionable consumer are back to the oldest, most dependable comfort cloth in human history, pure natural high grade linen.

But not all linen is created equal. The initial step on curating a wardrobe based on lasting is figuring out the distinction between industrial, mass-processed cloths and heritage weaves.

The Sensory Difference of Baltic Flax

You must know how to appreciate the real linen and you need to know where it comes. The flax plant can grow in the special climate of Northern Europe where damp, cool soil of the Baltic region grows some of the strongest and longest flax fibers of the world.

As you place your hand on a piece of clothing that is produced of true Baltic flax you can instantly feel the difference. It possesses a calming weight and a slightly bumpy and rich texture on the hand which a linen produced in large quantities will never have. The substance is naturally long and strong so that the garment does not use chemical softs to attain the drape nor does it use synthetic blends. It breathes freely, maintains the natural temperature and above all it has a special type of physical memory. It is not tired, but becomes less softer, more supple, more beautiful with each wash.

It is this commitment to heritage textile mechanisms that is creating conscious consumers who are turning to independent productions, artisanal brands like Sonfre[1]. This family-run workshop is located in Kaunas, Lithuania, an ancient linen-weaving area, and it does not follow the assembly-line approach[2]. On the contrary, they make their own small, custom order batches of garments based on the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified flax where no chemical or industrial waste was produced in the course of this production[3].

The Architecture of the Drape

In high-end design, a garment is everything in terms of how it is gently suspended on the body. Tailoring is also often achieved with the help of hard, synthetic interlinings where a form is forced, whereas slow fashion completely depends on the natural form of the material.

That poses a special dilemma to designers, particularly in regard to seasonal wearability. This is played out in the increasing demand of high quality and elegant linen summer dresses among women[4]. Instead of synthetic stretch or tight zippers to stretch over the body, these styles apply the natural bias and weight of Baltic flax in fluid shift cuts, loose scoop necklines, and relaxed proportions.

The outcome is a wearable that easily goes through the day. Designed using plain leather slides and a woven bag, it has a sort of carefree refinement to the morning walk or lazy brunch. Combined with fine gold jewelry and low heels, it readjusts right at the moment of an intimate evening dinner.

The True Luxury of Longevity

The luxury of time is the luxury of true luxury in a moving too fast world. It can be found in clothes that do not need to be replaced with new ones each season, and in clothes that narrate a tale of a thoughtful, meaningful handiwork[3]. When we wear works that pay attention to both the craftsman and nature, we are not merely dressed up but rather we are engaged in a pause of tradition that is entirely pre-temporal.