The Linen Economy

During Dutch Design Week 2024, the Creative Industries Fund and CLICKNL presented the results of the open call Innovatielabs. This call was aimed at innovative and experimental projects that address current challenges in the cultural and creative sectors and increase the resilience of the sector. Part of the exhibition is The Linen Project with The Linen Economy.

Together with partners Koninklijke Auping, Enschede Textielstad, New Tailor, and the New Economy Chair (from Avans University of Applied Sciences Centre of Expertise Wellbeing Economy and New Entrepreneurship), Crafts Council Nederland is working on the development of a transparent collective value chain. The project builds on the Shared Stewardship initiative, involving people from diverse backgrounds, including graphic designers, textile researchers, designers, and end-users who want to engage more consciously with the clothing they wear.

Five experienced stewards joined the working group tasked with making Shared Stewardship transferable. The result is an initial design for the development of a collective linen value chain, in which partners, end-users and the creative industry respect each other while also contributing to sustainability.

Photography: Eduard van Wijk

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The Linen Project

The Linen Project explores and revitalizes the economic viability of small-scale local flax cultivation and linen production in the Netherlands.

Collective Value Chain

Our goal is to build capacity for growing flax and linen production in the Netherlands, with each phase of the chain adding value.

Shared Stewardship

The self-organizing participation model emphasizes knowledge development and transfer, shared responsibility, and active citizenship, using the commons as a foundation.