Connecting over the shared challenges of building a fiber flax to linen supply chain in North America, a group of agricultural growers, brands, businesses, researchers, and representatives from community projects in emerging regions came together and identified the need for an industry association to align efforts at building the domestic flax to linen supply chain.

In September 2022, the North American Linen Association (NALA) was formed as a 501(c)(6) organization with headquarters in McMinnville, Oregon, to serve members throughout North America.

NALA brings together interest groups from all stages of the supply chain to share in infrastructure development, networking, best practices, and marketing campaigns to promote fiber flax agriculture, bast fiber processing infrastructure, textile manufacturing, and co-products in North America. NALA also serves to connect regional fiber flax industry clusters in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Vermont, the Pacific Northwest, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Victoria, Manitoba, and beyond.

NALA’s values include environmental and social responsibility. A significant portion of NALA member companies are owned by women, and the organization is committed to fostering inclusion in the emerging industry. In addition, fiber flax is a climate-smart crop; Every year, flax cultivation in Europe results in the capture of 250,000 tons of CO₂ (CELC 2015). NALA will continue to build on research and promote fiber flax as a natural fiber that is in great demand and beneficial in a changing world. 

Domestic raw fiber supply is urgently needed. Global shortages of seed stock, scutched fiber, and finished fabric have taken a hit for many years in a row, and we expect to continue experiencing severe supply shortages and price increases for seed, equipment, and finished fabric. Fraud issues and human rights allegations plaguing global cotton suppliers are putting pressure on other natural fiber markets. Meanwhile, demand grows among farmers for rotational crops, regional processing infrastructure, and a commercial scale natural fiber supply for domestic manufacturing. 

The NALA Board of Directors has identified key opportunities for impact in the emerging North American fiber flax industry:

• Developing a classing system and flax classer training for annual grading of flax fiber to enable sales into domestic and international markets
• Recording field retting protocols to support agricultural producers creating high-value fiber, starting in the field
• Sourcing commercially available seed stock of certified fiber flax varieties
• Producing training materials for retting and harvesting procedures
• Supporting member regions in procuring specialty harvesting (flax puller, turner, or combo puller-turner, and flax baler) and processing equipment
• Supporting member regions in construction of bast fiber processing and textile innovation facilities with specialty equipment for scutching, hackling, and spinning large volumes of fiber flax

In most regions, the underlying keys to success are already in place: demand among skilled agricultural producers for crop rotation, seed cleaning facilities, and transportation infrastructure for export to global markets. In 2023, NALA will produce a Flax Grower Workshop Series and provide agricultural training support, launch a campaign to promote flax/linen, and initiate progress on identified opportunities. 

The North American Linen Association is open for membership! The NALA Board of Directors looks forward to collaborating with all Members to grow, sustain, and promote the emerging fiber flax and linen industry in North America.