Fashion turns to flax in Edinburgh for greener future

A crop once central to Scottish farming is being revived to help make the fashion industry greener.

Flax, which was grown in Scotland until around the 1950s, was used to make linen, one of the country’s most important exports.

The linen trade was widespread by the 18th century, largely concentrated in the Tayside region, where it employed thousands of people.

Linen was widely used for garments and ships’ sails, but its use declined as cheaper, man-made fibres became available.

However, trials are now taking place in Scotland to test modern varieties of flax because linen is becoming increasingly popular with fashion houses as demand for climate-friendly textiles increases.

The Soil Association Scotland said that the high demand for linen means an entire supply chain could