About Jos Vanneste S.A.
Now in its fourth generation of operation in Kortrijk, Jos Vanneste S.A. utilizes expertise passed down through the years to manufacture the very highest quality linen yarn.
The Linen Fields in Kortrijk.
Flax cultivation in the field.
Josef Vanneste who is the second generation of Jos Vanneste S.A.
Alex Vanneste, the current company president, learned to choose excellent flax by accompanying former president Werner Vanneste out into the fields and experiencing the farming process from start to finish.
Alex Vanneste（Left） is the company president of Jos Vanneste S.A.. Werner Vanneste is a former president.
There are a lot of linen samples in the office of Jos Vanneste S.A..
A signboard of Jos Vanneste S.A..
As with wine, the quality of flax is influenced by a variety of environmental factors such as climate, soil quality and location. Because soil quality is of particular importance to the cultivation of high quality flax, crops are rotated every three to five years to maintain a high mineral content.
The dried flax is put into a large bundle and transported to a factory.
Scutching; the process of separating the flax fibers from the straw.
Scutching; the process of separating the flax fibers from the straw.
The term “Kortrijk Linen” is a designation applied to linen spun from flax that Alex Vannese has carefully selected and deemed to be of the highest quality.
A Strong Natural Fiber
Manufacturing facilities in the Jos Vanneste S.A. factory.
Preparing selected flax fibers for the spinning process. Compared with modern, high-speed machines, older machines produce a fuller thread with a more hand-spun feel.
Preparing selected flax fibers for the spinning process. Compared with modern, high-speed machines, older machines produce a fuller thread with a more hand-spun feel.
Besides being durable, Jos Vanneste S.A.’s flax fiber also has exceptional elasticity and uniformity. Kortrijk’s mineral-rich soil gives the linen its signature fullness and sheen.
We have visited a factory of the Jos Vanneste S.A. a number of times, and interview Denis Grassart about the characteristics of flax in recent years.
Manufacturing facilities in the Jos Vanneste S.A. factory.
Vlas Blomme has developed cooperative relationship with the Jos Vanneste S.A. from more than ten years ago.
Kortrijk Linen has a fine fiber content that breaks apart into still finer particles with every use and every wash, giving it a superior softness over time. It has none of the itchiness sometimes associated with linen, and feels great against the skin. Besides being a great summer fabric, Kortrijk Linen’s fine fiber structure traps air inside it, and this capacity for heat retention makes it an excellent all-season fabric.
“Kortrijk Linen” is a designation applied to linen spun from flax that Alex Vannese has carefully selected.
Jos Vanneste S.A.’s original “super fine” thread is ideal for cut and sew innerwear, a usage previously considered unsuited to linen. Additionally, the roving yarn, which retains the original softness of the flax fibers, makes for excellent sweaters and outerwear that show off Kortrijk Linen’s unique texture.