Ilex linen table linen from Leitner Leinen

Description

“Ilex”

Ilex – the holly, the evergreen, the winter constancy. With this design, Leitner Leinen continues the botanical line and focuses on a plant that has had cultural significance for centuries thanks to its jagged, leathery leaves and bright red berries. Ilex aquifolium, the European holly, is winter green – it retains its leaves even in the cold season, making it a symbol of constancy and vitality. What botanists describe as adaptation to climatic conditions is culturally interpreted as endurance. The pure linen Ilex translates the characteristic morphology of the plant into textile form: the jagged leaf edges, the compact arrangement, the contrasts between rich green and bright red. The pattern is botanically precise without becoming illustrative – it does not show the plant as an image, but its structural characteristics as a design principle. Anyone who brings holly to the table is not bringing decorative Christmas symbolism to the table, but a botanical principle: consistency as form, winter green as aesthetics.

European organic linen

Linen for the table is a material with a long tradition in the temperate climate zones of Europe. The linen fiber, obtained from Western European flax cultivation, is characterized by its smooth, closed surface, which initially repels liquids. This protection makes it possible to react to spills before a stain forms. At the same time, linen is highly absorbent as soon as the fiber is soaked – a property that makes napkins functional. The natural smoothness creates the cool, firm feel that gives tablecloths their characteristic drape. Linen is naturally antistatic and bacteriostatic – properties that make it particularly suitable for contact with food. The fiber does not weaken with use, but becomes more supple. Linen develops patina instead of wear. Tablecloths made from European organic linen become softer over time without losing their structural strength. The GOTS certificate guarantees that no chemical bleaching agents or synthetic pesticides are used from cultivation to finishing.

The Weaving Mill

Since 1853 the Leitner Manufaktur in Ulrichsberg, Austria, has been weaving linen according to the principles that can only be maintained through continuity in craftsmanship. Ilex is produced in a precise jacquard linen weave – a process in which the pattern is not printed on, but worked directly into the fabric structure. Every jagged leaf, every berry, every botanical shape is an integral part of the fabric itself. The Jacquard technique, developed by Joseph-Marie Jacquard in the early 19th century, enables complex patterns to be created by controlling each warp thread individually. The result is a relief-like fabric in which patterned and unpatterned areas are not only visually but also haptically distinct from one another. Leitner Manufaktur works with mechanical looms whose precision lies in the fact that they do not smooth out the natural irregularity of the linen fibers, but rather absorb it. This creates fabrics with a liveliness that cannot be achieved by mechanical uniformity – a textile counterpart to the organic structure of the plant.

The product: Ilex half-linen table linen from Leitner Linen

Ilex is available as a tablecloth and napkin in various sizes. The fabric is made of 100 percent European pure linen in a precise jacquard linen weave. The color palette comprises nine shades and ranges from clear white to the warm nuance of champagne and cool sparkling grey. Oriental Bronze brings earthy depth, while Crimson and Ruby convey the luminous intensity of the red berries of the holly tree. Fir provides the characteristic winter green, Linen a warm natural tone, and Anthracite as the darkest tone lends botanical depth to the table. Each color scheme has been designed to showcase the botanical precision of the design. Ilex is a tablecloth for occasions where the table is not intended to make an impact through cultural references, but through the observation of nature – winter green permanence as a timeless principle.

✓ 100% European pure linen
✓ Precise jacquard linen weave with holly pattern
✓ Available as a tablecloth and napkin in various sizes
✓ 9 colors: White, Champagne, Sparkling Grey, Oriental Bronze, Crimson, Ruby, Fir, Linen, Anthracite
✓ GOTS-certified
✓ Woven in the Leitner Manufaktur, Ulrichsberg (Austria)

Care Instructions

Linen table linen can withstand temperatures up to 60 degrees, white qualities up to 95 degrees. Washing temperatures between 40 and 60 degrees are gentle on the fibers. Do not use detergents with optical brighteners – they bleach out the color pigments. Do not overfill the machine: linen needs freedom of movement. Spin at 800 to a maximum of 1,000 revolutions and remove the laundry slightly damp. Iron on the highest setting as long as there is still residual moisture. Linen loves heat and moisture – this is the only way to completely smooth out the fibers. Avoid the tumble dryer. Treat stains from red wine or coffee immediately with cold water – the smooth linen fibers release stains more easily when they react quickly.