05/14/2026
We have a new Flax Story from Carolyn Smith!
"I was first introduced to the PA Flax Project during my internship with Janell in 2021. Through that experience, I met Heidi and spent a day at the farm helping with the harvest and retting the flax. I also worked alongside Janell learning how to process the flax into fiber.
That day on the farm quietly changed the way I see materials. It was the first time I truly understood how a plant could move through so many hands and transformations to become yarn. Seeing that process from field to fiber made the material feel alive and deeply tangible. I was especially drawn to the lightness of flax and its incredible qualities: biodegradable, hypoallergenic, antibacterial, and breathable, but also the beauty of the plant itself.
After finishing my undergraduate degree in Fashion Design at Drexel University that experience stayed with me and led me to want to explore the world of making fashion from natural materials. I then pursued my master’s degree at Polimoda in the Farm to Fabric to Fashion program. While studying there, I learned about fibers and craft traditions from many different parts of the world, but I always felt myself returning to flax. I had the opportunity to process flax from the Netherlands Flax Project and spin it into yarn using the historical practice of spinning with a distaff. Working with the fiber in that slow and intentional way made me feel connected to generations of makers before me.
During this time, I also learned about the tradition of the bridal trousseau, where women across countries and generations would gather fibers, woven fabrics, and embroideries to place into their "trousseau," or what we often call a hope chest in the United States, to be carried with them into the next chapter of their lives. This tradition became the inspiration for my MA collection. I created a small collection of garments made from linen, cotton, h**p, and silk, with silhouettes designed to adapt and grow with the wearer over time. Through gathering, adjustable waists, and multiple ways of wearing the garments, the pieces celebrate womanhood, fiber, and the quiet intimacy between maker, material, and body. The garments also feature emblems of the sea, which continues to be a place of calm and inspiration for my work.
Looking ahead, I'm hoping to grow my first square yard of flax this year and continue exploring plant-based textiles and clothing through my work.”
The photo in the thumbnail showcases part of Carolyn’s collection, photographed at the Wyck Historic House, Garden, and Farm. Do you have a familial history with flax? Tell us in the comments or send us a private message.
