Sixteen was founded on the idea that linen is an heirloom gift to be passed down from generation to generation. Our founder, Hayley, shares her expert tips and what to look out for when shopping for the very best table linen.
As a generation, we’re all coming to terms with the fact that fast fashion really doesn’t serve us. It’s not sustainably produced and it doesn’t last so it ends up being replaced over and over again. This costs more in the long run – for us, for the people making the products, and for the planet.
Conscious consumption, thankfully an ever-growing trend, means thinking about where you spend your money and which products and brands you choose to support. It’s about paring back our homes and our wardrobes to focus on items we truly love – and how that reflects our lives, too. The greenest way to shop is to buy less and buy better. That means rather saving for luxury that lasts – buying fewer, better-made products that are kinder to the earth.
Imagine if the products you use and love most could become heirlooms. Sixteen was founded on the idea that quality linen, appropriately cared for, should last long enough to be passed down to future generations. Here is Hayley’s guide to shopping for linen that lasts a lifetime, not just a season.
1. What is it made of?
Pure linen is not a blend – it is 100% linen. High-quality linen fabric is beautiful, breathable and soft to the touch, yet exceptionally strong. Flax linen has an inherent abundance of natural features such as being non-static, lint-free, hypoallergenic, moisture absorbent, sustainable and biodegradable. It’s also much longer lasting than cotton and cotton blends, ageing beautifully with each wash.
“There are so many table linen products on the market here in South Africa that only last a season. The colours fade. The cotton becomes thin after washing and then tears. The cloth loses its shape. People don’t know any more what a double-walled hem or a perfect mitred corner looks like; what real linen feels like… or how to care for it. This knowledge has been lost – and so has the quality of the products we purchase. I believe in heirloom linen, and I wanted to launch a business that would deliver this to others.”
2. Where does it come from?
The best linen in the world comes from Europe. Here it is sustainably grown, predominantly in Western Europe where the climate is cool and the soil moist. In these perfect conditions, the linen yarn grows thick and strong.
“I want the things I buy to last, but I also want to know that the items I cherish have been made in a conscious manner, that they are made by someone who makes things to last, made without the use of harmful chemicals.”
3. Who made it and how?
It’s simple, really: you don’t want to support anyone running a dodgy factory where the focus is quantity, not quality. It’s obviously bad for workers and the environment, but it also means you miss out on the expert craft that smaller manufacturers can provide. This attention to detail is what makes the product last, and therefore sustainable.
“The way an item is finished plays a key role in its longevity. At Sixteen, our suppliers run a family business which has been going for many generations. They are so passionate about linen and the construction of table linen and they’ve passed so much of this knowledge and passion onto me. Together we discuss the design and fabrication of each piece, and the emphasis is always on longevity – each stitch is considered to ensure the linen will last. We even purposefully avoid some new “fashionable” stitching because if it comes loose, it’s impossible to mend.
I see a lot of table linen on the market today with small, thin, single-hems. They are cheaply constructed and make the napkin or cloth wrinkle and pucker. A double-walled hem gives the napkin a heavier finish and a neater, cleaner look. Plus, it will last much longer because the thread holding the raw edge is doubly encased.”
Sixteen’s linen is not just a beautiful product to look at. Our linen exemplifies a more conscious and considered way of living. The quality of the linen fabric ensures it will last an exceptionally long time and the strength and durability of the natural fibres means there is no need to replace it.
“Change your tablescape with accessories and different coloured napkins, but invest in one beautiful tablecloth – it is worth it. I only have one tablecloth that fits my table and every time I lay it out, I love it even more. It’s a Candlestick White tablecloth from The Occasion Collection and it is honestly so beautiful.”
The official Sixteen guide to linen Part one: Know your origins Being a more conscious consumer is about making informed decisions when choosing the products and brands you support. We’ve created this series of articles to help you choose only the best linen for your home. Materials do matter and we should all arm ourselves [...]
The Do’s and Don’ts of cleaning your table linen. The flowers are blooming and sunshine-filled summer days are heading our way – now is the time to Spring clean and get your table linen prepared for the season of entertaining. Quality linen is an investment – something that’s worth caring for to ensure it retains [...]
Buy less. Buy better.
Sixteen’s Table Linen is Made to Last.
Sixteen was founded on the idea that linen is an heirloom gift to be passed down from generation to generation. Our founder, Hayley, shares her expert tips and what to look out for when shopping for the very best table linen.
As a generation, we’re all coming to terms with the fact that fast fashion really doesn’t serve us. It’s not sustainably produced and it doesn’t last so it ends up being replaced over and over again. This costs more in the long run – for us, for the people making the products, and for the planet.
Conscious consumption, thankfully an ever-growing trend, means thinking about where you spend your money and which products and brands you choose to support. It’s about paring back our homes and our wardrobes to focus on items we truly love – and how that reflects our lives, too. The greenest way to shop is to buy less and buy better. That means rather saving for luxury that lasts – buying fewer, better-made products that are kinder to the earth.
Imagine if the products you use and love most could become heirlooms. Sixteen was founded on the idea that quality linen, appropriately cared for, should last long enough to be passed down to future generations. Here is Hayley’s guide to shopping for linen that lasts a lifetime, not just a season.
1. What is it made of?
Pure linen is not a blend – it is 100% linen. High-quality linen fabric is beautiful, breathable and soft to the touch, yet exceptionally strong. Flax linen has an inherent abundance of natural features such as being non-static, lint-free, hypoallergenic, moisture absorbent, sustainable and biodegradable. It’s also much longer lasting than cotton and cotton blends, ageing beautifully with each wash.
“There are so many table linen products on the market here in South Africa that only last a season. The colours fade. The cotton becomes thin after washing and then tears. The cloth loses its shape. People don’t know any more what a double-walled hem or a perfect mitred corner looks like; what real linen feels like… or how to care for it. This knowledge has been lost – and so has the quality of the products we purchase. I believe in heirloom linen, and I wanted to launch a business that would deliver this to others.”
2. Where does it come from?
The best linen in the world comes from Europe. Here it is sustainably grown, predominantly in Western Europe where the climate is cool and the soil moist. In these perfect conditions, the linen yarn grows thick and strong.
“I want the things I buy to last, but I also want to know that the items I cherish have been made in a conscious manner, that they are made by someone who makes things to last, made without the use of harmful chemicals.”
3. Who made it and how?
It’s simple, really: you don’t want to support anyone running a dodgy factory where the focus is quantity, not quality. It’s obviously bad for workers and the environment, but it also means you miss out on the expert craft that smaller manufacturers can provide. This attention to detail is what makes the product last, and therefore sustainable.
“The way an item is finished plays a key role in its longevity. At Sixteen, our suppliers run a family business which has been going for many generations. They are so passionate about linen and the construction of table linen and they’ve passed so much of this knowledge and passion onto me. Together we discuss the design and fabrication of each piece, and the emphasis is always on longevity – each stitch is considered to ensure the linen will last. We even purposefully avoid some new “fashionable” stitching because if it comes loose, it’s impossible to mend.
I see a lot of table linen on the market today with small, thin, single-hems. They are cheaply constructed and make the napkin or cloth wrinkle and pucker. A double-walled hem gives the napkin a heavier finish and a neater, cleaner look. Plus, it will last much longer because the thread holding the raw edge is doubly encased.”
Sixteen’s linen is not just a beautiful product to look at. Our linen exemplifies a more conscious and considered way of living. The quality of the linen fabric ensures it will last an exceptionally long time and the strength and durability of the natural fibres means there is no need to replace it.
“Change your tablescape with accessories and different coloured napkins, but invest in one beautiful tablecloth – it is worth it. I only have one tablecloth that fits my table and every time I lay it out, I love it even more. It’s a Candlestick White tablecloth from The Occasion Collection and it is honestly so beautiful.”
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