FAQs

From where are Lüks Linen products sourced?

All of our products are sourced from the 2 most renowned cotton growing regions in Turkey; Denizli in the South West and Hatay in the South. As a brand who advocates for and insists on ethical production we are proud to partner with local family run ateliers who use cotton which is spun, dyed and woven in the area in which it was cultivated, cutting down on transportation and the carbon footprint.

What’s the difference between machine manufacturing and hand-woven and semi-automatic products?

In one word quality. Big machine manufacturing has a tendency to put more stress and tension on the cotton yarn as the machines work so fast they generate heat that weakening the fibres, which can result in an inferior and stiffer fabric. Conversely shuttle or semi-automatic weaving is a slower and gentler process which helps to preserve the integrity and strength of the fibres. The result is a much softer and longer lasting product.

Whilst this is a topic of great debate we have to be realistic and appreciate that in order to grow, meet orders, and encourage the continuation of family business, some weavers have embraced the use of semi-automatic looms and computer aided design techniques which they use in addition to their traditional wooden shuttle looms to add variety to their products. Lüks Linen stock both handmade and machine products, all of which are sourced from small batch suppliers not mass manufacturing factories. The method of production is clearly outlined in the product description.

Are your handwoven products more expensive to buy?

Yes handwoven products do have a slightly higher price point, due to the time and skill involved in their production. The cost of our handmade textiles are dictated by the workmanship involved, quality and weight of the cotton used and the complexity of the design.

Are your full range of products always in stock? 

Whilst we make every effort to maintain our stock levels, on occasion it may be that we're waiting for a shipment of a popular range to arrive from our Turkish ateliers. Hand weaving is not an instant process, with some of our products taking up to 2 weeks to craft.

What is Lüks commitment to the environment?

As standard all of our cotton is OEKO Tex Standard 100 certified. This means that there are no toxic of hazardous chemicals in them.

Wherever possible we use 100% GOTS certified organic cotton and, increasingly are using linen mixes in our products which helps to reduce the amount of water each product takes to produce. This is largely dictated by our ateliers - as small family businesses it is not always possible (affordable) for them to pay the annual GOTS certification fee of circa $6K however we don't want that to preclude us working with them  - it is an ongoing process. Certifications for OEKO TEX and GOTS are held by our ateliers and their dye houses.

The dyes uses in our yarns is reactive which requires a lower setting temperature and less mordants than normal dyes. the effluence (water and dye) created after the dyeing process can also be recycled and re-used.

In addition to minimising our carbon footprint by bulk ordering from our ateliers, we also reduce the use of paper by managing returns online through our automated e-commerce platform. Our packaging is made from recycled and recyclable materials. 

Our E-commerce shipping boxes are made from a minimum of 75% recycled material and our shipping bags are carbon negative, biodegradable and compostable. that’s because they don't contain any polyethylene, the plastic that most poly mailers are made from. it’s made from corn starch and a blend of two bioplastics, PLA and PBAT, and printed with non-toxic ink.

Where necessary we use paper tape that can be recycled along with our shipping boxes

Product packaging is kept to a minimum and consists of 100% recycled kraft card and cotton bias tape. Where wrapping of products is required we used either acid free tissue paper or, more recently we have started using a carbon negative biodegradable, non-toxic storage bag that dissolves in boiling water. in seconds.

To further offset our brand impact we work with GetMads making monthly contributions to directly support vetted and verified climate and socially conscious projects (as per teh United Nations Sustainable Development Goals) that fuel positive environmental change, while maximising social impact. 

The reality is that everything we do has an impact and we are not perfect, rather constantly evolving to make better choices as our small business grows. One of the things that we are most proud of is our 20 year repair or replace guarantee which, we hope goes someway to encouraging our customers to love and care for our products so they can last a lifetime rather than a season or two.

Do the names of your products have a specific meaning?

 

The majority of our products are named by the ateliers from which they originate, after Turkish children, both belonging to the families themselves such as 'The Kümsal' which was named after one of our weavers daughters and those in the community. Other products have inherited the honorary namesake of their creators, so each comes with a rich lineage and unique personality.

How will I know which peshtemal best suits my purpose?

As a highly versatile heritage item peshtemals are known for their diversity and multi-faceted uses. We want to ensure that your purchase suits your exact requirements and needs and have therefore spend time carefully outlining the best use for each item in each of our product descriptions, as for example some of the heavier cotton weaves are better suited for home use or to wear in colder climates, whilst our ultra-lightweight range is ideal for travel and holidays.

 If we haven't answered your question here then please do email us: hello@lukslinen.com