About
Like its namesake, this sturdy linen fabric is beautiful yet useful. Cedar is produced by a Master of Linen, meaning that the fiber, yarns and fabric are from Europe, from field to finished product, and that the fibers, yarns and fabric are produced only by people who are intimately knowledgeable with retaining the superior qualities of flax linen. For more about Masters of Linen, see our discussion here.
Eco Facts
Cedar is GOTS certified.
What does it mean for a fabric to be GOTS certified?
It means a whole lot, including requiring that at least 90% of fibers be certified organic (ours are 100%); no chemicals can be used which have been proven - or are suspected - to harm humans or the environment at any stage of the textile production process; water treatment to a very high standard is required; and certain worker safety and rights issues are honored, like no child or slave labor and certain minimal level of safe working conditions (These are still huge problems in textile mills outside of the “developed” countries. Many mills are still in the 19th century.) Although it does not explicitly address carbon footprint, a GOTS certified FABRIC is the best choice by far, carbon wise right now - exponentially better than recycled polyester, for instance, or of conventional cotton fabric. Read more here.
Fabric made from organic cotton which is produced conventionally can be – and almost always is – full of residual toxic chemicals – and its production released chemicals into our groundwater; its carbon footprint stinks, and worker safety was not considered.
Buy safe fabric – and know it is safe because you have a strict, reliable, third party certification.
The Fabric Name
Cedar is named after the Western Red Cedar, Thuja plicata, a tree native to western North America. It is among the most widespread trees in the Pacific Northwest. Some northwest coast indigenous peoples refer to themselves as “people of the red cedar" partially because of their extensive dependence on the tree for basic raw materials: roots for baskets, bark for clothing and canoes, and wood for shelter.
Uses
Its durability makes it terrific for upholstery, but you can use it for anything that requires a soft yet substantial fabric: even dresses, throw blankets, baby blankets, towels, etc.
Specifications
- abrasion test results: 22,000 Martindale
- care: Washable in cool water and low/air dry. Does not shrink unless washed and dried on hot, which causes shrinkage of a little under 10%.
- certification: GOTS, the Global Organic Textile Standard
- content: 100% organic linen
- weight: 14.8 oz yd2 / 440 gm m2
- width: 54" / 137 cm
