SPREI

One hundred participants follow the industrial process from flaxseed to linen SPREI (bedspread in Dutch).
SPREI is part of The Linen Project and offers insight into the journey from raw material to textile – with a focus on sustainability, craftsmanship and local production chains. From sowing flax at the organic farm De Hooge Polder in the Biesbosch, to harvesting, retting, breaking, scutching, spinning and finally weaving the linen. Participants are invited to attend site visits and webinars, gaining insight into the decisions and challenges along the way. Together, we explore – both online and offline – how flax transforms into a high-quality and meaningful local textile product.

Relational Chain

The Linen Project (2018) aims to establish a relational production chain, a model in which all parties involved in the production chain – from farmers and producers to designers and consumers – are closely connected and collaborate. This contrasts with contemporary linear chains, where each link often operates in isolation from the others. In a relational chain, the focus is on transparency, collaboration and shared responsibility. It’s not just about making a product, but about the process behind it: the choices made, the people involved and the impact this has on both people and the environment.

For the textile industry, such a chain is of great importance, as the sector often faces opaque and complex supply chains. This often leads to issues such as poor working conditions, environmental damage and a lack of knowledge about the origins of products.

Partners

Organic farm De Hooge Polder
Van De Bilt Zaden & Vlas
Safilin Linen & Hemp Spinner
Enschede Textielstad

Final Product

Throughout the growing process, challenges may arise, such as drought or excessive rainfall, which can impact the quality of the flax. These natural variations can result in a textile that is either coarser or finer in texture. By the end of 2026, the SPREI will be completed.