Clothes made from Kortrijk linen that blend naturally with your own style

Vlas Blomme, launched in 2007.

The brand name means "flower of linen" in Flemish, the language spoken in the Flanders region of Belgium.

Linen is comfortable to wear and easy to care for, making it a fabric that serves well in everyday life.

What's more, the longer it's used, the richer its character becomes.

Vlas Blomme makes clothing from linen that draws on these very qualities, creating wear that fits naturally into daily life.

Vlas Blomme began with the goal of making linen wear, but

producing cut-and-sew garments from linen's stiff fibers is difficult,

and at the time of the brand's launch, it's said that no maker in Europe or the United States was producing cut-and-sew items from linen.

Amid this challenge, they arrived at Kortrijk linen, from the linen-producing region of Kortrijk, Belgium.

There are various theories about the origins of linen, but

it's believed to have originated in the highlands of Asia and the Caucasus Mountains, spreading from there to Egypt and Europe.

In Belgium too, flax seeds—the raw material of linen—have been found dating back 3,000 to 5,000 years,

and there are historical records stating that Belgium's climate and land were ideally suited for growing flax.

In particular, the city of Kortrijk in Belgium's Flanders region is home to the Leie River, known as the "Golden River,"

and its mild climate with moderate rainfall proved beneficial for growing linen.

Kortrijk linen refers to the flax thread grown on the farm belonging to JOS VANNESTE, a linen spinning mill located in Kortrijk—

specifically, the finest flax thread produced that year, and it is under this collective name that Kortrijk linen has become known.

◆Characteristics of Kortrijk Linen

・Among linens, it boasts exceptional strength, elasticity, and uniformity

・Having absorbed ample minerals from rich soil as it grew, it has a fullness, body, and luster

・As with linen in general, the fibers separate with use, gradually transforming into a softer fabric.

What's more, Vlas Blomme's linen is woven on looms that use traditional wooden parts,

reducing tension on the threads and enhancing softness even further

・Because air is trapped within its fine fibers, it provides an insulating effect, allowing it to be used not only in summer but as a winter fabric as well

Vlas Blomme makes generous use of this Kortrijk linen,

and, through the skilled techniques of Japanese artisans, has succeeded in developing cut-and-sew garments once considered difficult to produce.

The products born from this pursuit of quality linen are carried in top stores around the world,

including in London, Paris, and New York, and the maker has even been invited to the general assembly of the European linen association,

earning high acclaim from various quarters as a linen wear brand.

When you hear "denim," you probably first think of cotton jeans, but

Vlas Blomme's Linen Denim series is crafted using an abundance of linen instead.

There are two color variations: Navy, with the warp threads dyed navy and the weft woven in unbleached natural color,

and Flax, finished entirely in the natural, undyed color of the linen itself.

Both are woven on the low-speed Schonherr loom, of which very few remain in operation across Japan today.

Compared with other, more common looms, the German-made Schonherr loom

is distinguished by its extremely slow weaving speed.

This slow pace reduces the strain placed on the threads, resulting in a softer fabric.

When you hear "linen," you probably picture a crisp stiffness when it's new, but

Vlas Blomme's Linen Denim has none of that stiffness—

you can feel its enveloping softness right from the start.

*The garments are also pre-washed once, which contributes to this softness.

Since production of the Schonherr loom itself has already ended,

Vlas Blomme reportedly keeps its looms running through its own independent maintenance.

Amid the many looms that have since been developed, the reason they deliberately continue to choose this one

is simply that there is a texture only the Schonherr loom can achieve.

The Linen Denim Work Coat is a perfect piece for spring.

With its menswear-inspired look, this work coat

gives you a stylish look simply by throwing it on.

In Navy especially, the shape of the collar, the placement of the pockets, and the stitching around the shoulders and buttons really stand out.

Combined with denim's inherent "workwear" feel, the design delivers a wonderfully modern style.

The Linen Denim No-Collar Blouson is a piece whose round collar creates a gentle, feminine impression.

Though it is denim, thanks to the dedicated Schonherr loom, it offers a soft, gentle wearing feel.

Its light weight, which places little burden on the body, is another welcome point.

The classic Linen Denim G-Jean has a neatly compact silhouette.

It looks great deliberately paired with dressier bottoms, or with a linen skirt as well.

The folded-back cuffs and hem add durability, showcasing the garment's careful stitching.

The Linen Embroidered Shirt WHITE is a linen shirt with a comfortable feel, discreetly finished with beautiful embroidery around the collar.

This series was born from a collaboration between Vlas Blomme and the Netherlands-based "Jupe BY JACKIE," with

the delicate embroidery being handled by artisans in India.

Indian artisans learn intricate embroidery techniques from a young age in order to keep their fingertips sensitive,

and it's said that they live their daily lives paying close attention to caring for their hands, as part of becoming a true craftsperson.

The embroidery born from the hands of such artisans has both a lovely charm and a mature elegance,

resulting in a design well-suited to the linen material.

The Linen Embroidered Dress also features scattered embroidery as an accent point on its small round collar.

When worn, it gives off a chic atmosphere, while

pairing it with leggings or a belt allows for a more casual look.

You can also drape a jacket or cardigan over it, letting the embroidery show.

The key point is that the embroidery appears only at the collar, with the rest of the design kept simple, so

the dress is easy to balance with other accessories.

Vlas Blomme offers a full range of items from tops to bottoms.

Each item employs a distinctive method of production.

The compact Linen Cotton Pullover with Pocket features

fabric knitted using a technique called plating, with linen on the outer layer and cotton on the inner layer.

Because this technique causes the threads used for the outer and inner layers to appear on opposite sides,

when viewed from the outside, you can see a faint hint of cotton mixed within the linen fabric.

The subtle difference in color created by the different materials gives the surface a slight sheen,

creating an impression that is casual yet refined.

The Linen Cotton Pullover with Pocket, with its length falling between the wrist and elbow, can be worn on its own,

and its design also pairs easily with cardigans or hoodies. Since it's made relatively short in length,

it's also recommended to layer it over a top with a distinctive design underneath.

Some items also use a dyeing method called naka-jirozome (white-core dyeing).

Naka-jirozome is a dyeing method in which the core of the thread is left white while the outer part is dyed.

As a result, in addition to the dye color, a slight touch of white is visible on the surface,

creating a fabric with a wonderfully subtle unevenness to enjoy.

The Collared Border Blouse is made with longer hemlines on both sides,

and features a button on the back for a design that reveals a bit of the back.

Looking closely, you'll notice areas on the surface with a whitish tinge, giving it the effortlessly refined texture unique to naka-jirozome.

It has a clean, streamlined design that pairs easily with any bottoms.

These are the Hakama Pants, which likewise feature naka-jirozome dyeing.

With a texture reminiscent of denim at first glance, the Hakama Pants have thin stripes at even intervals, and

are made with generous width, giving them a design that can even resemble a long skirt.

On top of the naka-jirozome dyeing, the wrinkled texture unique to linen, along with the tumble-drying finish applied during production,

brings out a softness and a natural, well-worn feel.

These pants can create a relaxed impression all on their own, and will serve you well throughout spring and summer.

And here is the Linen Stole Vest, which lets you enjoy two different ways of wearing it.

Carefully knitted from linen, it can be draped softly over the shoulders and buttoned to create a vest-like look,

or wrapped around the neck to serve as a stole—two ways to wear one item.

By using two-ply, twisted yarn, it maintains durability while creating a soft drape,

and it also blocks the wind quite effectively.

Lightweight and convenient to carry, it's an item you can use throughout the year.

◆About Unbleached (Kinari) Linen

Among Vlas Blomme's linens, the unbleached (kinari) color items

use no dye at all and remain in linen's natural color.

The first time you wash them, the water may turn a brownish color,

but this is simply residue (aku) released from the flax fibers. After rinsing with water a few times,

the residue will gradually wash away, so there's no need to worry.

If this residue is a concern, we recommend following the steps below

and soaking the item in water overnight to remove it.

1. Dissolve a small amount of neutral detergent in water.

2. Place the item in the water and let it soak overnight.

3. Dry the item thoroughly.

*Please note that washing may cause the fabric to shrink somewhat.

◆About Washing

These items can be washed at home.

Please wash according to the care label instructions on the product.

When doing so, please keep the following points in mind.

・Detergents containing bleach or fluorescent whitening agents can easily damage linen fibers

and lead to discoloration, so please avoid using them.

・Keep the spin cycle short, and we recommend smoothing out wrinkles before drying.

・Dry the item away from direct sunlight, as sunlight can cause fading.

・Do not tumble dry.