A farmer, a designer, a processor, and a sustainability expert join us to discuss the potential of flax.

In a hybrid event, on October 7th, a panel of experts will take a deep dive into the lifecycle and material potential of processing flax for fiber, oil and building materials. The panel is part of a series of public events coinciding  with our current exhibition, Regeneration of Flax: Linseed, Linen, Shive & Oil at the Arnold and Sheila Aronson Galleries, 66 Fifth Avenue at 13th Street, New York. 

With 60% of textile fibers made of synthetic polyester today, we look to the robust history of flax growing over the last 36,000 years as a viable biobased alternative to synthetics.  Flax is grown as a rotational crop and sequesters carbon as it grows. Flax fibers create linen fabrics, composites and insulation. Flax seed can be a food, or pressed into oils for finishes and flooring. Shive, a woody byproduct, is used for mulch and being researched for flaxlime.  We will discuss the methods of farming organically and the potential of flax to remove heavy metals from soil. Experts will discuss the challenges of scaling, applications in the built environment  and the benefits of local material sourcing for regional economies. 

The panel will be held from 5-6:30pm.  

The exhibition opening and reception will be held 6:30-8pm. 

RSVP Today!

Heidi Barr, Co-Founder and CEO PA Flax Project

Heid Barr is the Co-founder and CEO of the PA Flax Project, a cooperative dedicated to re-imagining the flax for linen industry in Pennsylvania. For over a decade she owned and operated Kitchen Garden Textiles, a Philadelphia based lifestyle brand working at the intersection of food and fabric. This work led to a deep understanding of the connection between textiles and farming. In 2020, with farmer Emma De Long, Heidi took this understanding to the next level and the PA Flax Project began. Her love for textiles and lifelong attention to environmental issues combine into her passion for bringing linen production back to Pennsylvania.

Alvin Ulrich, President - Biolin Research Inc.

Since the 1990’s Alvin Ulrich has used public and private funding to carry out R&D work related to flax straw, fiber and shive with Biolin Research Inc., a company he founded in Saskatchewan, Canada, the major source location of oilseed flax in North America. His extensive experience growing, processing, grading and finding end uses for both the fiber and non-fiber portions of the flax plant have made him one of North America’s leading linologists. He is a founding member of the North American Linen Association, Biomass Quality Network Canada, Prairie Fibreshed and the ASTM sub-committee D13.17 Bast Fibers and Plants.

Header Image: Danielle Burke