Creating the perfect linens for Outstanding in the Field, a roving restaurant without walls, gave us the long awaited opportunity to weave our linen in Pennsylvania. Once a thriving industry, the weaving of long line bast fibers like linen is rare in the United States today; the work has been offshored or abandoned completely. Lucky for us, there are still a few remaining looms in our home state of Pennsylvania,  and a handful of skilled weavers as committed as we are to rebuilding this link in our regional textile supply chain.

From the fields of flax where it begins to finished woven cloth, linen can be a climate beneficial product. A 100 day crop that fits nicely into rotation on diversified farms, it requires few inputs and little to no irrigation. The finished cloth is 100% plant based so doesn’t slough microplastics into our waterways. Accelerating climate change has reinforced the importance of investing in regional climate beneficial textile production. Kitchen Garden Textiles, in partnership with our sister organization, The Pa. Flax Project, is at the center of this work in our region. From the farm all the way through to finished goods, we are taking measurable steps to revitalize and support our region's textile industry. We are grateful for the opportunity and the voice our collaboration with Outstanding in the Field gives us.