Our Blog | Love Linen The Label — Sustainable Fashion

The Sewing Room - Showroom by appointment only 

We have recently rejuvenated our sewing room where our design process begins to include a showroom space for you to try and buy Love Linen in beautiful Broome. Due to current conditions this is by appointment only and we trust that courtesy and appreciation of our bespoke label is considered.

Please text Helen on 0447 560 812 to arrange your appointment.

Our design process takes much love time and care. When we are happy with our designs they are then sent to our Australian Digital Pattern Maker and then to our Australian Accredited Manufacture. Both of these are other Australian small businesses run by amazing and talented women with many years of industry experience. It can even take a year or so before you get to see our designs. Our process is slow and sustainable and our focus is always on quality over quantity made with love.

A Fashion Revolution - A Better 2020

So I Went To (Fast Fashion Shop) and bought 10 Dresses - This is what I found 

(actually didn't but you get the gist)

1. I didn't really love ANY of them but they were cheap
2. I know I'll throw them out in 12 months (if they don't fall apart first)...more landfill
3. I really don't know what they are made from - poly... oh yeah isn't that plastic and microfibers choking our planet?
4. I didn't check to see - ah Made In China under slave labour and a regime that does not support any life - including human life..
5. One has a tag 'Ethically Made in Bali' - mmm why not Australia - ah fair wages... fair in Bali... do they have a fair work?
6. The person that made it worked over 12 hours per day and only got paid less than 40c PER DAY - don't know how they are surviving
7. The fabric was poor quality and cost less than $4 per meter - the processes of producing this cheap fabric are currently polluting the planet and stripping it of natural resources
8. I wonder how long it would take me to sew a dress - I wonder how much I'd like to be paid?
9. How long would I like a dress I really really loved to last? Could I make it last? Would I wear it more than once?

Lets #DoBetter - consider  #WhoMadeYourClothes - what your clothes were made from and how you'd like to WEAR YOUR VALUES 

Simple changes we can take to #DoBetter

- Shop Local - handmade and made with love is best :)

- Shop Made in Australia - for Australians haha, fun aside we need to make our country great again an now is an excellent reminder that we need to be self reliant, it's better for us, our planet and economy  

- Start a Vege Garden - start small and grow - fresh herbs are so so good for you!

- Connect with your community - volunteer, join a local sports club, you will receive the same and more of what you give out 

- Nurture your body and mind - so important, you are your greatest asset, and you are the only one who can take care of you, if you are a giver, to fully give as much as you want you have to give to yourself first - "nobody can pour from an empty vessel" 

- Spend more time in nature - time in nature is beneficial to your health and wellness for so many reasons, it helps keep you connected and grounded and is so good for the heart and soul 

- Re-duce Re-use Re-cycle - just that!

- Eat less meat - there is so much evidence out there that we consume way too much meat than we need and it has horrific effects on the planet, every little bit counts to reduce this impact

- Reduce use of plastic - plastic is no longer fantastic - choose carefully there are many amazing alternatives out there

- Minimalise your life so you can spend time doing what makes you happy - now more than ever we are being reminded what really matters - make these things your new 'forever' priority list - there is something beautiful about a happy simple life don't you think?

Simple yes but the best things in life are x 

We Just Need to Stop - Consider WHO Made My Clothes

This is a great short video expressing some of my own sentiments regarding fast fashion, based in the US yes but on point!

It is just ridiculous that in only the last 10 - 20 years the production of clothing has increase so much to be at the stage of $10 disposable items in the name of 'trends'. We need to be smarter and we need to consider the real cost behind the price tag.

What A Cheap Price Tag Actually Says:

• I was made by someone under slave labour (majority who are woman)
• I was made in poor, unsafe and unfair working conditions
• I was made using poor materials
• I will fall apart within months and add to landfill
• I caused more pollution and negative earth impact 
• I was not made out of love or care for the earth or any human on it

No More Made in China - No More Mass Produced Crap 

These current times are a reminder to the world that it is unsustainable to rely on one power house to essentially control the world.

We know that this is driven purely and simply by price. To give the consumer cheaper options means mass production using lesser materials and slave labour (often illegal) conditions to drive the end price to the consumer down.

This is a wake up call - we can do better and we MUST - for a better future we need to make better choices - this starts NOW - what will you do better?

Linen keeping you Green - How is Linen Made?

From plant to clothing - the use of the flax plant (linum) dates back over 35,000 years, linen being the oldest natural fiber still loved and used today 

Our logo has been created with our simplistic and earth friendly core values in mind 

The motif is based on the flax flower in bud form, a symbol of growth, time and care taken in the process of producing linen fabric and our linen clothing 

As linen is typically grown in the cooler countries of the world, the fibers that come from the flax plat are strong but the process of turning them into linen takes time 

This demonstrates the enduring popularity of linen. Cotton and other synthetic materials are cheaper and easier to make, but people still choose the quality that is only found in linen 

All of our Linen is of the highest quality sourced from Europe, most of this linen is from Belgium   

Reasons To Fall In Love With The Worlds Best Natural Fiber

We seem to be on trend as the world catches on - again to how good quality linen just is

1. The process to produce linen is earth friendly and natural, minimal to no water or pesticides is needed to harvest and minimal chemicals to extract the linen fibers from the flax plant is needed
2. Linen is arguably the most sustainable natural fiber in this way, being made from a plant also makes it eco-friendly and 100% biodegradable 
3. Linen cloth has a very long life, linen is well known to be more than 3 times stronger than cotton, it is also a more structurally sound fiber which means it does not loose shape and is more resistant to abrasions 
4. Linen gets better with every wash, unlike most other fibers which deteriorate linen remains strong and gets softer and silkier with time
5. Linen is known to be the go to summer material, but this works both ways as it is a natural insulator which means due to the natural ability of its fibers, linen keeps you cool when its hot and warm when its cold, it is one of, or if not the best natural fiber to regulate your natural body temperature 
6. Wearing linen makes you stand out in the crowd, linen lovers are known to appreciate a more natural and conscious way of life and well as appreciating a healthier way of living
7. Linen is easy to wear for all occasions, it is not hard to let linen take over your wardrobe, an investment worth savoring for many years to come  

The Lifetime of a Design

At Love Linen we do everything with love and much time, energy and care goes into everything we do. 

We are only small and we only make a few. We are accredited with Ethical Clothing Australia and we are proudly Australian made, owned and operated. 

Each design we hand make in our sewing studio in Broome before is goes to our digital pattern makers. This process alone can take months! Our amazing manufacturer specialises in short runs which means we only produce around 10 - 20 of each design in a carefully chosen linen fabric. 

Quality over quantity is what we are passionate about. We also love producing linen clothing of true style and classic design that you wont see everywhere else. Our designs are unique and limited which make them extra special. 

Although we have many designs sketched - some on paper - many in the mind - we are only a small business and our aim is to grow sustain-ably with our beautiful linen lovers into the future. We wish we could give you it all at once but where is the fun in that! So much happens in the design stage and we even surprise ourselves sometimes! 

If you are reading this, thank you for being part of our journey. Your support and appreciation means the world to us X

Support Local, Support Your Community

There are so many great reasons for shopping local. Festive season sometimes takes a hold however, and massive name brands do take center stage with their massive advertising budgets and the little small businesses can get lost among all the noise. We ask you to look for them, there are so so so many amazing small businesses out there producing amazing products filled with love and supporting earth and world friendly values we all hope to aspire to. 

Gift giving over the silly season can get - well a little silly! How much do we really need? Here is a quick guide to help with a more mindful choice which also supports your local community.

Consumable Products 

Handmade soap, perfume, handmade local foods, local honey, local produce, candles, incense, natural deodorant, skin care and hair care products - products you know will be used or consumed and not wasted - choose locally made, naturally made products  

Reduce Plastic 

Kids toys, clothing, plastic things which have little or no use. Shop for a non-plastic option or a cause contributing to earth friendly sustainable, re-use or re-cycle values. Shopping local makes this choice easy, there are many hand-crafters and local artisans and artists around, plus you a giving a unique gift to both the small business you are supporting and the receiver

Give An Experience 

Struggling to find the perfect gift for that someone who has everything or is difficult to buy for? An experience like a massage (or any self pamper), wine tour, hot air balloon float, couple photo shoot, or something simply that you know they will enjoy will always be well received. Choose a local service or company

Make Something From You 

Hand-make something yourself. Whether it's baking, painting, making jewelry, macrame, renewing something you have as a gift - if you are inclined this is something truly unique you can give as a gift from you. Small items are usually best and remember to shop local for your supplies 

Support a Local Cause

Supporting a local cause always feels good. If you have one you are passionate about, let everyone know instead of gifts, small donations towards this cause is how you are giving this year. Everyone can feel involved and purposeful with their giving with you 

Don't Sweat the Gift Giving

The most important gift you can give anyone is your own happiness and that you share your light with them by giving them your time. Gifts and the pressure of buying for no other reason than an expectation is both stressful and unnecessary. If this is you, explain this to your inner circle, if you need to take a break this year (or any year) know that - this is OK

Say No To Plastic

We are all waking up to the harmful effects of plastics. Plastics are everywhere, even when you don't think they are - you wouldn't want to know how many plastic fibers are released using just one tea bag which you then drink - maybe you do - A single plastic teabag at brewing temperature releases around 11.6 billion microplastic and 3.1 billion nanoplastic particles - American Chemical Society.. 

So what can we do? We all know plastics, such as most plastics found in clothing, take over 200 years to break down.  

It is so inspiring to be on the leading edge of the world at a time when positive change and conscious living is rising - and wow we really need it to. 

More and more of us are opting for a more minimal way of living and being conscious of what we are consuming and how.

Here are some very simple tips of what you can do in everyday life to help the war on plastic, and if you have more suggestions, please leave a comment below.

• No more plastic water bottles - invest in a unique 'forever' refillable bottle, these are not hard to come by and usually are insulating as well for hot or cold liquids

• Use a keep cup or similar for your take away drinks - there are so many beautiful options out there now - even for the wine on the beach in the evening, they're good for that too ;)
• Swap to soap bars and shampoo bars - often not only better for the planet in the long run they can actually become more cost effective for you and if you find an eco-conscious brand - you are also avoiding any adverse chemicals and toxins you wouldn't otherwise consider
• Razors - go back to the old fashioned razor, no more plastic and you just by new blades, some have a much better end result too
• Shop with reusable non-plastic bags - you can even get the little ones for you fruit and vegetables instead of reaching for a plastic bag
• Smarter shopping - opt for items and products wrapped in less or no plastic preferably and glass or tins over plastic bottles - if you look around your home you will be shocked to see how much of what we use is in plastic that doesn't need to be
• A BIG one for us - STOP WEARING PLASTIC - there is a huge movement towards natural fibers now, and, not only due to their biodegradable qualities, their natural properties make them the better option every time