Crailar Brings Flax West
Portland,Ore.–based Naturally Advanced Technologies, makersof Crailar, a fibermade from flax and other bastfibers, is planting flax in Oregon.
Thecompany currently contracts with farmers in South Carolinato grow bast plants for its products. The company istesting how Crailar seeds grow in other North American climates—includingOregon’s Willamette Valley.
Earlierthis year, the company hired Ralph Fisher as a regionalagronomic adviser, tasked with contracting acreage forflax and working with NAT and Oregon State University to maximize growthcycles and yields in the region.
“Iwas originally attracted to the story of NAT’s Crailar Flaxfiber based on its ability to be worked into a grower’s calendaryear as a rotation crop,” Fisher said in a company statement.“Both the partner brands that have helped [NAT] establishdemand and the terms of their grower contracts, whichare exceptional, make this one of the most promising newopportunities the region has seen in years.”
NAThas partnerships with Levi Strauss & Co., Hanes- Brands, PVH Corp., Carhardt and Target. In July, NAT deliveredan initial 100,000 pounds of fiber to Target’s designatedvendor to be used for several home products, includingsheets, shower curtains, window treatments and towels.
Crailar partners with Lenzing
NATalso recently struck up a partnership with Lenzing, theAustrian fiber maker that produces Tencel and Lenzing Modal. The two companies are evaluating theblending of Crailarflax with Tencel.
“Thisis an important development for Crailar Flax in that,today, both of our commercial and exploratory partnership agreementshave been focused on how Crailar canblend at varying levels with natural fibers for apparel, homeand industrial applications,” said Ken Baker, chief financial officerfor NAT. “With Lenzing, we can now evaluate theopportunity to expand the host fibers with which
Crailarcan easily blend to identify new performance attributes, applicationsand industries. This partnership will haveapplications in industry sectors where polyester fibers havebeen the norm in addition to our existing application as asustainable alternative to cotton.”
Moreinformation about Crailar can be found at www. crailar.com.—A.A.N.
